Customers Who Ask For A Discount

Discounting at markets:

It’s not like every single stallholder haggles and not every single buyer askes.

It’s a traditionally accepted part of the buying and selling paradigm. Haggling is built into it. The vast majority of people aren’t going to haggle, but there are a hard-core few who will, and in the hard core there are always some who are going to be really chintzy. There are certain shoppers who don’t even consider it a true market experience unless they talk you down a little bit.

Advice for stallholders:

Price tag everything. Customers are more comfortable with that. You have a starting point. If you discount your price, price everything with what is called a built-in bargaining advantage. If you know you need to get $8 for an item, price it at $10. If somebody starts haggling, then the built-in bargaining percentage works in your favour.

What to do with rude customers:

Don’t get angry, say, ‘You know, this is a really good deal at $5. If you’re not interested, somebody is going to snap it up later today. If you’re not willing to pay for it, fine, somebody else will be.’ Don’t yell at people. Try to keep it civil. But if somebody really tries to be chintzy, like offering 50 cents for something, just kind of laugh. It never pays to get belligerent with people, even the jerks. And they’re out there.