Haggling... where are you on this activity?

I usually try to bundle a few things at garage sales and it adds some juice to the bargaining. But, when I sell a car in a private sale I tell people the "price is fixed at X dollars" and that seems to eliminate the issue. If I have a car on the block it means I'm done with it and want a quick sale and I price it low. The last Taurus I sold I threw in a couple quarts of oil and a spare belt and that sealed it. The guy just wanted to see something out of me so I went along.

 

Acceptable in Korea, Morocco and Middle East...dependent upon what we're doing.
NOT ACCEPTABLE: Kärtner strasse in Vienna. Observed a 'merikanski attempting this in one of the shops.

 

"When shopping for your next car, bring your wife, and we'll dicker!"

 

My Ex and I used to go to Puerto Escondido,OAX,Mex in the winters late 80's,It was a small fishing village and surfing hotspot those years..
I learned early on that American things were quite popular there to the locals.I would bring down Sony Walkmans and OP beach attire to trade for things like silver items and blankets and some Oaxacan Gold

Here is a blanket I still have and I love it.I have looked all over online to replace it or get a different colored one,but no luck.

 

We have several of those same blankets from Mexico that we have had for close to 30 years. I want to say we paid about $10 for them - they were definitely a haggle item

 

I think I am a very good and very assertive negotiator. Both of my parents were as well.

One thing I learned at a very early age is that when there is a vendor/client relationship, the vendor answers to the client and not the other way around. In my professional life, I've unfortunately had to remind a few vendors of this at times.

In recent years I've gotten quite a bit of mileage out of telling reluctant vendors very directly that if they can't do something, we will be searching for a vendor who will.

Now, in my personal life I'm toying with the idea of getting a new car while it's (still) a buyer's market. I have the exact make, model, color and features in mind. The dealer I've spoken to does not have this in their inventory, but "we can get one" and I'm waiting to see just a little bit of light at the end of the Corona tunnel before I start pursuing things seriously.

 

I enjoy it. The key to a successful haggle is not to be afraid to walk away. Your attitude has to be, "well I came here without (whatever you're buying), and i certainly can leave with out." And if the price ain't right, it ain't right. Then hit the bricks. But it's that I don't give a crap attitude that will get you your price.

 

If buying, I set my price to what I think something is worth and don't budge. People can take my money or not. Makes no difference to me.

If selling, I do not budge from the price I determine what I'm selling is worth.

 

I'm pretty good at it, but I don't like to rip people off, and I know when to let off.

I collect a lot of things; switchblades, guns, war relics - so I spend a lot of time at militaria and gun shows, where there is ALWAYS tons of haggle...and haggles with trading thrown in..

...but for the most part, if I see something I really want, I just give the asking price. I found that the stuff I've haggled over tends to be stuff that I'm kinda "meh" about...

The one time i did haggle for something I really wanted (13" AGA Campolin Swinguard with a dagger blade) some dildozer walked up and snagged it while I was haggling with the vendor gave him the $500 he was asking and ran away.

Kind of a blessing because I found one the next week for less than $400 online. Perks and detractions to all of it I guess.

 

Not a fan. Mostly because it was such a PITA experience in Egypt the first time I did it. I have only done it a small handful of times since because I generally don't go buying a lot of random things when I travel.

 

I personally don't like to haggle. But like a previous poster mentioned I might if the item being haggled is something I could do without. And this is if I feel the seller is asking too much for it. And if the seller doesn't budge after an offer I just walk.

I don't haggle at all if I'm at the farmers market. I feel these farmers work hard for the food that they want to sell. Sometimes I'll buy vegetables from one vendor then buy the same vegetable from another vendor because I feel bad, lol! I end up giving away some vegetables to family and friends because I bought too much. Lots of respect for farmers.

I learned that in some cultures they expect you to haggle. They get offended if you don't.

 

I was raised with collectibles, and understand that everything has a price where some stuff can be negotiated and others can’t. I get that if I go into a major chain place that I’m expected to pay the posted price. If I go somewhere that’s not, then there’s always that opportunity to test and see if price can be negotiable.

I’ve even used the negotiation tactics with every job I’ve taken since graduating college. It’s surprising how many executives appreciate that skill even if you’re not the best qualified candidate. Had one position that I was hired into with an equity position in the firm (as one of their lowest levels - granted there were only a handful of people in the company).

 

I haggle when it comes to a car. That’s it.

I’m in the construction biz but I don’t ever haggle or negotiate. You get what you pay for.

But I do look around for the absolute best deal on almost everything.

 

In Mexico you either haggle or you pay WAAAAYYYYY too much for anything. They have it down to an art form. They love it.

Us, not so much. I'm a 'tell me what you want as long as it is fair; deal" Kind of guy. Perhaps that is a form of haggling?

 

We've talked price for some of the artwork we've purchased, and of course cars.

 

eBay is the most I’ll haggle. Other than that, my wife does the haggling because she’s pretty effective.

 

Back in '08 I was in Vegas staying at the Plaza. Anyhow, at one of the souvenir shops Downtown there was a poker chip case that I liked but it had 2 different style of chips in it. I told the clerk that I would buy it if he changed the cheap chips for the Las Vegas chips. He said no and I walked away. The next day I again told him that I would purchase the the case only if he would change the chips and again he said no. This exchange went on for 3 days. On my last day in Vegas I again told him the only way I would buy the case is if he changed the chips and he finally did because of my persistence.

 

I dislike haggling but will do so in foreign countries. The one thing I will haggle in the USA is the price of a used car. I remember when I was negotiating for my younger brother for a used BMW. I had looked up the blue book price and tossed out a price on the middle and as I was doing so did not see any unhappiness on the car dealer's face so I added "out the door" to the end of my sentence without prior planning to do so. The dealership wound up taking that "out the door" price which had no added tax or fees without a counteroffer and not much more than some minor rumblings. I may have left some meat on the bone, but I am satisfied with a fair price.

 

That is exactly me. I also have a friend, an otherwise normal, fun guy, who haggles over everything. Examples:
He was painting his house and went to the local hardware store and said that he could get the same paint in Oregon cheaper, but wanted to do business locally. They matched the price. Then he said that Oregon doesn't have a sales tax and requested further 8% reduction in price.

He collects guitars and knows their value to the penny. He will put a wad of bills in his left pocket that is WAY lower than the asking price, pull it out and says something, "Well, I have this much to spend," showing them the bills. He says when they see the money, it often works. If not, he walks away. If he wants it, he'll return and pullout the bills from his right pocket and make another offer that is still lower than the seller wants. If not, he does walk away but will call again in a day or two. BTW, he's a retired special education teacher and school administrator and a musician. When buying a car, many of my friends take him along and are amazed at his results. I love the guy. He's friendly and honest, but damned if I'll go shopping with him.

 

I haggle when it comes to cars and offers on Ebay. Otherwise I pay what they ask or move on if I think its unreasonable.