Seller's Rejection and Justification

The seller rejects the customer's initial offer, possibly explaining why the price cannot be lower (e.g., quality, cost, fairness).

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

Customer (Female)

Hi there! I really like this carved wooden elephant. What's your best price on it?

Seller (Male)

Good choice! That's a unique piece, hand-carved, and it's 800 yuan. It's already a very fair price for the quality and craftsmanship.

Customer (Female)

Hmm, 800 is a bit more than I was hoping to spend. Would you consider 650? I'm paying cash.

Seller (Male)

I appreciate the offer, but 650 is really too low for this item. As I mentioned, it's hand-carved from quality wood, not mass-produced. We don't have much margin on these special pieces.

Customer (Female)

I understand it's handmade, and it's beautiful. But I've seen similar items for a bit less elsewhere. Could you do 700? That's really my absolute maximum.

Seller (Male)

I'm sorry, I can't go down to 700. If you compare the intricate details and the wood quality, ours is superior. We purchase directly from the artisan at a fair price too, so there's not much room for negotiation.

Customer (Female)

Okay, I see your point about the quality. So, 800 is fixed then?

Seller (Male)

Yes, for that particular piece, 800 is the best I can offer. You won't regret it; it's a truly heirloom quality item. How about I throw in a small, complimentary lucky charm with it?

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

unique

Means one of a kind, not like others; useful when describing special items in shopping to highlight value.

craftsmanship

The skill and quality in making something by hand; common in bargaining to justify a higher price for handmade goods.

fair price

A reasonable and just cost; sellers use this to show the price is already good, helping in negotiations.

budget

The amount of money you plan to spend; buyers mention this to explain why they want a lower price.

margin

The profit a seller makes after costs; used to explain why they can't lower the price much.

handmade

Made by hand, not by machines; emphasizes quality in artisan products during bargaining.

intricate

Having many small, detailed parts; describes the fine work in items to support the price.

complimentary

Given for free as a gift; sellers offer this to make a deal more attractive without lowering the main price.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

What's your best price on it?

This is a polite way to start bargaining by asking for the lowest possible price; useful for customers to open negotiations. It uses a question form with 'what's' for informal shopping talk.

It's already a very fair price for the quality and craftsmanship.

Sellers use this to justify the price by linking it to quality; helpful for explaining value. Note the structure 'It is + adjective + for + noun' to describe suitability.

Would you consider 650? I'm paying cash.

A customer offer in bargaining, suggesting a lower price and adding a reason like cash for incentive; 'Would you consider' is a polite conditional question for proposals.

I appreciate the offer, but 650 is really too low for this item.

Polite rejection by sellers, starting with appreciation before refusing; useful in negotiations. 'Appreciate' shows politeness, and 'but' contrasts ideas.

Could you do 700? That's really my absolute maximum.

Customer's final offer, emphasizing it's the highest they can pay; great for pushing limits. 'Could you do' is a common bargaining request, and 'absolute maximum' stresses finality.

I'm sorry, I can't go down to 700.

Seller's refusal to lower the price; simple and direct for negotiations. Uses 'go down to' idiom for reducing prices, with apology for politeness.

How about I throw in a small, complimentary lucky charm with it?

Seller's incentive by offering a free extra; useful to close a deal. 'How about' suggests an idea politely, and 'throw in' means add for free.