# The art of dickering, and haggling. The good the bad The ugly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946 "2012-04-25T19:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/21 "2012-04-26T03:09:52Z")
I’m sincerely curious about Dopers who have had experience with other cultures perhaps lived and worked in cultures where haggling was expected and routine. I was told that in Mexico return policies are virtually non existant. You buy it, you own it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/22 "2012-04-26T03:10:44Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > When I’ve traveled abroad to poorer countries, I always find it very tacky to see Americans try to get their souvenirs as cheaply as possible. Right because poor people are always honest and would never dream of screwing an American anymore than they would their own mother. Sorry, I am not buying it. They are the ones the experience of selling things to foreigners. Donate money to UNISEF if you want to give to charity. Street vendors aren’t the way to do it. I have an unusual negotiating tactic that tends to work well but it isn’t for the faint of heart. I don’t negotiate. I simply tell what the terms are up front what the final price is going to be no matter if it is a job, car, house, or a trinket. The seller is free to take it or leave but any further offers that up the price are going to result in me asking them if we speak any common language. I like it because I have extreme faith in my stubbornness and research skills and I can never feel like I was taken advantage of if I set the terms in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/23 "2012-04-26T03:14:07Z")
At the Flea Market… Wife: "OH MY GOD! I’ve been looking for that forever! Wow, look! I can’t believe it (etc). Me (to seller): “Ummm, I guess I’m paying full price” ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/24 "2012-04-26T03:17:03Z")
> [@K364](#): > > At the Flea Market… > > Wife: "OH MY GOD! I’ve been looking for that forever! Wow, look! I can’t believe it (etc). > Me (to seller): “Ummm, I guess I’m paying full price” LOL!!! The art of ruining the haggle. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/25 "2012-04-26T03:19:23Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Right because poor people are always honest and would never dream of screwing an American anymore than they would their own mother. Sorry, I am not buying it. They are the ones the experience of selling things to foreigners. Donate money to UNISEF if you want to give to charity. Street vendors aren’t the way to do it. > > I have an unusual negotiating tactic that tends to work well but it isn’t for the faint of heart. I don’t negotiate. I simply tell what the terms are up front what the final price is going to be no matter if it is a job, car, house, or a trinket. The seller is free to take it or leave but any further offers that up the price are going to result in me asking them if we speak any common language. I like it because I have extreme faith in my stubbornness and research skills and I can never feel like I was taken advantage of if I set the terms in the first place. You will never be guilty of wasting anyone’s time. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/26 "2012-04-26T03:25:38Z")
Oh, and those of you who like to haggle over the phone, sorry. If you’re not standing here with money ready to spend forget it. and, hagglers who spend 20 minutes getting a good offer and then say “Well. I’ll think about it and come back later” Um, that’s a today only deal. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/27 "2012-04-26T10:57:09Z")
I freaking hate haggling, the culture behind it and the act itself. I hated going to the flea market with my mother as a kid and getting shushed because if I was interested in buying something, I had to “hide it” to get a “good deal.” I’ve successfully haggled three times in my life, and they were all horrible, humiliating-to-remember experiences. The sellers acquiesced fairly quickly, but I felt horrible. The few bucks I saved weren’t worth the hit to my dignity. So, not anymore. I don’t fucking haggle! If I can’t afford the sticker price, I’ll buy it somewhere else or do without it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/28 "2012-04-26T12:55:24Z")
My godmother embarrasses me by asking for the “widow’s discount.” “Don’t you think you should do something for the widows? Don’t you have a widow’s discount?” It never seems to occur to her that the woman she’s talking to might also be a widow. On Sunday I was looking at some shirts. The pink one was $21 and had long sleeves, and I was thinking that with summer coming I might like a short-sleeved one, and the short-sleeved blue one was $12. But I really liked the pink and they didn’t have a short-sleeved pink one. The owner saw me looking at them and said “I’ll sell you both for $20.” Deal, buddy! He negotiated with himself, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/29 "2012-04-26T13:13:53Z")
I hate haggling so much too and wish it would go away forever. I just bought a car and I didn’t haggle at all and got an excellent deal all the same because I shopped around and came in armed with information. I positively refuse to if I don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/30 "2012-04-26T13:20:53Z")
I also hate to haggle. I only negotiate the price in specific circumstances, like if Im buying in bulk or something. ---
**Author:** ![limegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/31 "2012-04-26T13:48:37Z")
I sell handwoven items and handmade jewelry at craft shows, and I don’t see as much haggling as I used to. I will definitely negotiate if someone is buying several pieces, but telling me you can buy a beaded necklace at Wal-mart for 5 bucks isn’t winning me over. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/32 "2012-04-26T14:09:57Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > I sell handwoven items and handmade jewelry at craft shows, and I don’t see as much haggling as I used to. I will definitely negotiate if someone is buying several pieces, but telling me you can buy a beaded necklace at Wal-mart for 5 bucks isn’t winning me over. Isn’t that sad. Part of the charm and value of craft shows is buying something hand made often from the maker. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/33 "2012-04-26T14:37:27Z")
I went to see a used kayak last year. I’d been looking for this exact make and model for some time. This one was listed as $700, which was too cheap, yet I went to look anyway. If the defects were mostly cosmetic, it would be a great deal. I was ready to spend up to $1200. The boat was perfect, well cared for, and included a hatch cover, PFD, spray skirt, and a decent paddle. Basically the extras were worth $500. So I asked the guy where the leak was. He assured me the boat was solid. His wife was jealous about the time he spent paddling, and she was insisting he sell it. He looked like he was going to cry. I was about to pay him when the wife comes out of the house. She asks if I was gonna buy the boat. I told her I was considering it. She asked how much her husband was asking. I told her $700. She said that if I would take it right away they would accept $500. She went back in the house. He stood there looking all dejected. I gave him $700. Dude woulda been better off losing his wife and keeping the boat. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/34 "2012-04-26T14:43:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I went to see a used kayak last year. I’d been looking for this exact make and model for some time. This one was listed as $700, which was too cheap, yet I went to look anyway. If the defects were mostly cosmetic, it would be a great deal. I was ready to spend up to $1200. > > The boat was perfect, well cared for, and included a hatch cover, PFD, spray skirt, and a decent paddle. Basically the extras were worth $500. > > So I asked the guy where the leak was. He assured me the boat was solid. His wife was jealous about the time he spent paddling, and she was insisting he sell it. He looked like he was going to cry. > > I was about to pay him when the wife comes out of the house. She asks if I was gonna buy the boat. I told her I was considering it. She asked how much her husband was asking. I told her $700. She said that if I would take it right away they would accept $500. > > She went back in the house. He stood there looking all dejected. I gave him $700. Dude woulda been better off losing his wife and keeping the boat. Great story. One of the reasons I love the SD. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/35 "2012-04-26T15:02:35Z")
Will you feel the same if it turns out, when you’ve put it in the water, there are more flaws in it than you were led to believe? By like a lot? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/36 "2012-04-26T15:06:34Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Will you feel the same if it turns out, when you’ve put it in the water, there are more flaws in it than you were led to believe? By like a lot? I’ve put many miles on it, and love the boat every bit as much as the original owner. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/37 "2012-04-26T15:22:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I went to see a used kayak last year. I’d been looking for this exact make and model for some time. This one was listed as $700, which was too cheap, yet I went to look anyway. If the defects were mostly cosmetic, it would be a great deal. I was ready to spend up to $1200. > > The boat was perfect, well cared for, and included a hatch cover, PFD, spray skirt, and a decent paddle. Basically the extras were worth $500. > > So I asked the guy where the leak was. He assured me the boat was solid. His wife was jealous about the time he spent paddling, and she was insisting he sell it. He looked like he was going to cry. > > I was about to pay him when the wife comes out of the house. She asks if I was gonna buy the boat. I told her I was considering it. She asked how much her husband was asking. I told her $700. She said that if I would take it right away they would accept $500. > > She went back in the house. He stood there looking all dejected. I gave him $700. Dude woulda been better off losing his wife and keeping the boat. Heh. Your handle is **kayaker** , and you bought a kayak! Weird how things work out that way sometimes, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/38 "2012-04-26T15:41:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Heh. Your handle is **kayaker** , and you bought a kayak! > > Weird how things work out that way sometimes, isn’t it? Heh. I totally missed that, but you’re right! ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/39 "2012-04-26T17:38:36Z")
Eastern Europeans can - and will - haggle mercilessly. I have to leave the building when my husband starts in on car salesmen. Always good-natured, never nasty, but virtually always gets his price. His mother was unbelievable. And shameless. She was once dealing with a neighbor (also Eastern European) who sold used cars. They started off with how proud they were of their children, etc., then progressed to all their dire expenses and how tough life was. All the while discussing how much she would pay for his car. Finally she brought out he big guns: “Well, my husband bought a car from you once and there was so much wrong with it that he worked himself to death, and that’s why I’m a poor widow now!” She got her price. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946/40 "2012-04-26T19:36:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Heh. Your handle is **kayaker** , and you bought a kayak! > > Weird how things work out that way sometimes, isn’t it? That seemed totally expected to me…but meh. In response to \*\*kayaker \*\*- I would have done the same thing…paid the man his full asking price after seeing a wretched woman come out and squeeze his balls like that. Messed up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-art-of-dickering-and-haggling-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/619946.md?page=3)