Reply #4 jsw663's post
I find walking away is a VERY effective strategy: Bargain for a while, look serious, then when they don't shift, turn regretfully and start walking - 9 times out of 10 they capitulate and drop their price.
Another strategy I saw once was invented by a friend of mine. He was haggling for a selection of paintings he liked, and the guy was just stringing out the time. The vendor had nothing to lose by taking a long time and knew my friend wanted to get away ...
So my friend simply started REDUCING his bid. This of course is a nono of haggling etiquette, and the vendor called 'foul' - so my friend explained he was wasting his time and was no longer willing to pay his earlier bid, and the offer would reduce from now on. The vendor quickly agreed the offered price!
Bottom line is
a) stay good natured - if you can get the vendor to laugh somehow, it always lowers the price
b) know your price and be willing to walk
c) do NOT aim for the mid-point, e.g. if he reduces by increments of 10, you are perfectly entitled to increase increments of 5 (or less)
oh, and NEVER show your wallet (and especially not its contents) until after a price is agreed  | |
