The Nibble

Negotiators using the nibble tactic ask for a proportionally small concession (e.g., 1 to 2 percent of the total profit of the deal) on an item that hasn’t been discussed previously in order to close the deal. Herb Cohen describes the nibble as follows: After trying many different suits in a clothing store, tell the clerk that you will take a given suit if a tie is included for free. The tie is the nibble. Cohen claims that he usually gets the tie. In a business context, the tactic occurs like this: After a considerable amount of time has been spent in negotiation, when an agreement is close, one party asks to include a clause that hasn’t been discussed previously and that will cost the other party a proportionally small amount. This amount is too small to lose the deal over, but large enough to upset the other party. This is the major weakness with the nibble tactic—many people feel that the party using the nibble did not bargain in good faith (as part of a fair negotiation process, all items to be discussed during the negotiation should be placed on the agenda early). Even if the party claims to be very embarrassed about forgetting this item until now, the party who has been nibbled will not feel good about the process and will be motivated to seek revenge in future negotiations.

According to Landon, there are two good ways to combat the nibble. First, respond to each nibble with the question “What else do you want?” This should continue until the other party indicates that all issues are in the open; then both parties can discuss all the issues simultaneously. Second, have your own nibbles prepared to offer in exchange. When the other party suggests a nibble on one issue, you can respond with your own nibble on another.