Had a similar experience recently when I was sourcing reclaimed wood flooring. Started off pretty chill, just chatting about sustainability and materials, but the seller took that as an opening to upsell me on some fancy imported stuff. Had to gently steer him back to my original specs—local, eco-friendly, budget-friendly. Honestly, being clear and specific about what you want early on seems to save everyone a lot of hassle...and awkwardness later.
"Honestly, being clear and specific about what you want early on seems to save everyone a lot of hassle...and awkwardness later."
Couldn't agree more—clarity upfront is key. I've found being direct from the get-go usually sets the tone and prevents sellers from drifting into upsell territory. But here's something I've wondered: does anyone find that playing hardball sometimes backfires, making sellers less willing to negotiate overall? I've seen it happen once or twice, especially with smaller suppliers who take pride in their craft. Curious if others have noticed this too...
