Just ask. That's the whole guide. Seriously.
I needed a bigger VPS for a project, quoted $48/mo on their site. Emailed sales: "I'm an individual, not a company, any flexibility?" They came back with $28/mo, same specs, no contract. This was InterServer, but I've since done it with Vultr and HostHatch.
Skill issue if you pay sticker price. The worst they say is no.
Timing: end of quarter is real. March, June, September, December. Sales people have quotas. Use this.
Script I use:
- "I'm comparing you against [competitor]. What can you do on price?"
- "I'm ready to sign today if we can hit $X."
- "Do you have any migration credits for new customers?"