Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: At a flea market or garage sale
• Method 2 of 5: Abroad
• Method 3 of 5: Buy a house, car, or other expensive item
• Method 4 of 5: Mistakes to Avoid
• Method 5 of 5: Phrases you can use while haggling
• Warnings
• Tips

Sometimes the asking price is just too high - or maybe you have to convince a potential customer otherwise! Either way, politely haggling is a fun and nimble way to negotiate a price that everyone can agree on. Read on to find out how to negotiate a wide variety of products - from flea market bargains to buying real estate!

To step

Method 1 of 5: At a flea market or garage sale

1. Don't dress too smartly. You don't have to do everything you can to look shabby, but avoid clothes that look blatantly expensive. Chances are you will be negotiating cheap stuff, and a fashionable suit or dress will show the seller that you have the money to pay full price.
   • Don't forget to take off eye-catching jewelry and watches for the same reason.
2. Don't come until the end of the day. In the last two hours before the sellers pack up and leave, they will be anxious to get rid of their leftover merchandise.
   • The disadvantage of arriving late is that you have less choice. If you want as much choice as possible, come early. The prices are, however, higher.
   • If the flea market is seasonal, the time of year can also affect the price. Sellers will have a large stock of off-season items when the flea market has just opened. They will be keen to get rid of this so that they have the space to obtain more desirable items.
3. Think of a maximum price and keep it to yourself. When you've found something you'd like to buy, decide what you'd like to pay for it. If you draw a clear line, you prevent a seller from convincing you to pay more than you actually want.
   • Never tell the seller this price! If you do that, the seller has no reason to offer you a lower price.
   • You can try to shop around the flea market first to get an idea of ​​what prices similar items are sold for. However, you have no guarantee that you will find a similar item, and the item you so badly wanted may have already been purchased by someone else in the meantime.
4. Make a low but reasonable offer. Most sellers expect buyers to haggle, but bidding less than 50% of the asking price will only insult the seller.
   • Asking for a 25 to 50% discount is usually seen as a reasonable price for an initial counter offer in a flea market, but the final price is more likely to be 10-25% below the asking price.
5. Show the seller that you are hesitant before accepting their counter offer. Making a noise like "hmmm" or just waiting a while before answering makes you seem less willing to buy the item. This improves your negotiating position.
   • Just keeping quiet can make the seller make you a better offer. This works better if you have the seller's full attention. If you're trying to buy a one dollar keychain, the seller might just ignore you and target another customer!
   • After a pause, make a new offer that is between your last offer and the seller's current offer.
6. Continue to negotiate until you agree on a price or until the seller declines. Don't hesitate until the seller drops the price below your secret maximum price. If the seller doesn't want to drop the price that much, try these other tactics:
   • Agree to the seller's final offer on the condition that he adds another item you're interested in for a reduced price.
   • Have a friend pretend to pull you away or convince you to walk on. This may cause the seller to make a final offer.
   • If there is no friend of yours around, just walk away to achieve the same effect. Once you try this, however, you won't get a better price walking back to the stand!
   • Get out the amount of cash you offer and let it be up to the seller to entice them right away. Do not attempt this with a large amount of money, or in places where you are likely to be robbed or where there are many pickpockets.

Method 2 of 5: Abroad

1. Don't show where you come from. If you are in a country much poorer than the country you come from, the locals expect you to pay higher prices. Chances are you can't hide this, especially if you don't speak the local language. In any case, try to wear as little foreign clothing and expensive accessories as possible.
2. Learn when it is possible to negotiate. This is always a good step to take before you start negotiating, but it is especially important if you are unfamiliar with the local culture.
   • If the prices are prominently displayed, as in most malls or restaurants, you are less likely to be able to haggle successfully. The exception to this is when there are two prices listed - one in English and one in the local language!
   • Ask a local friend where you can bargain and what he or she pays for the item you're interested in. If there is a difference, then you know that the seller can also sell the item for a lower price.
3. Don't come until the day is almost over. This is when salespeople are getting ready to leave and eager to get rid of their inventory.
   • Ask a local if there are any exceptions in the area that he or she may be aware of. For example, some sellers in the Thai city of Chiang Mai may be willing to offer an attractive discount on the first sale of the day. It is believed that this first sale brings good luck.
4. Bargain until the seller offers the price you have in mind. Determine your maximum price and keep it to yourself. Then negotiate with the seller by bidding and always rejecting the seller's counter-offer until you reach the price that you have set in advance.
   • Choose a price in your own currency and then roughly convert it into the currency you use. It's easy to get used to local prices, but don't let a high or low exchange rate fool you into turning down a good offer or paying more than you'd like.
   • You can make an offer that is much lower than the stated asking price if you are sure that price has increased for foreigners. Let the seller know you know and you might get the item for the local asking price.
   • The correct counter offer strongly depends on which country you are in. There can be big differences here. If possible, ask a local in advance what a reasonable offer would be. If you have to gamble, never bid more than 50% below the stated asking price.
5. When negotiating, speak in the local language as much as possible when possible. Even if you have never learned or studied the language, take some time in advance to learn a polite greeting, as well as "thank you." This way you show respect and interest for the local culture. The seller, in turn, will also treat you with respect.
   • If you're just starting to learn the language, use the words for numbers in the local language while negotiating, even if you can't have a full conversation yet.
6. Keep negotiating until you both agree on the price. When the seller offers the price you want to pay for it, buy the item and thank the seller. To get the seller to offer that price, you may need to use the following tactics:
   • By showing that you are hesitant or by remaining quiet, you can help the seller to make you a better offer. However, in some cultures this can be seen as a sign of disinterest.If the seller turns around, start talking right away - but you don't have to increase your own bid right away.
   • Agree to the seller's final offer on the condition that he adds another item you're interested in for a reduced price.
   • Have a friend pretend to pull you away or convince you to walk on. This may cause the seller to make a final offer.
   • If there is no friend of yours around, just walk away to achieve the same effect. Once you try this, however, you won't get a better price walking back to the stand!
   • Get out the amount of cash you offer and let it be up to the seller to entice them right away. Do not attempt this with a large amount of money (keep in mind that the locals may have a different idea of ​​what a "large amount" is), or in places where you are likely to be robbed or where many pickpockets are active. to be.

Method 3 of 5: Buy a house, car, or other expensive item

1. Do your research. Do some preliminary "homework" in advance by searching the Internet or by visiting other stores to find out the lowest prices for the item you want to buy.
   • By printing out a counter offer or writing down the website address to show to the seller while negotiating, you show that you've done research and are willing to move to another store.
   • Make sure to look at similar products. Just because you've found a used model for half the price doesn't mean you can get a new model for that price.
   • If you are thinking about a home, ask a real estate agent to provide you with a list of similar homes on the market and what prices similar homes have been sold for. Also find out how long the house has been for sale - the longer the house has been for sale, the more willing the owners are to lower the asking price.
   • Make sure you are familiar with the functions and features of the product and how they compare with similar products. The more knowledge you have, the better you can assess the terms and conditions that apply to the purchase.
2. Dress well. If you look your best while negotiating expensive products, the other party will respect you more. This is especially true when negotiating a home.
3. Be discreet when negotiating. If you buy a television or car in a public place, the seller will not want customers nearby to discover that they can get a product cheaper. To get the best deals, don't talk too loud and keep the conversation private.
4. Make a low but reasonable opening bid. The research you have done earlier should give you a good idea of ​​how much leeway you have. Be careful not to bid too low and offend the seller.
   • When buying a house, a decent offer is usually 5 to 10% below the asking price.
5. Give the other person a reason to lower their price. If the seller disagrees with your offer, then give them a reason why they should change their mind. It is difficult to bargain for very expensive products by simply stating both prices.
   • Point out your past as a loyal customer at the store, if applicable, or offer an added benefit. For example, if you buy a car, offer to have them serviced at their garage if they sell you the car. If you sell a home, agree to pay for a repair to be done.
   • Discuss any flaws the product has, no matter how minor. A small dent or a feature that doesn't work as advertised can be a good reason to get a discount.
   • Explain that you are not satisfied with some aspect of the product, such as the style or lack of matching products (such as a wireless keyboard for a computer). Be careful not to offend the seller, especially if he made or designed the product himself.
6. Ask for coupons, offers or a cash discount. Merchants do not have to pay a credit card transaction fee if you pay in cash, and can pass that discount on to you. Of course you can only ask for this if you have a credit card.
   • Warning: This can go wrong if you're trying to buy a home. Having enough cash with you to buy a house can indicate to the seller that you are rich enough to pay a higher price.
7. Continue to negotiate until you agree on a price or until the seller declines. Continue to hesitate until the seller reduces the price to an amount that you find acceptable. If the seller doesn't want to lower the price to an amount you're happy with, try these other tactics:
   • When you bid on a house, send a polite email thanking them for making a counter offer, but wait several days before making another counter offer yourself. This gives them time to worry that you might not be interested and think about lowering the price.
   • Explain that you have a partner or relative at home who is limited on your budget. You could even pretend to call the person if you have to. If you are not completely free to determine what price you can pay, the seller may partially give in.
   • If you can't get more than a mediocre deal, ask the salesperson how long they can hold that price for you. Listing that price to other sellers may cause both those sellers and the first seller to lower their prices.
8. Keep a close eye on the transaction. Reading the fine print on your home purchase contract or warranty agreement is always a good idea. If the final price or terms are different from what you expected, please contact the other party immediately. You may have to negotiate further.

Method 4 of 5: Mistakes to Avoid

1. Never show that you are enthusiastic. If you show that you are keen to buy or sell an item, the other party knows they can get a more attractive price for it.
2. Do not try to bargain if the other party is not open to it. You are expected to bargain when you buy an expensive product, or when people try to get rid of stuff at a flea market or garage sale. You'll be much less successful - and annoy the salesperson - when you try to haggle on the price of a restaurant meal or bus ticket.
   • While self-employed family business owners will themselves have the power to negotiate deals, they often have a smaller margin of profit and less leeway when it comes to discounts. If they seem offended by your attempt to haggle, don't go through with it.
   • Larger chains and department stores often have a policy that can also specify whether discounts are allowed or not. If the salesperson says he is not authorized to give discounts, ask if you can speak to someone who is authorized to do so.
3. Don't be rude or condescending. Treat the other party well and he or she will do the same to you.
   • Careful! This does not mean that you should only say good things about the product you are planning to buy. If you come across as enthusiastic, this shows the seller that you are willing to pay more for the product.
4. Don't get angry or get too carried away in negotiating. Bargaining can be fun, but it is a means to an end and not an end in itself. If you've been negotiating for ten minutes and neither of you have changed your price, talking further probably won't help.
5. Do not negotiate small amounts. If you managed to get 50 dollars off the seller's first offer and then refuse to close a 50 cent gap, the other party will regret doing business with you.
6. Don't ask the seller for their "best price" and then keep haggling. Especially when it comes to small items in a flea market, the seller knows at what price he wants to sell his products. If the seller has honestly told you the "best price", he will only be annoyed if you continue to negotiate.

Method 5 of 5: Phrases you can use while haggling

1. Try to arouse the seller's sympathy. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, let the seller know.
   • "I am unemployed / student / retired."
   • "I only have X to spend this month. Will that work for you?"
2. Try to get the seller to lower the price himself. Try to convince the seller to tell you what their lowest price is, or at least let them make concessions.
   • "How flexible can you be with this product?"
   • "If your competitor can sell it for X, you probably can too." (Just make sure the comparison is reasonable. Don't insult the seller by comparing it to a product that is clearly inferior.)
3. Pressure the seller to close a deal quickly. If you're in a hurry, the seller won't have time to convince you to pay more.
   • "I can now immediately pay you everything if you lower the price to X."
   • "I'm only here this afternoon."
4. Be firm with the buyer. If they didn't want to buy your product, they wouldn't try to bargain for it.
   • "Sorry, but I really need X for that product."
   • "An even lower price and I will not make any money from it."
5. Temporarily send the buyer away. If the buyer does not meet your current price, then you will be rid of him if you close a deal with conditions attached. You can still sell the product if you can't get rid of it for a better price.
   • "I'm not willing to sell for that price now. If you come back half an hour before closing, I'll think about it."
   • "I'm going to try and sell it for my price. Why don't you leave your phone number with me so I can call you if no one bought it when the market closes?"
6. Tell the other person that you are not the one making the decision. It seems like you are more difficult to convince if you claim that someone else is making the decision.
   • "I would like to buy this, but my wife / my father won't allow me to spend that much money."
   • "Sorry, but it is this shop's policy not to give discounts."
   • "The owner / company sets the prices. Unfortunately I am not able to adjust them myself."

Warnings

• Sometimes it is the case that if you ask a large retail chain for a discount on a product and get it, the purchase final is closed. The product will not be taken back, exchanged or refunded to you. You will probably be stuck with it, so make sure you really want the product.
• If you harass, intimidate, or condescend the other party, you will be less likely to get a good deal.

Tips

• The local culture is always more important than general advice. If you are traveling in a foreign country and a salesperson seems offended by the tactics you use, apologize and switch tactics appropriately. The other person will likely give you some space if they know you are a foreigner, as long as you remain polite.
• Search the products that are on sale or ask which discount promotions the store has soon. The products are not only cheaper, but will probably be discounted even further by a retailer who wants to make room for more popular products.