Haggling: Give Yourself A Raise
Haggling was a way of life for Mr. B. I knew Mr. B because his son was one of my friends. His
haggling greatly embarrassed my friend, but it didn't bother Mr. B. He was saving money.
Mr. B was a wonder. His distaste for paying retail was so ingrained he would bargain at the local
fast food restaurant. Not attached to this man by blood, I felt no embarrassment, so I would
watch with interest as he worked his magic with a retail price.
If you were there this is what Mr. B would have taught you:
- Be in command. Feel comfortable in the negotiation process. This will take practice. Start in
an arena where haggling is a common and accepted practice. Go to a flea market or swap meet.
Have some fun learning to haggle with the people you find there. After you have honed your skill
you can have confidence as you move to haggling where the practice is less common.
- Never be satisfied with the price marked. You are looking for a compromise. Any
compromise leaves money in your pocket. A decent haggler can increase his purchasing power by
10-20%. That is like getting a 15-25% raise in your pay.
- Always negotiate up. This may seem obvious but many a negotiator has paid too much. Choose a low price to begin with. You do not start at the price you are
willing to pay. If you do, once you mention a price you are done. Start with a low, even
ridiculous, amount. (This can be the most difficult part, but forget the embarrassment. Your goal
and only goal is to get them engaged.)
- As you haggle make your increases in price small. You never know when he or she will
accept. There is no sense in placing money on the table you could have left in your pocket.
- Never give up. Keep at it. Be sure to go into the negotiation fresh. Don