these days, if i'm buying (or helping someone buy) i end up sorta cutting to the chase & just asking, "what do you think you'll really end up selling it for?" Lots of times (including sometimes when the answer is a repeat of the asking price), that price is about what I had in mind and it's all good. I suppose I take all of that a little lighter than some folks. I usually chuckle when someone says, "I don't want to insult you with an offer"...I mean, it's not insulting to me, I can just say no if I don't want to sell it!