vik_c - 6:51 pm on Dec 29, 2009 (gmt 0)

You can turn such situations into opportunities to get rid of old and slow moving stock. I don't know which industry you're in but jeans from last season/older editions of books/an MP3 player that doesn't sell instead of an iPod can be offered at a knocked down price. If your prospective customers really mean business they'll be glad to take you up and you'll clear some shelf space/ inventory storage. If not, they're probably fibbing about their financial troubles.

I've found that people who offer a sob story and get a huge discount often turn out to be the most demanding customers. They're often less polite, more impatient and far more trouble than the average customer. Many of them cost more than they're worth - the 20 % who take up 80% of your time. Of course, there are always the genuine ones too. Most of us have been broke at some point. Sometimes selling to someone at such a time can create invaluable goodwill. In better times, they could come back to you with a much larger order.