negotiation(haggling) a lost art | The Compost Bin | Forums

IMO negotiation is a lost art in our society, at least in the U.S. Many years ago when I was a kid I spent part of my summer with my Grandparents. My Grandfather was retired and spent most of his time going to flea markets, auctions and garage sales. He refurbished furniture and resold it at sales of his own. (Ask my brother about a table and chair set-LOL). Grandpa never paid the asking price for anything including at retail stores. In other countries it pretty much is expected but here there seems to be a stigma related to trying to haggle. My daughter goes to school in Philly and her roommates are mainly from India. They are more "Americanized" since they were born here as compared to most of their parents. They are embarassed when their parents haggle when they buy anything. Yet when they moved into their apartment this year their couch would not fit up the stairs. Two of the fathers and myself went to a second hand shop with the couch to see if we could trade it for a smaller one or if they would buy this one. They did not have any for trade but they would buy it from us. They offered $25 for it we dads looked at each other I countered with 100. Long story short we settled for $75. Found out later he ended up reselling it for $100. I thought I did well with the transaction. The other two dads said I did well and were suprised. We got back and gave the girls their money and one of the girls said I should of let her dad negotiate because he could of gotten more and he spoke up and said he couldn't of.

Couple things I have learned over the years is:

-don't get excited over the item

-be willing to walk away

-ask if they can lower the price or have discount if bundle some items together

-it doesn't hurt to ask. You never Know.

-No is really the worst they can say.

Have Fun. Be Safe. Keep the rolling side down!