How much haggling room is there??

[Michael]

Originally Posted by ryberg

I personally am on the side of not haggling, and this is in large part because of my exposure to the gulf between the incomes and socioeconomic levels of many of the people I've seen in the region and those of the people who can afford to travel to the region for vacations

But it seems the idea that the vendor may be expecting haggling is obviously important to them, and it seems that the socioeconomic discrepancies between them and the vendors is for their part not something they deem to be relevant.

So what you are saying is that my wife should not negotiate, but for some of her sisters (but not all) it is ok because their family incomes are less? ……???? (I'm certainly not going to be the one that explains this theory to Rosa and her sisters).

So how does this theory really work in practice? If I understand it properly (and I bet I don’t) in order to do proper Ryberg socioeconomically aware negotiation; Rosa should first ask for an audited income statement from the Jewelry store, and then if their income was lower than ours she is not allowed to negotiate. She has to move onto a store with a large enough income. And only if their income is higher than ours she is allowed to negotiate.

Hopefully I’ve got this somewhat right…..and my conscience is now somewhat clear….at least in regards to me negotiating for a lower price at Safeway. At least I’m hoping that the rule is based on the businesses earnings, and not the earnings of the individual employee that I am negotiating with.

Although that perhaps makes it simpler…I could start with “Show me your pay stub as that item is damaged and I want to ask for a lower price.” If the pay stub shows the employee is earning less than me I can then ask for a manager and keep going on until the appropriate socioeconomic balance is achieved and then I can ask for the discount. Though my guess is the employees are going to beg me to take the 20% off and leave the store before the manager even finds out. But I would know to hold my ground until someone earning as much or more than me offers me the discount.

I can’t help thinking the logic supporting all of this is somewhat flawed. …..anyway........ listening to Delmy explain to Rosa when she can and cannot negotiate using this socio-economic theory will be an education.

I could just see the result if Delmy did convince Rosa that this is how she should negotiate……Rosa is in Playa and she wants some jewelry but the vendor does not have an audited income statement. Rosa knows the asking price is far too high for that item she wants, and she is very certain that the sales person will probably accept 75% of the asking price. But as our family income could reasonably be presumed higher than the vendor she would not be right to negotiate. At first it seems that Rosa is going to miss out on that piece of jewelry.

But Rosa is in luck, Rosa’s widowed sister with 2 kids is with us. Rosa asks her to do the negotiation as there can surely be no inequitable socio-economic imbalance that would disqualify the negotiation. Her sister gets the item for 50% of the asking price and gives it to Rosa for nothing. A win win win. I’m getting the hang of this……..

Though I’m not sure that my boss is going to like my new negotiating style. Perhaps this chapter in my negotiation theory education should stay our little secret. Besides I know you are going to give me an F, as I did not really understand a word of what you where trying to explain.

I know you are not saying everyone in Mexico is poor..no way......you are certainly not saying that. And you are not saying we (my family) earns more than any retail business in Mexico. And you can't be saying we should not negotiate because there are some poor people in Mexico. If I was doing a deal with Carlos Slim you would not fault me from negotiating the best deal for my employer (or for myself if that was the situation). And so the diatribe above was the only sense I could make of what you posted.

I have a very big contract to close tomorrow, but I'll be using the theory that was taught to me in the class room for that one.

[ale]

I feel bat to think that this whole issue about bargain got so big, lost of its original idea and silly in a way.
I can't really understand how someone that pays more than $100 per night at a hotel can be thinking about fighting 5 or 10 dollars for a souvenir.
I would like to see if when you try to cross the Golden Gate in a few weeks when it will be $6 dollars, if you are going to consider to tell the guy at the both that 6 is too much and you will only pay $4 or so. May be you'll get lucky and he will let you go?
Anyhow, i think the point is not to get to greedy and if you do not like the price just say
no and maybe the vendor will say, hey you can have it for this much less, just do not
try to get and extra dollar off after that!!
You will save more money and help the local economy better if you get a cheaper place and spend a little more among the locals.
Hope you do not take my comment wrong, it is just an opinion.
Thanks.
Ale

[Michael]

Originally Posted by ale

I feel bat to think that this whole issue about bargain got so big, lost of its original idea and silly in a way.

Don’t feel bat, these threads are always like this. Same old script same old tired arguments. I make only one new post a year everything else I post is just a rehash of something I’ve rehashed a dozen times before.

[ale]

Can someone help me to edit the words under my picture?
It says lost on fifth now and i would like to fix it.

Thanks.

Ale.

[ryberg]

I'm just saying what I said in my post, Michael, not all those other things you ran with there in your response. And note that I simply tried to say, like you, that we continue to see the same views presented on this topic every time it comes up. I identified which view I adhere to more but did not emphasize that or try to argue that everyone should feel that way. I don't feel the need to work out precisely the underlying logical steps of that view even for my own sake. But if you want to go that route, knock yourself out. Somehow I just don't think it's going to affect the debate the next time the topic comes up, though.

Steve

[OregonNative]

Originally Posted by Bumper

I guess that's pretty much the way of it, JG. I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms. In general, I tend to be pretty relaxed about these kinds of things. They just don't seem that significant. Hey, we're talking about pottery, or silver bangles, or hammocks here, not penicillin. As you can imagine, when I was involved in big time buying, the process had a little more pressure attached, so I find it a bit tough getting too excited about this kind of negotiating.

Originally Posted by January Guy

I had the same question at first, but I think the difference is Bumper has chosen not engage in the back and forth part of true haggling. When I say true haggling, I think of where you have to decide how much to offer and how to present your offer. Bumper basically has a price in mind and if the merchant dips to that price Bumper will buy, but Bumper request that lower price and won't push to person to that price. It's kind of like saying to the merchant that I'm not going to try to beat down your price, but if you decide to drop your price, that is your business and I'll consider your revised offer. Seems like a less stressful way to shop!

Thats what we do. When we enter the shop we know how much we are willing to pay and if the price is to high we just walk away. Most of the time when they see that we are leaving they will follow us out and offer a lower price, but if not then we just continue on to the next shop until we find something in our price range.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by OregonNative

Thats what we do. When we enter the shop we know how much we are willing to pay and if the price is to high we just walk away. Most of the time when they see that we are leaving they will follow us out and offer a lower price, but if not then we just continue on to the next shop until we find something in our price range.

That's that... What do you call it, again? Ah -- shopping!



That's the procedure we follow all the time, everywhere.

Steve

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by ale

Can someone help me to edit the words under my picture?
It says lost on fifth now and i would like to fix it.

Thanks.

Ale.

You can't change the description. It is automatic, based on the number of posts you've made. The designation will change as your post count increases.

[ryberg]

I can edit mine:

User CP > Edit Profile > Custom User Title

Is this not something available to mere mortals?

Steve

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by ryberg

I can edit mine:

User CP > Edit Profile > Custom User Title

Is this not something available to mere mortals?

Steve

I don't believe so, Steve. My understanding was that this particular ability is restricted to us mods. Just one of the huge number of valuable perks and benefits we receive....yeah....right. I could be wrong though, so somebody will just have to try it out and see.