[Idiom] Please help, what idiom can i use for this scenario?

[legolasz]

Dear all,

i would like to use an idiom to sum up this incident up..

"a customer asked whether we could give him a better discount for a pond construction quotation when I was just about to close the deal. He mentioned that another competitor was offering him a better price. Upon hearing that, psychologically, I knew that he would not give up without a bargain. I offered him three months free pond servicing maintenance, assuring him that unlike other competitors, we are confident of our work quality and would be glad to provide that free trail period.

As the saying goes, “it’s better to lose a small amount now than lose the whole fish”


what are some of the idioms i can use for this scenerio? i rather give him or sacrifice him a small bit as a freebie and make him happy than to cut down my profit margin, or dont give him any discount and lose closing the deal/earning anything at all..

"its better to lose some soldier than to lose the war?"

"penny wise pound foolish?" (doesnt really describe it well)

would really appreciate all help rendered..

Thank you

 

[Anglika]

In for a penny, in for a pound.

No gain without pain.



Seems to me you can describe him as a chancer.

 

[BobK]

'You've got to speculate to accumulate' is often used to justify the initial expense of a project.

b

 

[digitS']

Well, you may have been tempted to ask, "What more do you want, jam on it?" But, it was small change.

Following up on your idea of losing a fish: you realized that you must lose a fly to catch a trout.

Steve

 

[magimagicE]

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[buggles]

It seems to me you should.........

"Cast a sprat to catch a mackerel"

i.e. use a small fish (which you're prepared to lose) to catch a larger one.

You could also say you threw in the free maintenance to "sweeten the pot". (As a gambler would do to entice someone to bet more heavily because they think there's more to win when the pot has been "sweetened" by adding more money.)