You can negotiate a better price at most bargain hunting bastions. Secondhand sellers expect haggling, so don't feel shy or embarrassed. Try to think of it as sport, and follow these tips to learn how to haggle with the best.
Dress Down: Don’t show up in your designer duds and jewels and expect to get a discount. The seller won’t believe you when you say you’re only willing or able to pay x amount.
Greet the Seller: Smile and say hello when you arrive. In France, it’s offensive not to greet the shopkeeper, and you may be ignored when you’re ready for help. It’s rude here too, especially since you’re about to ask for a favor.
Ask for the Discount: You won’t get a discount if you don’t ask. They might say no, but they can’t kill you for asking. Here’s what you might expect from different types of sales:
- Flea Markets: The vendors expect haggling, and price their wares accordingly. You may not get the exact price you want, but you should be able to get some sort of discount.
- Yard Sales: Some sellers expect haggling, and price accordingly, and some act shocked when you ask. Haggle anyway. To them, that stuff is clutter, not stock, and they do not want to lug it back into the house at the end of the day. Because of this, you may get deeper discounts at yard sales than at any other venue.
- Antique and Junk Malls: Though the booth owners aren’t usually onsite, many arrange with management to give a discount if someone asks. In my area, it’s normally an automatic 10% off just for asking. Unless the tag says firm, take the item, or the tag if the item is too big to carry, to the checkout area and ask.
- Thrift Stores: It varies from store to store. The clerks usually don’t have the power to negotiate, so ask for a manager. You might get lucky if they’ve had the item for a while; sometimes you can tell by the tag.
Don’t Offer Too Little: Don’t insult the seller by offering less than half of the tag price. Start at a little more than half, and expect to meet somewhere in the middle.
Offer Less Than You Want to Pay: Expect the seller to counter your first offer, and negotiate up from there.
Point Out Flaws: Don’t criticize the merchandise, but politely point out any flaws or damage.
Be Nice: Remember that you are negotiating, not arguing. Rudeness to a seller might cost you more than the negotiation of the moment. Flea market vendors might remember you the next time, and those regular shoppers you seem to run into at every other yard sale may warn the sellers about you if you get a reputation for rudeness.
Buy in Bulk: Offer a group price if a seller has several items you want. Selling multiple items is a bigger incentive to deal.
Have Cash in Hand: Make an offer and hold out that amount of cash. That’s harder for the seller to resist than when you ask without showing them the green.
Ask, Then Be Silent: Once you’ve made an offer, don’t say anything else. In any negotiation, once an offer is on the table, the first person to speak usually loses. If the seller counters, be silent again. The seller may sweeten his own deal.
Be Willing to Walk Away: If you don’t reach an agreement on price, walk away. You can always come back later in the day if the item hasn’t sold. Ask what time they’ll close if you think you might want to come back.
Shop Late: You’ll get better deals at the end of the day. Sellers are tired, and would rather sell the item for less than pack it.
