My favorite new article from Dollar Stretcher this week is "5 Secrets to Getting a Better Price on Anything." I don't haggle as much as I could, but have been known to "talk down" the price on a few things. I'm not as comfortable doing it as I could be, though. Have you ever done this? If so, did you have success with it?

I will haggle sometimes like at swapmeets or garage sales etc.  I am nice about it.  I haven't really haggled on big ticket items because either it hasn't come up as an option or haven't had the chance.

I do not haggle on price, not even at yard sales. It is not my talent. My husband however has no problem with it and has gotten us good deals.  

Unfortunately I do not haggle. I am great at finding good buys, but I pay whatever price is asked, or I do not buy it.

 I was hoping to get some encouragement! As I said, I'm not as comfortable doing it as I could be. 

I've known people who get super good deals in the last hour or so of farmer's markets by offering to take all of something for one price, but haven't done it myself. It might be a good way to get vegetables to can or freeze.  

Haggle  politely all the time at G. sales. The other day at Wal-greens, the clearance aisle had a watch band for $.10, others (exact same brand and style)  were marked higher. When I brought this to the attention of the clerk she let me purchase several  for $.10 each. They had soap at $4.00 for an eight pack. After purchase you were given instore rebate of $4.00 for merchandise in the store. I had a raincheck since they were out of soap the week the ad ran. The manager said I couldn't have the rebate, since the week had past. I thought that since they gave me a raincheck he should honor the rebate. He thought about it and gave me $4.00 in cash instead. So I got eight bars of soap for free. It doesn't hurt to point out these type of things in a store. It wasn't haggling,  I was just assertive (politely).

Most of my "negotiating" has been at garage sales. I almost always ask for a cheaper price. The only time I do not, is when I feel that the person is giving away the item at a "beyond a resonable price," and to ask for more would be greedy. If the person is asking too much, I rarely ask for a discount feeling they are really not interested in "getting rid of" the item. I just walk away. If they are interested in conducting an antique business out of their yard, I am not their target market. (There are some people who choose to sell part of their antique stuff/collections at garage sales, but their prices are almost always more reasonable.)

I have asked for discounts at stores, and most of the time I have asked, I have gotten something off. Unfortunately, it is a rarity.

It goes without saying that politeness works. 

Pat:

I was hoping to get some encouragement! As I said, I'm not as comfortable doing it as I could be. 

Frank needs to post to this discussion, lol. His dumpster diving, haggling and bartering are how we have saved on things for the new home. I am just not good at it.

 Not me, I am a wimp . I go to yard sales and just pay the price. Babs

No, not me, if I have to haggle I won't buy it. Don't have the patience for it. Edey