Buy
Verified@ivangdavila
npx machina-cli add skill @ivangdavila/buy --openclawTriggers
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
- Identify — What are they buying? (product, service, B2B software)
- Research — Check sources per category (see
sources.md) - Evaluate — Price vs market, red flags, timing
- Recommend — Buy / wait / walk + reasoning
- 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:
- List all with cost + last use date
- Flag: unused (60+ days), overpriced, redundant
- Provide cancellation talking points
- Calculate total savings
Overview
Buy guides you through researching purchases, comparing prices, detecting scams, and negotiating better deals. It follows a clear flow—from identifying what you’re buying to researching sources, evaluating data, and making a buy/wait/walk recommendation with negotiation support.
How This Skill Works
It starts by identifying what you’re buying (product, service, or software). Then it researches category-specific sources, evaluates price against the market and red flags, and finally recommends Buy, Wait, or Walk with optional negotiation scripts.
When to Use It
- Deciding whether to buy now or wait based on price trends and value.
- Comparing prices across multiple sources to confirm market value.
- Negotiating price or terms with a seller or provider.
- Evaluating a subscription or recurring expense for cost effectiveness.
- Researching a B2B or SaaS purchase to get a side-by-side view of options.
Quick Start
- Step 1: Identify what you’re buying and set a budget and timeline.
- Step 2: Research sources per category and gather price data.
- Step 3: Evaluate price vs market, check red flags, decide Buy/Wait/Walk, and use negotiation scripts if needed.
Best Practices
- Clarify budget (hard limit vs flexible), timeline (urgent vs can wait), quality tolerance.
- Use the Quick Deal Check: compare sold prices, monitor 3-month price trends, and scan for red flags.
- Watch for red flags: price far below market, seller avoids written communication, payment via wire/crypto/gift cards, or sale price above 6-month average.
- Follow the Decision Framework: Do I need this? Have I researched alternatives? Is price at/below market? Do I have a walk-away price? If all yes, Buy.
- Refer to category guidance for pricing norms and red flags tailored to electronics, vehicles, real estate, services, and B2B/SaaS.
Example Use Cases
- Consumer electronics: Compare laptop prices across retailers, check 3-month trends, and negotiate using price-match language.
- Used goods: Request sold-price benchmarks and propose a fair price based on recent sales.
- Bills and services: Negotiate internet or insurance rates by citing loyalty and competitor offers.
- Subscriptions: Audit recurring charges, flag unused or overpriced subscriptions, and draft cancellation points.
- B2B/SaaS: Gather multiple vendor quotes, compare features and total cost, and negotiate terms.
