Re: Are Music Store Prices Firm?
I don't like haggling, as I come from a culture that didn't haggle much. However, there were a few exceptions in my background, e.g.,"horse trading", buying cars, houses, and often used goods, especially when they're pricey. Observing the action of friends from different cultural backgrounds, I saw that there was money to be saved in the marketplace. I picked up the question, which I think was mentioned in a recent thread, "What's the best price you'll take?" It's not aggressive, and allows everyone to continue without becoming confrontational. I've had a fifth of the price of a used mandolin (in a privately run shop) and of a car lowered by asking that question. I also told the music shop to throw in their cheapest tuner and a few picks, which they did. In the case of the car, I would have paid the full price if it came to it but I wanted to know what price the seller really expected. On the other hand, I've also been told by sellers, "Our prices are fixed; we offer things at reasonable prices," which I accept. There's a lot of room for negotiation out in the world. I've often had shopkeepers spontaneously offer me a discount when I start walking away from an item (especially with second-hand goods). In some cases (e.g., used cars) you can almost assume people are asking a little extra so that you can "argue them down" to what they want. If I were selling a used item, I'd advertise the price as "fixed" if I didn't want lower offers. I generally don't haggle if I feel that the prices are fair and affordable to me. However, that small question has saved me a great deal of money over the years, especially when the monetary value of an item isn't entirely clear.
Last edited by Ranald; Feb-28-2021 at 1:00pm.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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