@jouest Did you go to the place where you could watch the cookie maker making them? In San Francisco, a tiny storefront with a lady sitting at this ancient machine, pushing the fortunes in and folding the cookies in one move. They also sold “X-rated” fortune cookies which were really just PG-13; silly jokes rather than fortunes. Like “Lover’s leap: the distance between 2 twin beds.”
The obvious: big ticket purchases made one-on-one like houses and cars, flea market and yard sale stuff, stuff on auction sites like eBay especially when the item is used. I wouldn’t and don’t negotiate over things in retail stores. In a big store/chain, no one working there has the authority to negotiate and in small businesses I couldn’t bring myself to ask for an item for less than the marked price. Oh, and street vendors in Italy. They expect it!
I’m uncomfortable with haggling, but I did it in Thailand because our friends said it was expected. I got a lovely little silver Kuan Yin pendant that way; the seller seemed a bit aggrieved about it but she gave me the deal.
On eBay and Poshmark I’ll “like” something if I’m casually interested and they usually send an offer for a better price. If it’s something I really want and don’t want to risk missing out on I’ll just buy it.
@jouest With the rate that silver has been climbing, I could offer you half your asking price and ship you the silver with whatever shipping process you use, so by the time it arrives you’ll have made profit
FWIW, I just bought a Mercedes with silver bars. Granted it is used, but I’m unemployed currently and didn’t want a car payment. I basically traded a very heavy ammo box for a car There was a middleman, but zero dollars out of pocket
@capnjb I like this transaction. Reminds me vaguely of when I was growing up and my parents sold a small amount of Prudential (rock logo) stock to buy a decorative lawn boulder (actual rock).
I used to go to outdoor flea markets (CA) and garage sales, and yes there was some expected “negotiation.”
And as some mentioned, street markets in other countries. My wife was in Korea with me while I was working and went to one of the big markets in the morning. The classic line is “you are first customer of the day very good luck, so I give you good deal.”
I am pleased to say negotiating on big purchases (except real estate) these days is not a thing anymore, or for me anyway. Appliances bought from Costco but have to watch the ever-changing deals — only great sometimes but when they are good they are very good.
Car purchase was online in about 15 minutes. I won’t tell you the brand because you might fire-bomb it. It was like send info, confirmed, come in next week to pick it up. What, no pressure? No upsell? What if I want some accessories? We don’t sell those here; order online in the app they will send it to you.
@Kidsandliz oh yeah in the international markets there was the thing where they have a calculator and type in a number and hand it to you so there is no confusion over numbers. Or you type in a lower number and hand it back to them with your offer.
I remember being in Chinatown and learning you could buy a giant bag of broken fortune cookies (no fortunes) for super cheap.
“Six bucks? I’ll take it!”
“No. You say a lower amount.”
“…four…dollars?”
“TEN!”
“What?”
“Five dollars, final offer, I’m very busy here.”
@jouest Did you go to the place where you could watch the cookie maker making them? In San Francisco, a tiny storefront with a lady sitting at this ancient machine, pushing the fortunes in and folding the cookies in one move. They also sold “X-rated” fortune cookies which were really just PG-13; silly jokes rather than fortunes. Like “Lover’s leap: the distance between 2 twin beds.”
@jouest @Kyeh I thought the trick with fortune cookies was to always add “in bed” to whatever it said.
The obvious: big ticket purchases made one-on-one like houses and cars, flea market and yard sale stuff, stuff on auction sites like eBay especially when the item is used. I wouldn’t and don’t negotiate over things in retail stores. In a big store/chain, no one working there has the authority to negotiate and in small businesses I couldn’t bring myself to ask for an item for less than the marked price. Oh, and street vendors in Italy. They expect it!
@ItalianScallion yes, Italian street vendors! the guy was wounded that I didn’t haggle over his counterfeit street luggage.
yes man, I know Gucci is spelled wrong, I’m just trying to get my travel accumulations to fit in the overhead bin.
@jouest A warning to travelers to Italy: don’t buy counterfeit stuff in Florence! Both the seller and the buyer will get a fine if caught.
I’m uncomfortable with haggling, but I did it in Thailand because our friends said it was expected. I got a lovely little silver Kuan Yin pendant that way; the seller seemed a bit aggrieved about it but she gave me the deal.
On eBay and Poshmark I’ll “like” something if I’m casually interested and they usually send an offer for a better price. If it’s something I really want and don’t want to risk missing out on I’ll just buy it.
so help me if anyone tries to haggle a daily deal. if this stuff could be cheaper, it would be.
@jouest haggles
@Cerridwyn
@Cerridwyn @jouest Haggle! Haggle, haggle! Haggle, haggle, haggle, haggle, haggle!
@Cerridwyn @yakkoTDI
@jouest @yakkoTDI
/showme a bunch of hagglers
@jouest I can pay in silver
@capnjb that seems fitting for us, tbh
@jouest With the rate that silver has been climbing, I could offer you half your asking price and ship you the silver with whatever shipping process you use, so by the time it arrives you’ll have made profit
FWIW, I just bought a Mercedes with silver bars. Granted it is used, but I’m unemployed currently and didn’t want a car payment. I basically traded a very heavy ammo box for a car
There was a middleman, but zero dollars out of pocket 
Trogdor strikes again!
@capnjb I like this transaction. Reminds me vaguely of when I was growing up and my parents sold a small amount of Prudential (rock logo) stock to buy a decorative lawn boulder (actual rock).
@capnjb Nice!
(Serendipity or design that the Merc is also silver?)
@macromeh I just play the hands I’m dealt
Ironically, our houses name is Serendipity 
edit - yes, we named our house
@capnjb BURNINATE!!!
@Cerridwyn @jouest @yakkoTDI
@mediocrebot so white.
I used to go to outdoor flea markets (CA) and garage sales, and yes there was some expected “negotiation.”
And as some mentioned, street markets in other countries. My wife was in Korea with me while I was working and went to one of the big markets in the morning. The classic line is “you are first customer of the day very good luck, so I give you good deal.”
I am pleased to say negotiating on big purchases (except real estate) these days is not a thing anymore, or for me anyway. Appliances bought from Costco but have to watch the ever-changing deals — only great sometimes but when they are good they are very good.
Car purchase was online in about 15 minutes. I won’t tell you the brand because you might fire-bomb it. It was like send info, confirmed, come in next week to pick it up. What, no pressure? No upsell? What if I want some accessories? We don’t sell those here; order online in the app they will send it to you.
@pmarin car buying without talking to anyone is BLISS.
@jouest @pmarin I bought mine through AAA, which was also no-haggle and no hassle.
Just about anything in Cambodia except the western style grocery store.
@Kidsandliz oh yeah in the international markets there was the thing where they have a calculator and type in a number and hand it to you so there is no confusion over numbers. Or you type in a lower number and hand it back to them with your offer.