Asking for a Lower Price

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While this might be an appropriate strategy at places where prices are acknowledged to be somewhat arbitrary (like a farmer's market or insurance plan), places like restaurants and department stores have very specific pricing for specific reasons. The last thing we want to do is create a market economy in which prices are inflated and then we are expected to arbitrarily bargain them down.
The problem with this sort of economy is that you get tricked into thinking that you are getting a good deal when you aren't. Stable, non-negotiable pricing evolved in the US for a good reason and returning to a bargaining culture is a step backward, not forward.

Matt @ Thrive of NY 2:25PM December 09, 2008

To the insulting commentator from another elder - 69 yrs.. That was another time and world view. One that trained people (particularly US women) to be "captured consumers". Trained to a profit-centered fixed price thinking. It also captured one's capacity to explore, to excite oneself in the energy of a purchase interaction....I am ignoring the inherent classism in the viewpoint.
I encourage all of us to see the gift in engaging with one another in the dance of bargaining. People all over the world enjoy in time spent doing this. I learned about bargaining in Egypt, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. All places where the dance is done with zest. Only in places where North American, especially US, consumers had shopped did they adhere to fixed prices.

Carlotta Tyler of MA 3:37PM November 19, 2008

As a well "over 65" person, I was raised with the value that asking for a lower price was insulting both the seller and the buyer. In fact there was a very nasty ethnic/racial slur (J..ing down) for the person doing the asking. It also indicated that you should not be shopping at that location if you could not afford the prices set by the vendor, who knew what his overhead was, and priced accordingly.

Roberta Goldberg of CA 12:19PM November 19, 2008

Be very carful when 'just asking', some retail salespeople of the big stores will get nasty if you ask for a lower price. Some may even suggest you shop elsewhere. Circuit City, West Marine, and Radio Shack are good examples of this.

of MD 11:06AM November 19, 2008