Could I get a better deal on my mobile phone contract? Can I get the same quality car tyres somewhere cheaper? The credit crunch has caused many of us to review our own spending, contracts and the habitual purchases we make. 

How many people, for example discover at the end of a contract period that an offer is immediately on the table with a better price or rates? If these rates are available why are they not offered as standard? Well if you don’t ask, you don’t get is the simple answer. New custom generally receives better offers as we all know.  

Unfortunately this applies to the world of supply chain management too. A number of our customers who up until recently didn’t believe they could find a better price or supplier to a core element to their business, were shocked to find out how much money was to be saved through proactive sourcing and negotiation using an eAuction tool, which didn’t exclude their existing suppliers either!  

In the case of suppliers, once a relationship is established and trust has built up, it is all too easy to accept incremental price increases year on year without just explanation or, often, cause.  

It’s a buyer’s market – take the opportunity to ask.