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Monday, March 5, 2012

let's make a deal

In my past life, as a manufacturing engineer, my job duties included participation in contract negotiations with suppliers.  It was my job to know where every penny of every part's cost came from.  To this day, I look at "things" and sometimes mentally rack up an estimated cost to make them.  The high price of eyeglass frames, for instance, baffles me somewhat.  Manufacturing cost and market value are certainly NOT the same thing.

Supplier negotiations weren't my favorite part of the job, but they were bearable.  If nothing else, they prepared me for parenthood.  Geesh, it seems like every freaking day includes some wheeling and dealing where money is not the only medium of commerce!  I've been known to actually say, "Negotiate with me!  And do it with out whining (dammit)!"

In those old professional days, the concern was to "not leave anything on the table" once the contract was signed.  And that's where I am now. 

I'm tired of all the stuff on the table... and the floors, and the shelves, and the closets, and the etc.

There are totes and boxes and hodge podges of stuff that our kids haven't used in years or at least months.  It's occurred to me that the main function of these piles is to provide a barrier to me, as I'm the only one that moves them around or even seems to notice their existence.

I want them out and I'm willing to pay.  It's come to that.  Yes, I'm willing to pay hard earned cash for the privilege of throwing stuff away.

I have done similar with favorable results.  I've paid them a dollar a pound for anything they purged (within reason).  This time, I've just gathered up the disagreeable materials and have an offer on the hopefully soon-to-be cleared table. 

And don't tell them, but I'm willing to go higher.  Notably higher.

In my days as a cost engineer, I got to negotiate contracts worth millions of dollars.  This particular deal is worth much more than that, though.  Namely, my sanity!


Update:  They got me for twice my original offer.  Still a total bargain!
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11 comments:

ShadowRun300 said...

Ohhh.... so that's how you do it. I usually just beg, then threaten, then yell, then give up. How could I not remember that money talks? Thanks Abby! Now excuse me. I'm off to get my table decluttered!

Abby said...

Good luck! Just please keep the guitars and the rainbow of shoes!

Jenn and Casey said...

Impressed with your creativity ;) In other news, I once made a huge pile of crap-to-get-rid-of in my living room and called 1-800-GOT-JUNK... they came and took it all. Best money I EVER SPENT.

Shawnte said...

That's a clever way of doing things! If my parents paid me to get rid of my old junk, I would have gladly done it for a few bucks xD!

agg79 said...

It's all in the art of negotiation. You have to bend a bit at times to get what you want. Still, sounds like you got the better end of the deal.

Rock Chef said...

As a committed hoarder I find this very hard to do...

I have stuff that I have had since I was a teenager - rately looked at but I can't bring myself to clear it out.

Abby said...

Oooh, saving that number!

Abby said...

Me too! My parents are hoarders though, so it wasn't an income stream for me.

Abby said...

Yes, it is an art! I think I got the better end. They think they got the better end. It's all good.

Abby said...

You and Chaco would get along just super.

terri said...

This is a fabulous idea. I may just have to try this. I have long thought that there is just way too much stuff in our house. And just how much stuff do we really need anyway?