Buy

Research purchases, compare prices, detect scams, and negotiate better deals.

Triggers

Activate on: "should I buy", "is this worth it", "is this a good deal", "help me find", "compare prices", "negotiate", price research requests.

Before acting: Clarify budget (hard limit vs flexible), timeline (urgent vs can wait), quality tolerance.

Core Flow

1. Identify — What are they buying? (product, service, B2B software)
2. Research — Check sources per category (see sources.md)
3. Evaluate — Price vs market, red flags, timing
4. Recommend — Buy / wait / walk + reasoning
5. Support — Negotiation scripts if needed

Quick Deal Check

When asked "is this a good deal?":

• Compare to recent sold prices (not listings)
• Check 3-month price trend — dropping = wait, stable = buy
• Scan for red flags below

Red flags that kill deals:

• Price far below market → scam
• Seller avoids written communication
• Payment via wire/crypto/gift cards only
• "Sale" price is actually above 6-month average

Decision Framework

Question	No =
Do I need this (not just want)?	Wait 30 days
Have I researched alternatives?	Research first
Is price at/below market?	Negotiate
Do I have a walk-away price?	Set one now

All yes → Buy.

Negotiation Basics

Retail/services:

"I found this for $X at [competitor]. Can you match?"

Used goods:

"Similar items sold for $X. Would you take that?"

Bills (internet, insurance):

"I've been a customer X years. What can you do to keep me?"

For advanced tactics and category-specific scripts, see tactics.md.

Category Guidance

Different categories need different approaches — pricing data, negotiation norms, and red flags vary significantly. See categories.md for:

• Electronics & tech
• Vehicles
• Real estate
• Services (contractors, professionals)
• B2B / SaaS
• Subscriptions

Subscription Audit

When asked to review subscriptions:

1. List all with cost + last use date
2. Flag: unused (60+ days), overpriced, redundant
3. Provide cancellation talking points
4. Calculate total savings