Hello, this is Yuping Wang, your trusted sourcing expert with over 20 years of experience. Today, I want to share with you some essential negotiation techniques that I’ve discussed in my recent video, “5 Key Strategies to Dominate Your Next Alibaba Negotiation“. These strategies will be particularly beneficial for those of you running an Amazon FBA business and sourcing from Alibaba.
The Importance of Negotiation
Negotiation is a critical skill in sourcing. As the saying goes, “You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate!” A successful negotiation can earn you more respect, get you better prices, and help you build a stronger relationship with your suppliers on Alibaba.
Using Leverage in Negotiations
In this blog post, I’ll focus on how to create and use leverage in your negotiations. Leverage is the power that one side of a negotiation has to influence the other side to move closer to their negotiating position. Here are five key strategies to create and use leverage:
1. Leverage Supplier Competitiveness through Understanding the Baseline Price
The first step in creating leverage is understanding the baseline price and the competitiveness of your suppliers on Alibaba. This can be achieved by getting multiple quotes. I recommend collecting at least 10 quotes to establish a solid understanding of the price range and supplier competitiveness.
2. Leverage Communication Style and Quality as a Selection Criterion
The way a supplier communicates can tell you a lot about their business. A supplier who communicates effectively and provides complete information is likely to be more reliable and easier to work with. On the other hand, poor communication and incomplete information can be red flags. Use this as leverage to demand better service.
3. Leverage Your Annual Forecasts and Volume in Negotiations
Your annual forecasts and volume can be powerful tools in negotiations. Suppliers on Alibaba are often willing to offer better prices for larger and consistent orders. Sharing your forecasts and volume with suppliers can help you negotiate better terms.
4. Leverage Your Position by Starting Negotiations with Less Interesting Suppliers
When you start your negotiations, begin with the suppliers that are least interesting to you. This gives you a chance to practice your negotiation skills and to learn more about the market before you negotiate with the suppliers you are most interested in.
5. Leverage Your Confidence and Demand Specific Terms
During negotiations, it’s important to show confidence and to demand specific terms. This shows the supplier that you are serious and that you know what you want. It also helps to prevent the supplier from trying to take advantage of you.
Additional Resources
These are just a few of the strategies that you can use to create and use leverage in your negotiations. To learn more about negotiation and sourcing, I invite you to join my 100% free webinar, “The Ultimate Secret To Finding The Best Suppliers On Alibaba”. In this webinar, I share more of my proven techniques for finding the best suppliers, negotiating effectively, and getting the best prices.
If you want to succeed in the Amazon FBA business, this webinar is a must-attend. I’ll share insights and strategies that are directly applicable to sourcing for Amazon FBA. You can join the webinar here.
For those who are serious about mastering the art of negotiation, I also offer a Negotiation Masterclass. This class provides in-depth training on negotiation strategies, includes real-life negotiation cases, and even offers personal mentorship in our Elite Facebook group. You can learn more about the Negotiation Masterclass here.
Conclusion
Remember, in sourcing and negotiation, knowledge is power. The more you learn, the more leverage you’ll have in your negotiations. So don’t wait, start learning today and win your next deal!
