Scenario: You are in need of a product or service. You have a friend or other social relationship with someone who owns a business that provides that product or service. How do you proceed?
Look, everyone pays at the glory hole.Stop trying to get everyone to pressure me into giving you free gummers if you say you are my friend. Do I go to where you work and tell you that your mom woman needs to suck my dick for free? No, she does it that way because she is a slut and I already paid my roadkill and broken dryer fee.
Depends what they’re selling. Their own labor? Slight discount. Others’ labor? No discount. Goods? Depends on the margin. Software or digital media? Big discount or free.
On a serious note, when I owned my own paintball field I let my friend play for cost of paintballs and air which is dirt cheep. I wanted field evaluations and to see how the play worked out for the design. When my family owned the video rental store we would let friends take old releases home for free and if there were new releases left at night it was ok to let them go. If they wanted to get the copy they had to pay, and we would hold it for them. At my sister's ex-husband's bar and grill we gave away a bunch of food when the relatives and friends came in.
I, personally, wouldn’t bring up business in a social situation. If they have a “place of business” - a shop or storefront, request their services there. Do not assume your friendship allows extended payment dates or worse, complete lack thereof. And don’t expect “extra”.
You have a dildo shop? Send me a PM, I don't necessarily need a discount if you can get me some good motorized stuff. I mean for me friend. His name is Steve.
This is why we know you do not own a business. Good business people are always looking for connections and ways to save money or market so they are always bringing up their business. It is the difference between people who have a job and who own a business. When you own a small business it is your life and part of the experience of knowing you. It is sort of like your family in that you really cannot separate it.
Not that I should get a discount, but I generally do. Usually from a labour trade or a future marker. I'll frequently provide services (building stuff, mostly) for a lot lower than market rates.
Generally when my friend is starting out their venture, charge me full price. But as you get more established, that's when you give the discounts out
The only friend I know who has their own business has a charcuterie place with two locations. When I host a party and buy a board from her, I pay full price but she always throws in extra stuff like bottles of wine and such.
