Take it from a car salesman, this is often a tactic to slow down the negotiation and make you feel like your offer was a good deal for you. I have said those words many times when I could have gone lower than their offer, but if you just go back and accept it, a lot of "hard negotiators" get cold feet. Anyone that brings a friend to buy a car with them automatically broadcasts "I'm playing games and brought an extra player" so we turn on the games too.

I meant less so on the business owner side, although it is a lesser concern there too, and more so on employee side.

Hard to hire experienced employees if no one in your industry (i.e. nail care) can change employers.

And then there's the latest 'you owe the (arbitrary) cost of your training if you leave before X' restrictions.

Also, car buying is the worst. The only working formula I've found is to deal with internet sales, confirm the number, show up, and say you're walking if they add anything but taxes to it.