buy

Triggers

Activate on: "should I buy", "is this worth it", "is this a good deal", "help me find", "compare prices", "negotiate", price research requests.

Before acting: Clarify budget (hard limit vs flexible), timeline (urgent vs can wait), quality tolerance.

Core Flow

Identify — What are they buying? (product, service, B2B software)
Research — Check sources per category (see sources.md)
Evaluate — Price vs market, red flags, timing
Recommend — Buy / wait / walk + reasoning
Support — Negotiation scripts if needed

Quick Deal Check

When asked "is this a good deal?": - Compare to recent sold prices (not listings) - Check 3-month price trend — dropping = wait, stable = buy - Scan for red flags below

Red flags that kill deals: - Price far below market → scam - Seller avoids written communication - Payment via wire/crypto/gift cards only - "Sale" price is actually above 6-month average

Decision Framework

Question	No =
Do I need this (not just want)?	Wait 30 days
Have I researched alternatives?	Research first
Is price at/below market?	Negotiate
Do I have a walk-away price?	Set one now

All yes → Buy.

Negotiation Basics

Retail/services:

"I found this for $X at [competitor]. Can you match?"

Used goods:

"Similar items sold for $X. Would you take that?"

Bills (internet, insurance):

"I've been a customer X years. What can you do to keep me?"

For advanced tactics and category-specific scripts, see tactics.md.

Category Guidance

Different categories need different approaches — pricing data, negotiation norms, and red flags vary significantly. See categories.md for: - Electronics & tech - Vehicles - Real estate - Services (contractors, professionals) - B2B / SaaS - Subscriptions

Subscription Audit

When asked to review subscriptions: 1. List all with cost + last use date 2. Flag: unused (60+ days), overpriced, redundant 3. Provide cancellation talking points 4. Calculate total savings