Getting better vendor pricing without burning relationships
Loyal customers are leverage, not commitments. Use the leverage politely.
Ask once a year, calmly
A 15-minute conversation: 'Here's our volume this year, here's what we're expecting next year, what can you do on pricing?' Asked nicely, the answer is often yes.
Consolidate where it pays
Pulling 60% of spend through one vendor unlocks better terms than spreading thinly across five. Pick the vendors to consolidate on purpose.
Have a credible alternative
A real second-source quote in your pocket gives the conversation teeth. Bluffing is obvious. A real number isn't.
Take your version of this question further
This is one operator-tested angle on the question. Your shop, your size, your trade, and your team change the answer. Ask your specific version inside Ask a Shop Owner to get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.