Oct 4, 2009
4 things I learned from googling “haggle.” (Hopefully, I can get that $700 rug for $300 now.)
1. Understand the item’s value beforehand.
2. Gape at their price.
3. Lowball.
4. Hint that you want to buy, but your spouse won’t let you.
Update: $275!
* * * * *
Learned this skill in China. First time I went to buy a hat, I didn’t know you could haggle, so I was about to pay, when a native who spoke English told me that I should have asked for a lower price.
Of course, the woman wouldn’t budge once it was clear I was new to “haggling.”
Here’s to hoping you have better luck your first time around.
It helps too if you have cash, c.f.Dave Ramsey.
That makes a lot of sense. I’ll get cash out for the max I can pay. Then it’s a real maximum and doesn’t depend on my willpower.
Thanks for the tip.
Great tip!
In Guinea, West Africa…just the sight of Americans like us and greenbacks redefined the word “haggle”. One guy followed me inside our van to haggle with me on a statue from his $400 to $5. Pretty sure if I tried the technique in WalMart might not work.
Always be willing to do the staged “Walk-Away”, and be willing to actually leave if they don’t come running after you caving in to your demands.
Much like Eddy at the top, I too learned the art of the haggle in China and the walk-away was often the coup de grâce in my arsenal.
Sometimes I’d walk away 3-4 times before they caved! I love China.
would any of this go against biblical principles to let our yes be yes and our no be no or something to that sort. shouldnt we just be upfront with what we think and not budge (upwards) from that price instead of giving in to the way business is run these days?
Would Jesus haggle? or would He be upfront with His thoughts
Ken,
it probably depends on what one says. if you are trying to be deceptive, that would be against biblical principles. other then that, you are simply trying to reach a price point that both you and the seller can be happy about. the seller can always say no, but maybe the seller would rather sell the item at a lower price than keep that item in the store. in that case, the seller benefited from your haggling. you are not swearing falsely here or making an oath
Also, in respect to “yes be yes and no be no,” it is understood by both parties that with the “yes” comes an implied “this yes is only valid if you are willing to agree to it as well. If not, you make a counter offer.”
I am will always be willing to pay only $25. But if you won’t agree to sell at $25, I will make a new offer.
The violation would come if I said, “I am willing to buy at $25,” and then later said “I am not willing to buy at $25.”
Struggled with similar thoughts while on a mission trip to Turkey years ago. It was pointed out to me that every time I “haggle” with someone, I am taking the time to establish a relationship with them. By the time a deal is reached you have known one another – if only briefly – and the store owner has cut you a deal. Better in many ways than the impersonal way in which we do business…
also a’ la dave ramsey as well, def. be willing to walk away. if your not, a good sales person can smell your commitment, and won’t haggle with you
and if you aren’t getting any where with the sales person, ask to speak with the manager. often the sales person cannot discount, but the manager does have that authority.
is it honest to haggle?
If you tell the truth, I think.
“It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer;
then off he goes and boasts about his purchase…
With the exception of real estate, it’s lost art in the United States, but it’s practiced all over in other parts of the world. Buying (or bartering) is almost no fun without haggling! Makes me think specifically about Proverbs 31:18
“She sees that her trading is profitable….
I’d never be able to “haggle”. If the seller obviously doesn’t mean the price they have set and I know that, I might just tell them what I’m willing to pay for it. In 10 seconds, we’d be done with any conversation we’re going to have.
I think the dishonesty is on the seller’s side. They have set a price that they “don’t actually mean”.
I know about the “cultural differences,” but my culture says tell me the truth about what you want for the item. I’ll decide if I want to pay it.
Anytime someone mentions haggling, I am reminded of this scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3LL338aGA
Congrats! That is so awesome! I love that feeling when something works out even BETTER than you hoped!! YAY!!
You are ready for the markets in Nairobi! Bargining, as it’s called here is part of the relationship of the sale. It has everything to do with culture. If you don’t want to talk about the price with the seller, you should have to pay more for not entering into the relationship of haggling. My theory is that someone will never sell something for less than they can afford. You won’t find out that price without talking about it. My dad was the best haggler there ever was. He used to always get a better price at the Farmer’s Market than what was listed.
Nice work, Abraham. You could totally survive overseas.
Haha, in Hong Kong they told my cousin, ‘You handsome boy, I sell you good price.’