I value honesty over all else, if people do that type of negotiating tactic, to me, the only possible result is just to cease negotiations. "We are not in a situation where anything near where you are asking would be in the realm of practical, and if you're lying about that being in your realm of practical in order to inflate sales, I must also assume you're lying about your products in order to inflate sales. While I hope it is the former and we might be able to do business in the future, either way, I must cease business relations as things stand."
People have accused me of doing hardball tactics because of this stance, but I'm fine with a back and forth flow of negotiation, but you gotta start in a realistic realm. If you're not within about 10% of what I'm expecting your slightly hopeful opening offer to be, I'm out. Why would anyone freely do business with a known liar?
I value honesty over all else, if people do that type of negotiating tactic, to me, the only possible result is just to cease negotiations. "We are not in a situation where anything near where you are asking would be in the realm of practical, and if you're lying about that being in your realm of practical in order to inflate sales, I must also assume you're lying about your products in order to inflate sales. While I hope it is the former and we might be able to do business in the future, either way, I must cease business relations as things stand."
People have accused me of doing hardball tactics because of this stance, but I'm fine with a back and forth flow of negotiation, but you gotta start in a realistic realm. If you're not within about 10% of what I'm expecting your slightly hopeful opening offer to be, I'm out. Why would anyone freely do business with a known liar?