haggling vs Suggested Retail Price...customers are demanding to negotiate

**skategeezer** · 03-23-2008 08:52 AM

**Parallel Man** · 03-23-2008 09:02 AM

What's funny is I read all this stuff and then wonder, "how the hell can the naysayers babble we are going into recession?"

I'm sorry. An economy going down the drain does not see consumers buying plasma TVs, drum sets, designer pants and high-end camera equipmemt. If everything was as bad as the media wants it to be people would be worried about food and paying the rent.

I know the story is about haggling and negotiating and getting the best deal. But it's still deals on optional entertainment, luxury and hobby items. You would think if times are bad there would be NO money for such extravagences.

**jhelm007** · 03-23-2008 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Parallel Man

What's funny is I read all this stuff and then wonder, "how the hell can the naysayers babble we are going into recession?"

I'm sorry. An economy going down the drain does not see consumers buying plasma TVs, drum sets, designer pants and high-end camera equipmemt. If everything was as bad as the media wants it to be people would be worried about food and paying the rent.

I know the story is about haggling and negotiating and getting the best deal. But it's still deals on optional entertainment, luxury and hobby items. You would think if times are bad there would be NO money for such extravagences.

If people are worried about making rent then they aren't buying luxury goods, thus sales of said items are down, hence the article. mmmmmkkkkkkk

**Parallel Man** · 03-23-2008 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by jhelm007

If people are worried about making rent then they aren't buying luxury goods, thus sales of said items are down, hence the article. mmmmmkkkkkkk

But the items are still being bought.

M'kay?

**ridesnow.** · 03-23-2008 02:05 PM

are finding that they can dicker on prices

isnt this supposed to be bicker?

**RastamanD** · 03-23-2008 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Parallel Man

But the items are still being bought.

M'kay?

yeah they are probably buying them with credit cards and going further into debt M'KAY? ....we are not in a "slow down" we are in a recession brought on by a (insert Fav insult here) president.........

we are suspending the politics rule here right?

**Parallel Man** · 03-23-2008 02:22 PM

"We're in a recession! Let's stock up on flat screens, Rolexes and a couple of Ferraris!"

Brilliant economic analysis.

**chungmaster** · 03-23-2008 02:31 PM

Well that works if you have some money. It's like in the Great Depression, when the rich people bought all the stocks, since everything was so cheap. Afterwards, the prices shot back up and they were even more rich. If you've got money, then now's a good time to buy. Of course, in America, we are so used to buying and worrying about debt later, so I don't think we're going to stop.

Also, what I find funny is the stimulus package. We bought our way into this mess, and now we buy our way out?

**jhelm007** · 03-23-2008 04:15 PM

I remember a saying from the late eighties recession: In a depression you lose your job. In a recession, your neighbor loses his job. An economic downturn never effects everyone in the same way.

**Warren** · 03-23-2008 10:39 PM

Being on the other side of "the haggle" I love the people that feel we (small independent retailers) are doing nothing but trying to rip them off.

I have been going to the same Safeway for my food for 17 years - do you think they ever "give me a deal" - or "throw in" a loaf of bread or a can of pop when I buy $200 worth of food? Hell no!

My other favorite is when people pick out what they want - and then ask for a deal. We then suggest that if they can't afford what they picked out - that we do have other - lower priced items. They never want the lower priced stuff - they just want "a deal".

He's a tip - if you can't afford it - don't buy it.

(sorry for the rant - but I can't stand the "haggle")
I can't do it to my suppliers, so . . . . .

Hey Michael - Can I get "a deal" on next months ad??? (kidding)

**Hanael** · 03-23-2008 11:10 PM

If you came from other country like i do, getting something without haggling is like...longboarding without smooth concrete..or asphalt.
you still can enjoy it, but it wont as enjoyable as riding in a smooth surface.

Also, if you know the dealer long enough, they'll lower the price for you, without haggling too much.
it's actually fun to do so. I really miss haggling when i moved here..
...funny thing is, people give me weird looks if i say i like to haggle to get my stuff. --;

well, it's probably a cultural thingy..

**HerBDerb** · 03-23-2008 11:15 PM

Where did you live Hanael?

**savage2424** · 03-23-2008 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by HerBDerb

Where did you live Hanael?

Now: Houston
Before: ??

**Hanael** · 03-23-2008 11:18 PM

Indonesia.

oh, one important thing..
haggling is an art, how to play along with the seller, and getting the best price possible.

**Parallel Man** · 03-23-2008 11:25 PM

I owned and operated a print shop for ten years. Unlike a retail store or even some service businesses there was no such thing as a "standard price" unless you got black ink on white paper (and even that changed because the price of paper would change.)

So, I would get a request from a customer for something (usually very small but very complicated) and do all the things needed to produce a quote.

I would tell the customer how much it would cost . . . pause . . . "is that the best you can do?"

No, mothertrucker, I can give it to you free and lose a lot of money. That's the best I can do. but it's not what I'm going to do.

I spend an hour or more sometimes compiling all the components of the job and then putting a standard mark up on it for my margin and then he wants to know if it's the best I can do.

Go to Kinko's, sad sack. I have more important things to do.

(No, I did not go out of business. I sold the real estate in 1998 for a handsome profit and got ouf of running presses and slinging ink.)