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Post by peano on Apr 7, 2024 17:03:06 GMT
DH and I just got back from the nearby Elephant's Trunk, one of the preeminent flea markets in the country. I was specifically looking for collage fodder, copper pieces, brass candlesticks and interesting oddities. DH got really frustrated with me because I got no game when it comes to negotiating. They say $4, I say OK. He's then like, if you want something, call me over and I'll tell you what to offer. But he doesn't understand why I'm paying $ for vintage things I'm just going to cut up. I wasn't dressed warmly enough, but it was such fun to walk around looking at things and drinking coffee. I got three vintage copper items for my mantel, a farming manual from the 1850s with awesome illustrations, a 1930s bird book with lots of illustrations, vintage crochet lace, and some Daguerreotype-style photos of women and kids from the late 19th, early 20th centuries.
I just realized after watching a dealer load a 76 RPM Glenn Miller record onto a Victrola-style player, that I need one in my life. I miss the snap, crackle and pop of real records. The dealer refurbs them and sells them and the records and they are pretty reasonable. Maybe for Mother's Day?
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Post by smasonnc on Apr 7, 2024 18:01:30 GMT
I negotiate. Living in Asia, I got pretty good at it. A $4 item, though, just hand over the money.
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Post by magoosangel on Apr 7, 2024 18:44:01 GMT
Yes, I always negotiate
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 7, 2024 18:59:25 GMT
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Post by peasapie on Apr 7, 2024 19:38:55 GMT
My husband negotiates almost everywhere. I run and hide while he’s getting 10% off at Home Depot.
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Post by Zee on Apr 7, 2024 20:09:02 GMT
No I don't. It's annoying to have people try it with me when I'm selling my stuff at an event, which is NOT a flea market. "Would you take--" NO. You don't need to save $5 on my handmade items you cheap bastard. Go home. (Says me on the inside, on the outside I smile politely)
Well I should admit I did it once at an antique store when they were asking more than I truly wanted to pay, and they did agree. It was difficult for me to do! And I'd never try that with something made by the artist.
I never do it on vacation, either, although I know it's expected in some cultures and even enjoyed. I hate haggling. I just want to know the price.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,913
Member is Online
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Apr 7, 2024 20:47:54 GMT
Elephant Trunk is awesome! We love going there.
And yes, I usually ask "can you do any better than <whatever the price is>?"
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Post by peano on Apr 7, 2024 20:58:58 GMT
peano How about 78 RPM? 😊 Yeah, I knew that, haha. I had some wine...
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Post by peano on Apr 7, 2024 21:01:40 GMT
No I don't. It's annoying to have people try it with me when I'm selling my stuff at an event, which is NOT a flea market. "Would you take--" NO. You don't need to save $5 on my handmade items you cheap bastard. Go home. (Says me on the inside, on the outside I smile politely) Well I should admit I did it once at an antique store when they were asking more than I truly wanted to pay, and they did agree. It was difficult for me to do! And I'd never try that with something made by the artist. I never do it on vacation, either, although I know it's expected in some cultures and even enjoyed. I hate haggling. I just want to know the price. I would never haggle with artisans, who are not selling at flea markets. I have a hard enough time doing it at flea markets.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 7, 2024 21:04:02 GMT
Absolutely! I enjoy the back and forth banter of it and always give reasonable counter offers. Definitely not trying to get something for nothing. We spent years in countries where that was the norm, so it was sink or swim. DH is NOT a negotiator. I'm the one who takes care of it in our family. DD took after me (and my father) and does a lot of contract negotiations as part of her job. A few years ago DD was buying her first car completely on her own and asked me to go as a second set of eyes on the car (used). She specified that her father was not allowed to come because she planned to bargain and his method of shopping is to ask the price then write a check! .
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,110
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Apr 7, 2024 22:38:26 GMT
No im not... not at flea markets or garage sales or anywhere...
You price it at $4... then ill pay 4 or move on..
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Post by Laurie on Apr 7, 2024 23:27:33 GMT
My 12 year old dd had a booth at the local flea market this weekend to sell her tumblers, pens, keychains, etc. She also did a half booth last month. Between both weekends she only had 1 person negotiate with her and it was a fellow vendor. She asked if she would do a boy one, get one half off on her tumblers.
I was expecting it to happen more so had told her beforehand to know how she wanted to handle any offers.
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Post by Embri on Apr 7, 2024 23:52:16 GMT
Depends on the item, the price, and the location.
Artist/artisan goods? No; either I'm willing to pay the listed price or I pass. The only negotiation was when I bartered some of my stock for leftover baked goods at the end of a selling day, when I was also a vendor.
Garage sale/flea market? Maybe. Depends on the item and price. If it's a kid I don't unless a parent doing the actual selling and I'm buying in bulk. I might make offers if I feel the seller's prices aren't reasonable - if they don't accept that's okay, but I won't be a buyer. I'll also negotiate if there's something seriously wrong with the item that isn't obvious - it's missing parts or w/e and it doesn't feel like that's reflected by the asking price. Commonly I'd also make offers on lots, like "I'll buy these five bins at X dollar amount each" rather than pick out items, and that usually works well.
If something's already a great deal to me, I don't try and get a discount.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Apr 8, 2024 0:03:04 GMT
DH got really frustrated with me because I got no game when it comes to negotiating. My husband negotiates almost everywhere. I run and hide while he’s getting 10% off at Home Depot. My husband is the negotiator! Me - not so much. My kids - yes. They learned from the best. Oldest DD has bought 2 homes, and it quite savvy in those negotiations. My middle child bought her first new car on her own after college. The salesman told her dad he had never been impressed as much by someone that age. So polite, but firm in the deal. My son has the motto "if it's not free - it's not me" ... he got so many free shirts at conferences, etc. in High School and college. LOL He has negotiated higher salaries at his job too.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 8, 2024 0:15:45 GMT
I am not. I dislike shopping at places like that to begin with and I really, REALLY hate it when people try to haggle with me when I’m the seller and I already have the stuff dirt cheap and priced to move. Just price the things fairly and I’ll pay what you ask.
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Post by bunnyhug on Apr 8, 2024 0:57:21 GMT
I am not at all a haggler ... but I also loathe going to flea markets and garage sales ... so if you've managed to get me somewhere like that, I'll just pay whatever the asking price is and try to get myself out of there asap
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 8, 2024 1:10:25 GMT
Crafts/art, no way! Flea market, depends.
Although I was at a craft fair and there sat an item I made on a table. The deserved a trip to the fair authorities. I took the item home, free! I mean really, it had my signature in the bottom!!
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Post by lisae on Apr 8, 2024 1:13:06 GMT
At a flea market, yes. At a store, no. I've made a couple of purchases a local antique stores recently and I probably could have gotten a little off by asking but I did not. They have their overhead and I didn't think either place was really thriving.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,189
Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
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Post by pilcas on Apr 8, 2024 1:34:37 GMT
I truly dislike haggling or negotiating. I remember being in Morocco and wanting to buy a T shirt for my niece. I asked for the price and instead of answering he began to show me a whole bunch of T shirts and I left. I was just not going to spend half an hour to buy a T shirt. Instead I bought one in Spain in a tourist shop, a 5 minute transaction. Did I pay more? Probably but it was a much more pleasant experience.
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Post by katiekaty on Apr 8, 2024 2:46:31 GMT
Absolutely, I will wrangle the best dang deal I can, my oldest daughter loves when I go with her to flea markets. She ha a list and gives me a set amount of money and a dare to get as much as I can for that amount. And I will. I rarely buy from craft vendors because they want to sell high, won’t make deal even if I want to more than two or three, etc so I avoid them like the plague. I might sli in a photo and go home Ang copy the idea—though, a little dealing and they could have some profit! I usually can beat or match her list which always surprises my daughter! Most sellers recognize that often quantity does mean more money in the long run. That does not mean I take advantage. I know what most items go for and refused to pay any more than an items worth and at a flea market, I expect to pay 50-60 % of open market value.
They only price on item I pay full value on is Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn and there is always booths for them during there selling seasons and sometimes they get a little extra😉
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Post by Zee on Apr 8, 2024 6:17:46 GMT
Absolutely, I will wrangle the best dang deal I can, my oldest daughter loves when I go with her to flea markets. She ha a list and gives me a set amount of money and a dare to get as much as I can for that amount. And I will. I rarely buy from craft vendors because they want to sell high, won’t make deal even if I want to more than two or three, etc so I avoid them like the plague. I might sli in a photo and go home Ang copy the idea—though, a little dealing and they could have some profit! I usually can beat or match her list which always surprises my daughter! Most sellers recognize that often quantity does mean more money in the long run. That does not mean I take advantage. I know what most items go for and refused to pay any more than an items worth and at a flea market, I expect to pay 50-60 % of open market value. They only price on item I pay full value on is Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn and there is always booths for them during there selling seasons and sometimes they get a little extra😉 The craft vendors are probably happy you're avoiding them like the plague. Cheap people wanting a deal or a price break on a handmade item can keep stepping. Taking a pic so you can recreate it, delightful. 🙄
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Post by kkooch on Apr 8, 2024 12:14:14 GMT
If it's something inexpensive I never negotiate, higher prices I may try and get a couple dollars off. I think the reason I rarely ask is that the ones I do ask always say no. I have tag/garage sales about 3 times a year. I don't mind people asking for a deal but don't ask if I'll take 50% off.
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Post by mikklynn on Apr 8, 2024 12:52:45 GMT
For a $4 item, no,I wouldn't haggle. For handmade items, again, no. At a flea market, yes, I will definitely haggle. I was always the car buying person, as negotiating was a big part of my job, so I am comfortable doing so. I am always polite and accept that the answer may be no.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 8, 2024 13:45:38 GMT
Absolutely, I will wrangle the best dang deal I can, my oldest daughter loves when I go with her to flea markets. She ha a list and gives me a set amount of money and a dare to get as much as I can for that amount. And I will. I rarely buy from craft vendors because they want to sell high, won’t make deal even if I want to more than two or three, etc so I avoid them like the plague. I might sli in a photo and go home Ang copy the idea—though, a little dealing and they could have some profit! I usually can beat or match her list which always surprises my daughter! Most sellers recognize that often quantity does mean more money in the long run. That does not mean I take advantage. I know what most items go for and refused to pay any more than an items worth and at a flea market, I expect to pay 50-60 % of open market value. They only price on item I pay full value on is Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn and there is always booths for them during there selling seasons and sometimes they get a little extra😉 There is a huge difference between an artisan selling handmade wares and someone with stuff made in a factory in China selling (possibly used) items at a flea market. The person selling their handmade things very likely wouldn’t be making much of anything selling 2-3 items with a “volume” discount because they’re most likely not getting their raw goods that they make their things out of at true wholesale prices. They’re also making each item one by one, by hand and with some level of skill which takes more time than a factory mass producing a similar thing. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. What you think something is worth and what it’s actually worth could be two very different things. Many times people making and selling handmade items don’t adequately value their time and skill set so they price things lower than they should be to begin with, so to tell them their items should be worth even less than that is actually an insult, IMO. I see this all the time with cottage food bakers selling their hand decorated sugar cookies for $20-25 a dozen, and at that price after taking out COGS they’re not even making anything close to minimum wage and might as well go get a job at McDonald’s. It’s one thing to see something at a craft or art fair and think, “hey I like that and have the skill set, tools and materials to make it myself for less,” and another thing entirely to then go on to do so. Go for it! Spend YOUR time making the thing. (But then please don’t take photos of MY product in MY booth that I’ve spent my time and money on so you can go home and copy it, that’s also just not cool.) A lot of the people who think that don’t actually go home and make the thing. I’ve realized that I’m one of them, so a few years back I decided that if I see something handmade and I really, REALLY like it, I’m just going to buy it from the artisan because the odds are very good that even if I have the skill set, ALL the equipment and ALL the materials, I don’t have the time or the patience to actually DO it. I love a good deal too, but having been on the crafter side of the register I know how crappy it feels to have someone devalue my time and skills in that way. Just some food for thought.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Apr 8, 2024 13:54:13 GMT
Sometimes, if it is a big ticket item I will ask if that is the best they can do. I would never negotiate on a handmade item/craft seller. I agree with everything posted right above me.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,048
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Apr 8, 2024 15:32:09 GMT
I don't go to flea markets or garage sales because I don't like to haggle for prices. I really hate it. And I will not throw a garage sale for the same reason. I threw one and it didn't matter what price I set. I could have said 1 penny and the person would say how about free? No thanks. I'd rather just donate it. The trouble of setting up for a garage sale isn't worth it.
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Post by melanell on Apr 8, 2024 18:28:10 GMT
Negotiating for me is very dependent on the person & situation. Sometimes you can tell a person selling at the flea market or a yard sale never attends any themselves, because their prices are very outside the norm for the area. I have learned over the years that those people tend to not appreciate negotiating. Same with people who tape Ebay screen shot print-outs to their items. So I don't spend a lot of time even trying with them. Sometimes you can tell people are very invested in certain items--they come tell you all about them, and how special they are, etc. So many times in those cases, I will pay full price for the item the person obvious sees as having great value, then I'll ask for a discount on any other items. I always try for a discount if I am buying a lot of one item. This used to happen more when my kids were little. I'd hit a sale in Sept. and come across someone selling clothing in the size my kid would need that fall/winter, and I'd ask if they would do any less if I bought 10 items, 20 items, etc. Sometimes I just add up my purchases and see if they'll round down. (And many sellers just automatically do that.) If I have $22.50 worth of stuff chosen, I'll see if they'll take $20. That kind of thing. But typically, if a price seems really fair to me, then I go with it. Especially when I'm only buying one thing. So I wouldn't negotiate if buying one $4 item. But that's just me. I know for some people, part of the fun is negotiating every price. Those type of people love my DH. He'll always take any price someone asks.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
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Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on Apr 8, 2024 18:39:26 GMT
I'm not unless I know that the event I am at thinks it is okay. My dad tries to haggle for everything that is homeowner repair related. I keep telling him these people need to make a living and he can afford to pay their prices.
That said, I make seriously detailed handmade jewelry. I never charge for all of my time because then my prices would be in the hundreds or thousands for most of my pieces. I have had many come up to me at high end art shows and try to haggle. I politely tell them that the price is firm and they can buy it or walk away. The only people I give a discount to are repeat customers who have bought from me at previous shows. I once had a show that was a fundraiser for Brandeis University. One woman brought me in for the show and she must have told all her friends that I would give a discount because she brought me into the show. They all came up and asked for a discount. I told all of them (including the original woman no). I reminded them that I had to pay a percentage of my sales. They got really nasty with me. When the coordinator contacted me to get my percentage, I gave her a percentage of my net sales, not gross. She got nasty with me and I told her that the all the shows I have done, asked for net NOT gross sales. Gross means I lose out on my materials cost and my time and my markup is so slim as it is. She didn't like it and I stood my ground. She then told me that they wouldn't be asking me back. I said that is fine and I explained that all her friends tried to get a deal from me and that would have eaten away at what the organization got. If she wanted more money, she needed to tell her friends to fork over what the items were worth and to try and stop getting a deal from the vendors. She was dumbfounded. I never went back.
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Post by Embri on Apr 9, 2024 1:31:34 GMT
If she wanted more money, she needed to tell her friends to fork over what the items were worth and to try and stop getting a deal from the vendors. She was dumbfounded. I never went back. I'm dumbfounded by folks like this. Talk about main character syndrome! Happily none of the venues I've ever sold at cared how much you sold - pricing was by location and booth size only. Maybe it's different for higher end art goods? My niche was almost exclusively vintage second hand items.
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Post by katiekaty on Apr 9, 2024 3:04:40 GMT
Absolutely, I will wrangle the best dang deal I can, my oldest daughter loves when I go with her to flea markets. She ha a list and gives me a set amount of money and a dare to get as much as I can for that amount. And I will. I rarely buy from craft vendors because they want to sell high, won’t make deal even if I want to more than two or three, etc so I avoid them like the plague. I might sli in a photo and go home Ang copy the idea—though, a little dealing and they could have some profit! I usually can beat or match her list which always surprises my daughter! Most sellers recognize that often quantity does mean more money in the long run. That does not mean I take advantage. I know what most items go for and refused to pay any more than an items worth and at a flea market, I expect to pay 50-60 % of open market value. They only price on item I pay full value on is Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn and there is always booths for them during there selling seasons and sometimes they get a little extra😉 There is a huge difference between an artisan selling handmade wares and someone with stuff made in a factory in China selling (possibly used) items at a flea market. The person selling their handmade things very likely wouldn’t be making much of anything selling 2-3 items with a “volume” discount because they’re most likely not getting their raw goods that they make their things out of at true wholesale prices. They’re also making each item one by one, by hand and with some level of skill which takes more time than a factory mass producing a similar thing. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. What you think something is worth and what it’s actually worth could be two very different things. Many times people making and selling handmade items don’t adequately value their time and skill set so they price things lower than they should be to begin with, so to tell them their items should be worth even less than that is actually an insult, IMO. I see this all the time with cottage food bakers selling their hand decorated sugar cookies for $20-25 a dozen, and at that price after taking out COGS they’re not even making anything close to minimum wage and might as well go get a job at McDonald’s. It’s one thing to see something at a craft or art fair and think, “hey I like that and have the skill set, tools and materials to make it myself for less,” and another thing entirely to then go on to do so. Go for it! Spend YOUR time making the thing. (But then please don’t take photos of MY product in MY booth that I’ve spent my time and money on so you can go home and copy it, that’s also just not cool.) A lot of the people who think that don’t actually go home and make the thing. I’ve realized that I’m one of them, so a few years back I decided that if I see something handmade and I really, REALLY like it, I’m just going to buy it from the artisan because the odds are very good that even if I have the skill set, ALL the equipment and ALL the materials, I don’t have the time or the patience to actually DO it. I love a good deal too, but having been on the crafter side of the register I know how crappy it feels to have someone devalue my time and skills in that way. Just some food for thought. I am not talking about asking for or low balling the vendors and causing them to lose great amounts of money! I know what time and effort goes into to making items for sale, but I also know for some items there is a huge mark up in price and I am not even begrudging them on that. I usually see something I like and ask about discounts on buying as mus as 6, 8 or ten or more! Seriously, st craft fair prices, they could give a couple dollars off a mud or sign considering the quantity that would be ordered when they would be identical! I have been told I was nuts, an evil witch, out of my mind, etc. I had one vendo toss a card at me and tell me te call her when I was ready to pay her extremely reasonable price of $45 dollars for her 20 ounce Yeti (um, not yet but Walmart Ozark cup) with just regular vinyl applied! Most often these vendors lost a customer that is will to do repeat buys 5-10 times a year and give good referrals. We are. Large family and we like giving personalized gifts that are easy that makes up looked like we worked hard to find the perfect gift but actually didn’t really have to work hard! so yeah, for the most part , I do avoid those types of vendors! My favorite vendors are those who sell vintage kitchen items and old cookbooks, old vintage sewing item/machines, vintage household items and gardening things and whatever we might find that catches the eye. I like to chat with the vendors, some are knowledgeable, some are just there to sell the junk in a family garage or attic, etc. those are the ones I like to bargain hard with as it adds to the fun of the trip!
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