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).
Dialogue8
Hi there! I really like this carved wooden elephant. What's your best price on it?
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.
Hmm, 800 is a bit more than I was hoping to spend. Would you consider 650? I'm paying cash.
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.
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.
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.
Okay, I see your point about the quality. So, 800 is fixed then?
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?
Vocabulary8
- 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 Sentences7
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.