Foo - What has been your best negotiation / barter?

I have to admit I'm not the best haggler around. I have negotiated with cars, houses, furniture and my cable bill before, but nothing else of significance. This is a skill I want to improve, especially for our travels now that we're going to be doing more overseas travelling.

What are your best price negotations, and tips.

I have to admit I'm not the best haggler around. I have negotiated with cars, houses, furniture and my cable bill before, but nothing else of significance. This is a skill I want to improve, especially for our travels now that we're going to be doing more overseas travelling.

What are your best price negotations, and tips.

Professionally I got BCBS to know a 14% increase to a 1% increase. Personally a few years ago I got my wife a brand new mitsubishi outlander for 14k out the door. Then some kid pulled out in front of us while at a wedding in Florida.

If you don't like the price, walk. I don't haggle, my time is to precious, and it amazes me the amount of car salesmen that have chased me to the parking lot.

Sometimes, patience is the best tool, if it's a situation in which you can wait. And switching between selling/buying or bartering as the case may warrant. I was recently trying to sell a pretty nice bicycle wheel, but couldn't get a decent price. I then switched to looking for a barter, and did an exchange for a crankset and extra chainrings that are worth maybe twice as much as the wheel, which I can now use or resell.

Try to figure out the motivation of the person you're dealing with. This guy had some nice cranks laying around, but really needed a wheel. So he was willing to trade a higher value item for something more useful to him.

Sometimes, patience is the best tool, if it's a situation in which you can wait. And switching between selling/buying or bartering as the case may warrant. I was recently trying to sell a pretty nice bicycle wheel, but couldn't get a decent price. I then switched to looking for a barter, and did an exchange for a crankset and extra chainrings that are worth maybe twice as much as the wheel, which I can now use or resell.

Try to figure out the motivation of the person you're dealing with. This guy had some nice cranks laying around, but really needed a wheel. So he was willing to trade a higher value item for something more useful to him.

Best is to have what they want, as you point out.

I once was offered $50 for a fifth of Jalapeno Infused Vodka. Aside from the waiting time it takes perhaps 10minutes to make. Cost under $6. Of course it was in hte bottle from some Sotol, which costs the whole of $25. I sort of liked the bottle.

Still it was another Rugby player and I insisted on no more than $30.

Money isn't everything.

BUT let's say 2 guys wanted that bottle. I only had one, once the bidding war starts I could see it up to $100 easily.

I talked her into marrying me.

I barter with the wife for sex. The honeydo list has got me some lately.

I barter with the wife for sex. The honeydo list has got me some lately.

I tried that. Gave her sex...she still wouldn't mow the lawn.

Traded cow for magic beans.

I tried that. Gave her sex...she still wouldn't mow the lawn.

I was watchin the wife mow the lawn last weekend. The old woman from next door came over none to happy that I was watching her cut grass. Told me I should be hung, I told her I am, why in the hell do you think she's cuttin the yard.

I was watchin the wife mow the lawn last weekend. The old woman from next door came over none to happy that I was watching her cut grass. Told me I should be hung, I told her I am, why in the hell do you think she's cuttin the yard.
:roflmao2:

In college, I wanted to get free access to the micro computer lab to make computer graphics. I told the director of the micro computer lab that I had the support of the Art department. Once I got his blessings, I went to the Art department and talked a professor into supporting me on the weight of having the blessings of the micro computer lab.

I became the first student to display computer art in the university art museum, stills, animation and interactive art. I even had to write my own paint program.

I tried that. Gave her sex...she still wouldn't mow the lawn.

Lawn first then sex. Noob. :lol:

I once got a set of golf clubs for my wife....fair trade.

OK, aside from Artkansas, you guys are all wishful thinkers (see how I did that without calling you liers :) ). I'm pretty sure behind all the bragging is a wife with a whip. I'm also quite certain that noise on Saturday mornings, coming from south of the boarder, is a combination of lawnmowers and cracks of a whip. Good try though :thumb:

My divorce. Don't get emotional about it, it's cheaper that way!

OK, aside from Artkansas, you guys are all wishful thinkers (see how I did that without calling you liers :) ).

My (ex) wife didn't do lawnmowing.

Lawnmowing pffft! Try wrassling with an overgrown Bougainvillea plant. That's yard care as a blood sport.

http://www.telecomtally.com/blog/odds_and_ends/Bougainvillea.jpg

If you don't like the price, walk. I don't haggle, my time is to precious, and it amazes me the amount of car salesmen that have chased me to the parking lot.

Even worse around here,they wear knee pads.