How to Answer: Describe a situation where you negotiated terms with a tough customer.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Sales Associate job interview.
25. Describe a situation where you negotiated terms with a tough customer.
How to Answer
Scenario-based interview questions that begin with 'Describe a situation...' are best answered using the STAR method. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Organizing your response using this framework will ensure that you provide the interviewer with the right amount of information and detail to form a compelling answer. Think back to a time where you had to deal with a tough customer, and the outcome was successful. Describe the situation, your thought process when dealing with the customer, how you negotiated, and of course, the positive outcome. Assure the interviewer that you stuck to company policy and discussed the terms with your superiors or management if needed. Demonstrate that you are a professional that knows how to conduct yourself with any type of customer.
Written by Rachelle Enns on February 19th, 2021
Answer Example
"In my current Sales Associate role at Car Dealership ABC, I face negotiations every day. Often, I have guidelines to follow, but there are also times when situations call for creative solutions to meet customer needs and budgets. Last week I had a customer come in who wanted to purchase a new truck. The ticket price was $36,000; however, their budget was only $29,000. We went back and forth many times, and it was clear that this person had formal negotiation training. We agreed to a partial cash downpayment and a final ticket price of $33,599. It was fun to have the challenge of negotiating with a knowledgable customer."
Written by Rachelle Enns on February 19th, 2021