Should I switch vendors or renegotiate? (small business)

Top picks

Protocol

1. 1

   Paste facts (5–8 min).

   Assemble only what you actually know. Mark gaps [MISSING] / [NEED FACT]. Do not invent rates, BATNA, legal outcomes, or benchmarks. This small-business stay vs switch vs dual-source gate comes before vendor-supplier-negotiation-email (the email draft after you choose renegotiate).

   Paths at a glance

   Path	Lean this way when (from your paste)
   A — Renegotiate stay	Relationship salvageable; you have volume/term facts; alternatives weak or costly to switch.
   B — Dual-source	You can qualify a second real supplier without inventing capacity; risk concentration is the issue.
   C — Switch with transition	You have a real alternative quote/supplier and can name transition steps, inventory buffers, dates.
   D — Tolerate short-term	Shock is temporary per facts; switching cost high now; revisit date you set.

2. 2

   Lock decision-tree rules (step 2).

   Paste the rules first so the model cannot mint BATNA, competitor quotes, or a switch threat when alternatives are NONE.

   Copy-paste prompt

   Copy

   Help me run a SWITCH vs RENEGOTIATE vendor decision tree.
   Hard rules:
   - Use ONLY terms, quality, lead-time, volume, and alternatives I paste. Do not invent BATNA, competitor quotes, or market benchmarks.
   - If alternatives are NONE, say so—do not imply a switch threat.
   - Paths: Path A Renegotiate stay / Path B Dual-source / Path C Switch with transition / Path D Tolerate short-term.
   - Optional email bullets ONLY after I choose a path; full email belongs in my negotiation-email recipe.
   - Not legal advice on contracts. I decide.
   Confirm in one sentence, then wait for my pack.

3. 3

   Fill pack (step 3a) and generate (step 3b).

   Paste the pack, then send the generate command. The model must not pick a path for you.

   Paste pack

   Copy

   VENDOR: [ ]
   WHAT WE BUY: [ ]
   CURRENT PRICE / LEAD TIME / QUALITY ISSUES (facts): [ ]
   CONTRACT END / NOTICE RULES: [or MISSING]
   VOLUME WE ACTUALLY BUY: [ ]
   ALTERNATIVES I ACTUALLY HAVE (quotes, names I'm allowed to use): [or NONE—do not invent BATNA]
   SWITCHING COSTS / RISKS I KNOW: [or MISSING]
   DUAL-SOURCE FEASIBILITY (capacity, quals): [or MISSING]
   HOW LONG I CAN TOLERATE CURRENT STATE: [or NEED FACT]

   After you send the filled pack, copy the Generate command in the next box and paste it into the SAME chat so the AI runs the decision tree / produces the output.

   Generate command — copy and send this next (same chat)

   Copy

   Build the decision tree now:
   1) Facts vs [MISSING]
   2) Scorecard table: Criterion | My fact | Lean (+/0/− or NEED FACT) | Note
   3) Path A Renegotiate stay / Path B Dual-source / Path C Switch with transition / Path D Tolerate short-term — for each: when it fits, what must be true from my pack, 3 owner-verify bullets
   4) Do NOT pick for me. Do not invent facts.

4. 4

   Choose a path (step 4); optional wording.

   Only after you pick a labeled path. Owner-verify: facts still match your pack; [MISSING] gaps filled or accepted; any sendable wording uses only terms you authorize.

   Path wording

   Copy

   I chose Path [A/B/C/D]. Draft short next-step bullets (and a brief email outline if Path A) using only alternatives and numbers I pasted.
   No invented BATNA or switch threats. Mark [NEED FACT].

5. 5

   Second-model check (step 5).

   In the other tool, paste the tree plus your pack:

   Second-model check

   Copy

   Here is a vendor stay/switch tree from another assistant plus my pack.
   Find: (1) invented BATNA/competitor quotes, (2) switch threats when alternatives were NONE, (3) dual-source claims without my feasibility facts, (4) contract reinterpretations as legal advice.
   Return only corrections.

6. 6

   Human decide and act (step 6).

   Pick one path. Fill [NEED FACT] gaps from real sources. Send or implement yourself—AI drafts are not approvals, contracts, classifications, or tax elections. After Renegotiate, use the vendor negotiation-email how-to.

When not to

• Do not invent alternative quotes, BATNA, or industry pricing.
• Material contract changes—have counsel review.
• Skip if you lack current terms and volume—pull PO history first.
• NDA-bound competitor bids—do not paste if forbidden.