Oh how I despise HAGGLERS!

[Dreamstalker]

Oh, the tales I could tell from an estate sale we had to clean out my grandmother's house. We had some good stuff, and priced it below what an auctioneer would have paid us (the major stuff had all been appraised).

The weekend we did not advertise, we sold a lot to only a few people, and made out pretty good. The one couple who bought a ton of furniture and knickknacks for a home remodeling was very nice, he was a carpenter and dabbled with reupholstering furniture (paid the asking price for a fugly antique hand-carved chair we never thought we'd get rid of).

The weekend we had the ad in...gah. There was another yard sale in the development, and I think people thought we would take any amount. Collectible vintage Noritake china set, some knob wanted it all for $10 (um, no thanks). Then another dick broke the most unique serving piece in the lot Vintage Chintz full table setting, excellent shape, the highest offer we got was $20.

Unfortunately I think what was left got donated, I had laid claim to the Noritake when the sale was over.

[persephone]

Gah. Estate sales are very different than normal "garage" or "yard" sales. Most of the stuff is much better quality and being sold simply because someone has passed away and the family does not have room for everything. Not a place where you're going to get an amazing find for 50 cents!

That being said, my mother is an extremely good haggler when it comes to rummage, yard, garage and estate sales. She does not try to get anything for nothing and would NEVER try it in a store, but she did get my "wedding" china (when I was fifteen!) at a local estate sale. The woman who had passed away was the wife of a former state senator and she had numerous sets of china. As in, each of her daughters that wanted one had taken a set and there were STILL two full sets (service for at least 10) at the estate sale, plus numerous other pieces!

I fell in love with one of the sets and Momma bought it -- the entire Lenox china set and the trunk it was neatly stored in at that moment for $250. This is discontinued china and it is a full full set, silver included. It was a STEAL. Momma and Daddy kept it in their attic until I got married and, yes, it was my wedding present.

I think the family was willing to go a little lower than they might have other wise because they saw how much I adored the pieces and realized it would be loved, which, as one daughter said, would have been important to "Mom".

But yeah, my mom at least knows when and where to haggle! She would NEVER try to haggle in a retail store!

[Tito]

SC: But Wal-mart has it for $50 less! (flashes flier in my face)

SC: Hey any way I can get a discount on this? joeselectronics.com has it for $15 less.

So, go to one of those places, then! It's not a difficult concept! If one store has an item you want cheaper than another store, then you buy it from the cheaper store.

[Mark Healey]

You can haggle on many things second hand

AAAAHHHH!!!!. You're making things worse. The street where I work has two used books stores, a used record store and three used clothing stores. Haggling isn't welcomed at any of them.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I get a discount at a clothing shop I frequent, cuz the owner is a good friend of my boyf and I. Also, every time I go to her store, I buy tons; so she'll knock off a tenner say from the total to round it off. I wouldn't dream of asking for more. ^^

[Dreamstalker]

When we were in Santa Fe in October, we ventured to the Tesuque Flea Market (which isn't half as cool as it was before the pueblo decided to take it over, but I digress). I fell in love with a handworked silver band (three thin "branches" twined together) for $25 at one stall and was completely willing and able to pay the asking price. The seller insisted I have the ring for $20 ("it's clear you're drawn to this ring and it looks great on you"). The only haggling I've seen there is initiated (and thus controlled) by the sellers.

My mom takes Pilates at a small local studio, and was related this tale by the owner. She gets calls about classes and rates often. The more classes you take, the price per class goes down.

She's had people trying to haggle...when given a quote of $50 for private classes, they will say "I'll pay $40" in a that's-all-there-is-about-that tone. I would think that specialized services like pilates, yoga, etc customers would know enough that in most cases classes are targeted to a skill level, thus are more expensive. My mom and others who have been taking classes there for years would never, ever think of asking for a discount, it's only the first-time callers that try this.

[Mike Taylor]

We had a lady try to haggle with us over her husband's cellular phone about the price of an iPod touch. Those of you who sell them know that Apple gives no wiggle room on pricing. It is what it is and the price changes when Apple decides to lower it. I finally had to get a manager involved to explain to her that we couldn't do it.

[Evil Queen]

I tend not to haggle. Now, I've had people do the haggling for me, which is kinda strange.

Some time ago, RW was getting ready to go to his First Ever Convention By Himself. No other friends and family members would be going with him so this was quite a feat for him. I was so proud...

Anyways, he asked me to contact the hotel and book a room for him. I called, told them I was calling from <Little Motel> in NC and needed to book a room for my brother. I gave them the dates and discount code because he was part of the convention. While waiting, the conversation shifted to conventions (this person had never been to one either) and I told her it was RWs first one so he was looking forward to it.

Convention discounted rate was $125 a night (taxes included).
The rate I got him? $99, taxes included.

I loved the look on his face when I told him I didn't get him the convention discount, that I got him a better one! It was priceless!

[protege]

Shes been in business 25+ years now, and sees me often...I don't demand anything and have actually helped her sell things on ebay.

That's why I sometimes get discounts on things at the local hobby shop. I've been going there for years, simply because of their kit selection, and because they really know their stuff. Oh, and the guy behind the train counter gets a good laugh over whatever I've managed to screw up But seriously, I don't *expect* a discount. Yet, I can usually come away with old Japanese sports car kits for much less than they originally listed for. After clearing out most of their 1980s Nissan (and older Datsun) Skylines, and similar cars...I got a reputation. Many times, the owner will let me have them for next to nothing. Many of those kits are either covered in dust, massively faded, or the boxes are beat to hell. As such, nobody wants them. More toys for me

It's not like I don't send traffic their way--in fact, I brought in quite a few people several weeks back. How? Well, I'd parked the MG out front...and they came into chat about "that sports car outside." But, not before checking out the kits, and in some cases...buying a few. It made their day