Do You Expect A Discount?

rodime--

We had a secondhand store dealer who loved this haggling, so he had ridiculous prices on everything.

Result? New potential customers would see that every single item was grossly overpriced, leave, and spread the word that he was a ripoff.

Hagglers would come back, but it took about two items before they told each other that half off was the maximum selling price, and diehard hagglers could get half off of that.

Seems like a lot of work remembering what you want for stuff.

rodime,

Dealers don't become dealers if they hate haggling. That is the business. Buying and selling.

That's the way it works.

If you're afraid to haggle and ask for discounts, that's your way of life. Please don't try to justify it as a "good" way of doing business.

But if you like your way, that's alright.

And by the way, I have dealt with many dealers. It is always the same. Sometimes I meet new ones. The nice ones give discounts right away without even asking... and without even paying retail on any of the pieces. That is a TRULY good dealer. And I surely remember those ones...

A good dealer that makes a customer pay retail to develop a trusting and loyal relationship... is not a good dealer. You technically paid for that relationship... hardly good to me.

Note: If you want a real good and nice dealer, go to coin shows and go to the inexperienced dealers who are there during retirement and just to have fun. They are the best ones... BY FAR.

"Expect" a discount? - No.
"Ask" for a discount? - Yes, anything over about $3.

I've never haggled on anything until I got started going to coin shows.

After the first few times of me buying a few coins and having the dealer offer me a discount without me asking, I realized that it would probably be okay.

I never buy one coin, I always buy two to three (or more) at a time. I always offer about 15% less than the total. Sometimes they accept, sometimes they counter offer.

I'm always polite and respectful. They know I'm interested in the coins, because I've probably been sitting there looking through their box for 1/2 hour. I never say anything like "I can get them over here for ...."

I never ask "Whats the best you can do on this?" I always make an offer. I've only done it a few times, but I will walk away if they won't come down to what I think the value is.

It was very uncomfortable for me at first, but I've really gotten very used to it, so now I've gotten in the habit of doing it anytime I'm buying something from an individual.

As a matter of fact, I've learned that you can also do it in retail stores. I was in Hobby Lobby a few months ago. They had some Dansco albums on clearance marked down from $30 to $14. They had a few that I needed, but there were a few that were not marked down that I also needed. I picked up two from the clearance bin and one from the regularly priced bin. I asked for a manager and explained that I wanted to buy all three, but only two were marked down. I asked if he could mark down the third if I bought the other two. He agreed!

It really is true - everythings negotiable.

Regardless of what happens, though, I am always polite, respectful and thank them for their time.

karlott,

Great observation. You're right that it is not easy the first time. Nothing is easy the first time. Especially with social skills. Going to interviews. Asking a girl out. Asking for a raise... and now asking for discounts.

They are social skills we should all have. They are efficient and valuable, otherwise...

You will not often get interviews.
Never date a girl.
Probably not get many raises.
And pay a whole lot for coins.

Sure you can sit around and wait, and hope someone nice enough will do it for you. But really, lots of people are nice. If a dealer doesn't give you discounts automatic, it doesn't imply that he isn't. Just means your dumb for paying retail in the first place. Dealer should not feel guilty for people who are afraid to ask for discounts. I bet they start giving discounts after while because they feel bad after ripping you off so many times. And by giving you discounts, just MAYBE you will start asking for them.

haggling is expected. Whether or not the dealer will lower the price is up to them.