How to Haggle

In this economy, now more than ever people are doing their shopping at garage sales, consignment shops, farmers markets, swap meets and pawn shops. This usually  means the price is negotiable, so here are some tips on getting the price that YOU want.

Know the real retail price

Knowing the real price of something will help you better determine what the price should be when it has a few nicks, scratches and years on it. With your “wiggle room” firmly established, somewhere in there will be a price both of you can agree on

Get your seller to name a price first

Before you say anything, try to get your seller to name the price first if it’s not known. Naturally, the price will probably be high, but this will give you a chance to quote a lowball figure, firmly establishing your “cushion”.

Smile and be awesome

Don’t be a jerk. Let the seller know through finesse and conversation that you’ve done your homework and you aren’t there to waste their time. Always keep talking. This takes the sting out of your initial lowball offer and keeps the seller interested until a fair price is reached. Smile, but try not to look enthusiastic about the thing you’re interested in, whether it’s a bag of apples or an Apple iPhone. Try to act like you can take it or leave it.

Your silent partner

Just when you think you’ve reached a deal, you may be able to squeeze a little more out of them by stepping away from the table for a second to consult your “silent partner”. This could be a spouse, a friend, a business partner, or a fictional third party. The trick is to get the seller to think it’s really your partner who controls the purse strings, and if the seller just went one more tiny step further, the partner would approve the purchase.

Time is your friend

Try not to buy things at the last minute by waiting until you absolutely have to have them. This creates a “must have” mentality in your mind that will only work against you during a negotiation. A person with lots of time can always afford to look elsewhere.