Is There a Similar Haggling Phrase in the U.S.?
Posted by LemonVerse@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 287 comments
In the UAE, especially in Emirates other than Sharjah, we sometimes use the phrase ‘معلوم هذا في شارجة كم؟’ or something similar (Do you know how much this costs in Sharjah?) when haggling to point out that an item is cheaper in Sharjah, which often helps lower the price.
Is there something similar in the U.S.? Do people reference specific cities or states known for lower prices when trying to negotiate a better deal? I'd love to hear your experiences or if there's any equivalent phrase or tactic!
Relevant-Ad4156@reddit
I think it has been pretty well established by the other comments that haggling simply isn't common here.
But there's a big reason for that (and this reason is reflected in the few places where haggling still does happen)
The reason is that we don't do much of our purchasing from anyone that actually controls the price of the goods. We buy almost everything from a store that is owned by a corporation, and prices are set by the corporation. Very few people at the store have the authority to lower those prices. A manager often can, but it's just not common (except in the case where the store offers a price-matching program)
The exceptions that others have listed are all cases where the person we are buying from is actually the direct controller of the price of the goods. But these situations aren't common enough for our overall culture to include haggling. So even in those cases, it's still not very commonly done.
Available-Love7940@reddit
I'm a crafter who sells things at events. And even I won't seriously haggle. I set my stuff at a fair price, and that's that. I may occasionally offer a deal (buy the necklace, I'll do X amount off the matching bracelet.) But if someone looked at a $45 dollar item and offered $30, I'd just say no, and point out that my craft takes time.
WoodwifeGreen@reddit
We haggle sometimes at a private sale, like a yard sale or marketplace or classified ad sale but not at retail stores.
I don't recall a specific city to reference but we might reference a retail store. At a private sale we might say I can get this new at Walmart (or other retail outlet) for less than that.
We might also offer less money, if something is $10 we might say would you take $6? That's all I have. Or we may ask for another item for the $10, if I buy this for $10 would you throw in this other item?
mykepagan@reddit
A lot of people are giving the correct answer (haggling is not normal in the USA except for cars and houses), so I’ll give my opinion on why this is the case.
Two reasons:
1) Prices are transparent. Meaning most people can find out what tge price is in every store because it is advertised. The stores compete with each other to attract customers and know that if they have higher prices, the customers just won’t even go there. This doesn’t prevent higher prices; but it does lead to strategies like some retailers offering extremely low prices on some items knowing that customers will come in for those things and then buy other higher-priced things out of convenience. In fact, “convenience stores” do exactly thus. They offer very low prices on gasoline knowing they can sell things like milk at a higher profit because people need milk and will buy it while getting fuel.
2) Most stores are owned by mega corporations. The person in the store has absolutely zero authority to change the price, and everybody knows that. So it is pointless to haggle, and even considered rude.
Arleare13@reddit
Haggling isn't common here for most items. There are exceptions, but for the most part the labeled price is the price.
Conbon90@reddit
What about buying cars, Or 2nd hand goods?
ProfessionalAir445@reddit
Did you want them to specify every single exception or what?
MuppetManiac@reddit
Honestly, haggling for cars is seriously dying. It was much more of a thing before the internet, but now that I can look up exactly how much it cost the dealership to get the car and look up a reasonable profit margin, haggling is just… not a thing anymore. Even for used cars, it’s just not as common as it was 20-30 years ago.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
Why don’t you all just buy directly from the manufacturer?
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
In the United States, direct manufacturer auto sales are prohibited in many states by franchise laws requiring that new cars be sold only by independent dealers.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I don’t know why I’m being downvoted, that’s a stupid law.
For all the talk about American free markets and capitalism, this seems very antithetical to that.
Why do manufacturers have to send cars to a parking lot for months and charge $5-10k more per car so a dude in a polo can tell me all the stats for a car I can find online?
MetroBS@reddit
Even without that law, manufacturers usually have pretty high minimums for direct sales and won’t sell directly to an end user unless they’re buying in bulk
AshleyMyers44@reddit
Then why have the law if it’s not an issue?
MetroBS@reddit
Idk I’m not defending the law, just explaining that there are additional hurdles in place that aren’t necessarily government related
voteforbk@reddit
The answer? Dealers are very wealthy and have a powerful lobby, especially in state and local elections. They’re honestly a core constituency for the Republican Party.
Karnakite@reddit
I remember being told that dealers are the reason some states have obligatory car safety inspections that include ridiculous elements (and not just the reasonable ones). Not sure if it’s true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. No one should be forced to go out and buy a newer car because their current one can’t pass inspection, due to the slightly yellowed headlights.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
So the dealers basically bribed politicians to make laws that force consumers to engage with them in perpetuity.
They basically legalized racketeering.
voteforbk@reddit
You might say they are politicians. There are several current members of the House GOP delegation who are also car dealers. Patrick Wyman wrote an essay about this influential class of “American Gentry” in 2020, and an updated version was published in The Atlantic in 2021.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
Such an small and niche subset of an industry to have so much power in politics.
You expect lawyers, financiers, doctors, etc. to have a huge influence in politics, but dudes that own car lots? Lol
It’s like if we found out dudes owning hardware stores are a large number of politicians and write laws that you have to buy hammers from them and not Amazon.
voteforbk@reddit
Cars are very expensive but most everyone in the USA needs one (unless you happen to live in walkable place and/or one well served by public transit), there are a limited number of dealerships to choose from in a given area, and most of them have been in business for generations, meaning they often belong to a few very wealthy families. Also, because it’s not a business you can just pick up and move, they tend to be some of the richest people in many suburbs or small towns far from a population center.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
They must be very influential on Reddit too by the amount of downvotes we’re getting by pointing it out lol
voteforbk@reddit
Genuinely kinda weird? I feel like I was posting factual statements - car dealers tend to be a wealthy local elite, their industry is spread throughout states and the entire country, and because of that they have strong political influence.
nowordsleft@reddit
Pretty much every industry has lobbyists. It’s not exclusive to car dealers.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
So it’s just a legalized bribery process?
Scratocrates@reddit
Are you under the impression that your country (whatever one that is) doesn't have lobbyists or interest groups that try to influence politicians?
AshleyMyers44@reddit
No I never said that.
Are you under the impression businesses lobbying is a good practice?
einTier@reddit
Back in the day, there was a really good reason for independent dealerships to exist.
It’s 1925. The US is big. Car manufacturers are small. What the fuck does a manufacturer in Michigan know about what buyers in California want? Nothing, and there’s no easy way to figure it out.
But the Ford dealer in California knows that his clients have been asking for cars in white because the black paint gets too hot and two guys even painted theirs red! Some other guy modified his into a hot rod and hey, can Ford make some motors that produce more power up high for high speed cruising?
Plus, the factory couldn’t really support a car two states away and it was nice to have the dealership to support that.
Today, it’s not really necessary but dealers lobbied decades ago to protect their businesses and here we are.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
Shouldn’t the market even that out though?
It made sense 100 years ago, but now it’s be more efficient without dealers.
Making a law to benefit business over consumers doesn’t seem very American or is it?
nowordsleft@reddit
The law was made a century ago when it made sense. To repeal the law now would be putting an entire industry out of business and making tens of thousands of people unemployed in an instant. No politician is going to want to do that without serious pushing from their constituents. And the constituents aren’t that worried about because this is the only system they’ve ever known.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
The person I was responding to said it was a law from decades ago, not a century ago.
Which is it?
nowordsleft@reddit
He didn’t say decades. He said 1925.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
It’s sort of misleading to use “decades ago” for something done 100 years ago.
Was the law put in place in the 1920s or the 1980s?
Scratocrates@reddit
Do your IRL friends (assuming you have any) ever tell you that you're exhausting?
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I don’t know why you have so much animosity towards me. You’re not even the person I was responding to.
I have nothing but love for you though. I’m sorry if my words offended you.
Scratocrates@reddit
Uh huh.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I don’t know why you’re after me.
I did nothing to you.
Sinrus@reddit
You and I must be living in different Americas.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I’m glad you caught my sarcasm.
OO_Ben@reddit
They aren't "sending their cars to a parking lot." The manufacturer makes their money when the dealer buys them for inventory. That's why they don't want to sell direct to the consumer.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
That’s fine if that works for Toyota.
It shouldn’t be a law that applies to every manufacturer.
The government shouldn’t be deciding your business model.
If Tesla wants to operate differently than the franchise model of Toyota the government shouldn’t prohibit that.
OO_Ben@reddit
You didn't read my comment at all, as it's not related to the law. It's related to the manufacturer/dealer relationship.
The manufacturers do not want to sell direct to consumer. Law or not they don't want it.
You realize that Saturn was a direct to consumer model right? They had dealers, but it was a setup like Tesla is today. And you realize that manufacturers could without a doubt do this again today if they wanted to by branching off a subsidiary like Saturn was for GM right?
AshleyMyers44@reddit
If manufacturers don’t want to do this, then why do they have the law?
OO_Ben@reddit
They're usually old state laws that have been on the books forever before dealer networks were fleshed out like they are today.
Not every state has these laws. Colorado for example is one where you can buy direct from the manufacturer, but you'd be hard pressed to actually do so.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I think the franchise model would come to an end or else dealers wouldn’t be spending so much to kill bills to overturn these laws recently. So many state legislatures have proposed bills to end the practice that have been killed by dealership lobbyists.
It’s never been more feasible than today.
Manufacturers never really had the ability for direct to consumer except for very recently.
I say overturn these old laws and let the free market through.
If the franchise model still works then they have nothing to fear.
OO_Ben@reddit
Why would it come to an end? Explain that to me. And why, where with the current set up manufacturers can literally force dealers to buy cars, without having to worry about after sale support, why would they want to change that golden goose setup? I'd love for you to answer that question specifically please. Because logically and from a business perspective it make zero sense.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
If they’re not scared it would come to an end then why lobby so hard to keep the old archaic laws in place?
In 2019 West Virginia lawmakers tried to overturn the old laws and lobbyists killed it.
Same in 2019 in South Carolina and 2016 in Alabama.
In fact I can name over a dozen states that tried to change the old laws but the lobbyists successfully stopped them.
So if there’s not a chance the franchise model would end without those laws, why lobby so hard against changing the old laws?
OO_Ben@reddit
Don't change the topic. I asked you a direct question and you avoided it.
So are you just not going to answer my question and walk me through your logic to explain why the franchise model would come to an end given the advantages the manufacturer currently sees?
AshleyMyers44@reddit
That is my answer.
If it was the model of the future they wouldn’t be spending so much to make it illegal to go to any other model.
OO_Ben@reddit
Well then you didn't actually answer my question then. You answered my question with another question:
"If they’re not scared it would come to an end then why lobby so hard to keep the old archaic laws in place?"
Your answer focuses on the dealer's perspective while I'm talking about this from the manufacturer's perspective. The manufacturers are not the ones lobbying. The dealerships are. My argument is that even if the laws were removed, the manufacturers would still choose to keep the current system in place.
I feel I need to reiterate here, you do realize that the manufacturer and the dealer are not the same entity correct? As in, the manufacturer is the wholesaler for the dealer.
So you're saying your answer to my question of "Why the franchise model would come to an end given the advantages the manufacturer currently sees?" is to say that it's because the dealerships lobby to keep it in place? That doesn't even remotely come close to answering my question.
The current advantages for the car manufacturers are:
So my question to you is as follows:
Assuming these laws got overturned, why would a manufacturer freely choose to replace the current system that gives them those advantages I listed above in favor of a system that would cause them to have a slower inventory turnover, worse cashflow, higher overhead costs by providing direct after sales support, and being stuck with cars that don't sell on their inventory books.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I don’t really care enough about this to keep going.
I agree with your statements and I was wrong to think or state otherwise.
OO_Ben@reddit
All good friend. Have a good one.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
It is a stupid law, but you didn't ask whether we thought it was a stupid law, you asked why we don't "just" buy directly. That's why.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I’m not upset with you at all.
I’m just pointing out that it’s a silly custom.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
It would have come across less as an implication that we're idiots for not doing so if you'd left out the "just."
AshleyMyers44@reddit
I’m sorry my words offended you.
Moving on from that, it seems to be antithetical to what America holds itself up to be. A bastion of the free market.
Having the government force certain business practices that hurt consumers seems not that great.
Scratocrates@reddit
Looks as if he already agreed with you.
You seem to be expecting some kind of purity that certainly doesn't exist anywhere, even in your own country (whichever one that is).
ColossusOfChoads@reddit
They're not going to tell us which country that is.
Scratocrates@reddit
No, of course not.
WalkingTarget@reddit
Because there are state-level laws protecting dealerships as a category of business by saying that manufacturers aren’t allowed to sell directly to consumers.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
That seems antithetical to free markets and that it hurts consumers.
WalkingTarget@reddit
The idea is that independent dealers push prices down. Manufacturers could undercut anybody else selling their stuff if there’s no middleman. Then once there’s no competition (i.e. independent dealers) they can jack the prices up.
I don’t know exactly how much I’m convinced, but it’s a reason.
AshleyMyers44@reddit
Aren’t consumers going to be paying a price above the manufacturer’s price because the dealer wouldn’t want to sell for less than they get it from the manufacturer. You’re already operating at an inflated price because the car price is manufacturer cost plus the amount of profit the dealer and salesman wants on top of that.
Competition would be between manufacturers instead of dealers so it would still be there.
IndependentMemory215@reddit
Dealers don’t pay retail price, and if manufacturers sold directly to customers, the price would likely be similar to the dealer price, as they would have to pay for overhead of their sales operations.
No one like buying a car, it isn’t a fun process.
PomeloPepper@reddit
I bought a new Toyota last year. I had to wait for the model i wanted to be shipped. When it arrived, I asked if they'd come down on the price. They told me they had a waiting list for that particular car, and if I didn't take it at full price they had a dozen people in line for it.
Recent-Irish@reddit
People don’t buy those every day though. Haggling is not a daily thing here.
Arleare13@reddit
I did say there are exceptions.
snooze_sensei@reddit
I could get that cheaper at harbor freight / at Walmart / on Amazon / from the meth addict next door
Insight42@reddit
In the US, we really only haggle on certain items and in certain circumstances. And as a result, many of us aren't great at it or at all used to doing so. It was done more by past generations.
So... No. We really don't have a phrase like that.
Sarollas@reddit
Haggling isn't really a thing in the US like it is in other parts of the world.
Especially at retail shops, the price on the label is extremely firm.
DarkGamer@reddit
We haggle for big ticket items, business proposals, cars, and homes.
Karnakite@reddit
And - at least for older people - garage sale items.
I only pay what the seller asks, because I’m not raising a fuss over a few bucks. But my older compatriots will waste my time haggling over the dishes they’re trying to buy off me. “I didn’t show up yesterday because these sales are always half off the second day.” Wow, great opener, Walter, but I think I’m the one in charge here.
abbot_x@reddit
I never price items I am selling at garage/yard sales. I just ask buyers to name a price. Most of the time they will name a pretty good price since they don't want to appear cheap. This is balanced out by people who don't mind what others think and lowball me. But I don't care. I wouldn't be selling in this type of venue if I wanted to make money.
Enge712@reddit
I have to really really want something to even ask if it’s not priced. Generally I will just leave a yard sale or garage sale without prices
WillingPublic@reddit
You are correct. I am a younger Baby Boomer and definitely remember the phrase used in America for this haggling when I was growing up. It is offensive and I have never used it myself, but it was definitely out there. It is based upon the prejudiced and stereotypical perception that Jewish people are stingy or extortionate. Buying cars is the most common experience where this phrase was used, but a whole slew of haggling occurred for other high-end purchases, especially in real estate and ranching (related to livestock purchases).
DarkGamer@reddit
That's quite a claim, citation please. I don't consider the term offensive nor have I heard anyone besides you just now suggest that it is. According to google the etymology of the word haggle has Norse roots so I'm not sure what Jews have to do with it at all.
TheLastCoagulant@reddit
He’s saying there’s a phrase people used to use instead of haggling. The phrase is “Jew down”.
DarkGamer@reddit
Ohhh got it, they are correct on all counts then.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
Yeah or I got Jewed or Gypped which are two old bigoted phrases against Jews and Roma respectively.
HippieLizLemon@reddit
Whelp TIL Gypped is not spelled Gipped and is has bigoted roots! Yikes! I guess I've never seen it written down and made the connection.
shackofcards@reddit
Same except I thought "jipped." I learned as an adult that a lot of the negative phrases my boomer parents used (especially my mom) were actually not-that-thinly-veiled racial or sexual slurs. I didn't need to be an adult to know you shouldn't say n*-rigged though. 🙄 She really said anything in front of the kids, but magically drew the line at slurs for women. Never heard c and rarely d**.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
I never knew and used it for years until a friend from school pulled me aside who was Roma and asked me to not use that phrase and why.
I was mortified.
PomeloPepper@reddit
My mother would say that, but she had a thick accent and I always thought it was "Chew down"
Not only embarrassing to find out, but I didn't understand the reference to Jews either.
jesus_he_is_queer@reddit
Dark Gamer - took it how you did. My bad. ADHD strikes again.
notadamnprincess@reddit
The commenter is referring to old racist slang for haggling, not the term haggling itself. I’m not Jewish but I do find the slang term highly offensive and refuse to abide its usage.
CenterofChaos@reddit
I don't know anyone who's been able to haggle a vehicle price since 2020. Homes are very dependent on location.
ucbiker@reddit
2021 was actually such a good time to buy a new car that haggling was easy af. I got a dealer to basically accept no commission because he only needed one more car to meet a volume incentive, plus it’s <1.00% interest so it’s actually getting cheaper lmao.
Suspicious_Expert_97@reddit
I got 5k off my new 2024 car. It is 100% possible
cooperstonebadge@reddit
And Christmas trees for some reason
Zingzing_Jr@reddit
Huh, I never knew that Christmas trees are haggleable
PineapplePza766@reddit
Almost Anything is hagglesble when you’re a southern mom lol 😂
webfoottedone@reddit
It really depends on where you are buying them.
MichigaCur@reddit
True... I bet I could haggle where I get mine, but they sell them for charity and then I'd feel like shit. (I normally round up another $10 anyways.)
CupBeEmpty@reddit
Highly dependent. The place I go used to do haggling but shot up a lot in popularity. They literally could not plant enough trees to meet demand so they had to restrict the number of people buying and there was no way they were going to take a haircut on price just to move a tree.
webfoottedone@reddit
I like to go to a small local farm that grows them, no haggling, but they sell fresh apple cider donuts.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
Yeah this is like the place I went. They have a little petting zoo, cider, cider donuts, and hard cider they brew with their own apples in conjunction with a pick your own apple place down the road.
It’s a nice little relationship. The orchard does their big events in late summer and fall. The tree farm does winter craft fairs and cider with Christmas stuff and maple syrup in the early spring. They sell each others products and both play to their strengths. But they got suuuuper popular so haggling wasn’t a thing. You can get a discount if you go early and pay to have a tree marked early.
geneb0323@reddit
Neither did I, but it actually makes sense. They have a limited supply, a limited time to sell them in, and they want to sell as many of them as possible. Some profit, even selling at cost if it is getting close to Christmas, is better than a total loss on that inventory.
kaywel@reddit
Christmas tree lots are also generally not corporate-run. Much easier to haggle if you're doing it with the business owner.
whosthe@reddit
"I'll throw in some rope and tie it to your car for you."
EzPzLemon_Greezy@reddit
I always tip my christmas tree guy. I get them from a "local" farm and its always the same guy and his son selling the trees.
pudding7@reddit
Oh fudge.
NoExplorer5983@reddit
Except I didn't say 'fudge'
CoeurdAssassin@reddit
Homes is like reverse haggling. They get snatched up so quickly that you’re fighting to pay even more money than the other offers to get the home.
eddituser1980@reddit
And custody too
iliveinthecove@reddit
When I worked retail as a teen, nothing was more frustrating than a customer from a haggling culture trying to argue down the list price. You can follow me around the store and point out all the flaws you imagine, I can't change the price.
bogibso@reddit
Cue Borat voice: We'll call it 85!
CoeurdAssassin@reddit
Indians bro 😂
Those guys used to haggle when I worked at Lowe’s for a few months towards the end of high school. Like my guy the price is not changing. And we don’t even set the price, you’re gonna have to talk to Mr. Lowe for that.
Current_Poster@reddit
me too-
[Holds up $20 item.] "I'll pay $16."
"I don't believe you will."
Phumbs_up_@reddit
As a contractor it's super frustrating dealing with non Americans. You give a tight estimate, come in on budget and people try to chisel you down anyway.
It's kinda offensive really. Like in us a job well done carrys at least a little honor no matter the task. I feel like other cultures have zero respect for tradesman and if they could get the job for free they would with no moral objections. Like they would disown their own children if they grew up to be a carpenter not a doctor. So they give a hired carpenter less then zero respect.
sadthrow104@reddit
In A lot of cultures people like you are lowly paid and looked down on. Some places officially label you as ‘lesser’ on whatever social totem pole exists in their country.
CuriousOptimistic@reddit
To be fair a lot of these people probably try to haggle their doctors as well.
abbot_x@reddit
If insurance doesn't cover something that your doctor or hospital billed, you absolutely should demand the biller drop it.
Example from my life:
OB/GYN billed us for a second doctor in the delivery room for a scheduled cesarian. Insurance would not cover because "it's not customary or necessary." We told the doctor we weren't paying it, either. Doctor dropped it.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
People often do haggle with hospital bills. Huge bills often get whittled down if people cannot pay.
ToumaKazusa1@reddit
I mean, it depends on the contractor, but you can usually get them to come down on price just by telling them you're going to call someone else and see what they'll charge.
Obviously it depends, if all of the contractors in town are really busy then you'll be lucky to get someone to come out no matter what you offer, but if things are slow you have more leverage.
Phumbs_up_@reddit
Yeah during the estimate/negotiation stage that's fine and expected. But once the budget s set and the jobs done is taboo for Americans to chisel for the sake of chiseling.
ToumaKazusa1@reddit
Idk if I'd say its taboo, as much as its just illegal. If you agree to pay someone $X to do something, and they do the thing, you are obligated to pay them what you agreed to.
Odd-Help-4293@reddit
Yeah, haggling in the US is most just for when you're buying second-hand items on Facebook Marketplace or similar. Then somebody might say "I saw it for cheaper on Ebay", which I suppose is the US equivalent to what OP said.
duke_awapuhi@reddit
It exists in the collectibles and antiques world but definitely not for general retail
jimmyhoke@reddit
This. The majority of US stores are completely firm in their pricing.
You can haggle at many car dealerships, and it’s a complex dance of pretending you want the car but not very much.
PineapplePza766@reddit
lol it just depends on whichhh retail stores hardwares stores are whole different animals. and if you are making a big purchase or are a regular contractor you definitely have some bargaining power. Used to work at big box hardware there was this one guy that idk what he did but he purchased hundreds of thousands every week in appliances and such hand selected. My manager would either come over override and tell me what to mark the prices at or just scan his card and say just put in whatever price the guy tells you to 🤯. Also flea markets, car dealerships, and real estate, you can definitely and should haggle
60MinMan-13@reddit
In addition to big ticket items such as cars, houses, and businesses, add flea markets, yard, and garage sales.
butt_honcho@reddit
I make handcrafted items and sell them at (mainly) Renaissance faires. At every show, there's at least one guy (and it's always a guy) who tries to haggle. I can generally shut them down by saying "I made this, and you're asking me to pay myself less than minimum wage," but every now and then there's one who just won't let up until I outright ask them to leave.
Karnakite@reddit
I could never be an artist. I can’t understand the people who want art or crafts for free because “It’s not really work.” Even worse is when they try to elevate it to some kind of philosophical high ethics. “Art should be free from capitalist concerns.” Good and well, pal, but I’m not free from them. Pay up.
The_Law_of_Pizza@reddit
Unfortunately, Americans are now several generations into being used to impossibly cheap craftsmanship from what are basically slaves in foreign sweatshops.
We've lost all insight into what it takes to make something by hand, and are shocked at the genuine labor cost and final price.
A relative of mine used to make fantastic, huge quilts. But between materials and her own labor they had to be priced in the $400-500 range, and people are so used to spending $30 on a quilt from Walmart that they immediately thought she was crazy.
jesus_he_is_queer@reddit
So accurate. I'd up vote you to oblivion if i could. There's environmental implications out the ass, but that's another day. I'm tired.
MetroBS@reddit
So I work in sales (think big company buying a lot of product from another big company) and I will say that on that side of things, haggling is alive and well in the U.S. lol
ChuushaHime@reddit
Most of my employer's clients are SaaS companies and most of them won't provide a price up front at all--the haggling is initiated by the company offering the product, not the customer. You have to get on a demo call to even get baseline pricing information. I'm horrified by it tbh
I get that there can be a lot of moving parts (the size of the organization, the number of users, the amount of support needed, whether you'll have a dedicated account manager, etc.) but even other "hagglable" things like cars and houses have a visible starting point
spect0rjohn@reddit
That’s negotiating and it’s class!
2FistsInMyBHole@reddit
Haggling is generally frowned upon in the US and is seen as insulting/inappropriate, with only a few exceptions.
The few exceptions are pretty much only cars/houses.
roughlyround@reddit
if we are (for example) at an estate sale, we do haggle with cash sales. We offer about half, the other person responds at about 90%. This goes back and forth until agreement is found.
WingedSeven@reddit
haggling isn't around now, sad to say.
Shadw21@reddit
Maybe in some very niche small town markets and with garage sales, but the only haggling that really happens here is with larger purchases/leases, like home buying/real estate, renting, car buying, business deals, insurances(which is more picking what coverages that they offer that you are willing to pay for/get screwed over by later), and medical expenses.
Day to day for the average person? Doesn't really happen.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Haggling is generally reserved for specific purchases and almost always with regard to second-hand goods. One does not haggle at a typical market or retail store.
I am not aware of any such phrase or anything similar. Cost of goods varies a lot from place to place, so that wouldn't have much effect.
"Do you know what this costs in Toledo?"
"We're not in Toledo."
WulfTheSaxon@reddit
The exception being if you notice something obviously wrong with a product, like a small tear in a new shirt.
tmahfan117@reddit
For a smaller store, yea sure. For big corporate stores the managers/clerks will just take the messed up one, throw it in the trash, and hand you an unblemished one that still costs the original price lol
Signal-Spend-6548@reddit
"then buy it in Toledo"
ljb2x@reddit
Closest I can think of (outside the usual things like cars) is price matching.
KaBar42@reddit
Talking about price matching and reason
When I worked at Bass Pro, someone wanted to price match an ARX-100 (semi-auto version of the Italian ARX-160 assault rifle) to Academy's price. We were selling it for $1700. Academy was selling it for $700. The GM refused to price match it.
PerformanceDouble924@reddit
If you want to haggle in the U S., buy raw land. That's the Wild West for negotiating. You can haggle a bit on cars and houses and other expensive things, but if you're buying something at a retail store for less than a few hundred bucks, don't waste people's time and add to the negative stereotypes.
shreddy_haskell@reddit
I live in an area with a lot of middle eastern people and haggling is quite contentious when it comes to contractors. From what I've been told people from cultures that haggle expect to be able get some of the price reduced when it comes time to pay for work done. If they don't they feel like they got ripped off. The contractor expected the bill to be paid in full for quality work completed.
Signal-Spend-6548@reddit
Very true. We do not artificially inflate our prices to account for haggling.
When it comes to contractors we might get bids from different folks. The only situation where I would haggle is if I really like the professionalism of one company but another company costs a lot less. I might ask to split the difference. If not? Move on.
Signal-Spend-6548@reddit
IF it's a car or a used item and you are buying it from the owner (not a powerless clerk) you can say,
"I was planning on spending XYZ, but I'm already here. What can you do for me?"
I will sometimes haggle when shopping used goods online, but ONLY when I think my price is fair.
Nobody prices their items for haggling in the US, so I only have it when I genuinely think their price is wrong.
brilliantpants@reddit
There are still a few places where haggling is expected, like when people are selling used goods at a flea market or collectors show, but I’ve never encountered any specific language about it. The closest you’ll come to “Do you know how much this costs in Sharjah?” Is “It just sold on eBay for…”
11061995@reddit
We only ever haggle during informal sales such as at a garage sale or on a Craigslist or Facebook Market sale. Trying it in a store would be considered wildly rude.
DoinIt989@reddit
Haggling in the US only exists for buying cars or houses. Retail stores do not negotiate.
Think_Leadership_91@reddit
In America is generally considered rude to haggle
Not exactly every time, but the expectation is that the store clerk is an employee who cannot change the price
jastay3@reddit
Actually haggling sounds like fun. I wish we did it more.
roving1@reddit
I'm not convinced haggling offers any redeeming social value.
jastay3@reddit
It just looks romantic, from a distance not to mention being an intellectual challenge. It is not as efficient as the fixed price sails they do at shopping center to keep the customers flowing through but is more interesting.
sean8877@reddit
We don't haggle except at car lots.
cool_weed_dad@reddit
Haggling is really only a thing at flea markets and yard sales here. You can’t haggle at a store, the price listed is what it is.
cryptoengineer@reddit
There's not much haggling in the US, and no phrase I can think of.
'Price negotiation' does take place for very high priced items, such as houses and cars, or when you're buying a second hand item from its owner.
pt
Existing_Charity_818@reddit
As others have said, people in the States don’t really haggle.
Closest thing we have is some stores will price match - basically, prove this is cheaper at a different store and they’ll sell it to you at that store’s price (within reason)
Talking with other people, we might say “this is cheaper on Amazon” but most people wouldn’t say that to a store employee. If you did, it would be considered rude
makeuathrowaway@reddit
It’ll seem especially rude if it’s with a seller that prides themselves in having high standards for their products. Some places are going to have high prices just for the heck of it, but others have higher prices because they use particular materials and equipment; believe in fair compensation for labor; design their products to be particularly durable, specialized, elegant, and/or innovative; produce at a smaller scale; or use more refined or advanced techniques in their production.
If someone went to an artisan furniture maker and asked to buy a mahogany table that they spent days working on for the same price as a table at Ikea or Wayfair, they’d be rightfully laughed out of the building. It would carry the insulting implication that the product being sold was of cheap quality and that the seller was trying to cheat you.
It’s one thing to try to negotiate at a yard sale or a used car dealership, but in most retail settings, it’s not worth even trying because the price is the price.
jesus_he_is_queer@reddit
There's a name for it, don't recall. In Asian countries right now particularly China their upper middle class are putting more value on "reasonable prices" quality be damned. Some economic word I can't remember. It's terrible for the environment nothing really affordable last. I have paid a few hundred for a coat that last as long as a $50 Amazon. They're likely made in the same sweatshops. I'm personally willing to pay more for ethically sourced. Problem is so much with multinational companies is so murky with supply chain. I know plenty will never care where it came from and how it got there, but I do.
Dank-Retard@reddit
For the fashion industry that term is “fast fashion”
jesus_he_is_queer@reddit
Oh that's right!
jesus_he_is_queer@reddit
Thanks
KaBar42@reddit
Talking about price matching and reason
When I worked at Bass Pro, someone wanted to price match an ARX-100 (semi-auto version of the Italian ARX-160 assault rifle) to Academy's price. We were selling it for $1700. Academy was selling it for $700. The GM refused to price match it.
olivegardengambler@reddit
What a lot of people don't understand about retail stores, is that 90% of the time we buy the item from a distributor, and then you buy the item from us. We make money on it by selling it to you at a higher cost. Like you just need to look at how cheap you can get stuff if you buy it directly from China without shipping factored in. The factory in China charges about $17 for that Hawaiian shirt you're buying, but once you factor in shipping, the distributor(s), more shipping, and the store it goes to, the price is $48. I should know, I bought a custom Hawaiian shirt from a factory in China once.
the_guitarkid70@reddit
Yep, a huge amount of the money we pay for many items doesn't go towards buying the items at all, just the gas it took to transport it.
ljb2x@reddit
My buddy saw an insane price on a GTX1080 GPU one day and went to our local best buy to grab one as they price matched. Employee said no. Got the manager who said also said no. Claimed it was too low and they'd be losing money and that the best they could do was sell it to him at cost.
olivegardengambler@reddit
As someone who is a manager in retail, if I had a quarter for every single time someone said something was cheaper on amazon, I could be A millionaire at this point.
Karnakite@reddit
“Walmart has this cheaper.” (as though I, a lowly sales floor peon, had any control over what they paid for it)
“Cool, say hi to ‘em for me.”
meruu_meruu@reddit
As a former retail employee, people said stuff like that to me all the time. Pointedly, like they expected me to suddenly price match or change the price.
I once had a woman go around the store picking up jewelry and telling me "My friend can get me this for 99 cents! Why would I pay [price]?!" she got real mad when I was like "It's great she can get you such a deal! I completely understand if you choose not to purchase from us."
GypsySnowflake@reddit
You might be able to get a lower price if the item is damaged too. I’ve given guests a discount when an item has a stain or something.
Suitable_Tomorrow_71@reddit
Get a free pizza oven with purchase of a small Coke! ^^Not ^^redeemable ^^at ^^any ^^Mitch's ^^pizza ^^location.
SchismZero@reddit
And an employee at a shop would not give a fuck and just tell you "buy it on Amazon then."
L_knight316@reddit
Most people don't really haggle, since most shopping is done through chain stores. That said, there are quite a few businesses that will "price match" another business's product if you can show they sell it at a better price.
Haggling is more common in farmers markets and craft fairs but I don't really go to those, so I wouldn't know the lingo.
MeinLieblingsplatz@reddit
That’s funny. No, the haggling culture outside of buying a car from the car dealer is non-existent.
I did have a Vietnamese girl teach me how to haggle abroad though. She said, always start at half, and then drop another 20% — and if you’re bored, go for another 40%
They’re making a profit either way
Jessgitalong@reddit
As an American, I feel it’s unfair to sell items at different prices to people. If the price presented is its honest value, it stands. If it’s something no one else can make, the profit margins can be higher. If it’s something that is higher in demand than supplies can provide, the same is true, and everyone knows why. If the price is too high, the item won’t sell, if too low, it won’t be worth making.
To an American, the price is the value. To haggle calls into question the value of everyone involved in its creation, which is demeaning and insulting.
teh_maxh@reddit
Some people will say it's cheaper at another store. Those people are usually told to go buy it there, then.
DragonLordAcar@reddit
Only place where haggling seems to happen is for online sales with used goods or at car dealerships. The latter people despise but legislation keeps getting dropped.
I have heard stories where people get upset at US tourists because they walk away at large prices because nobody thinks to haggle because haggling is just not a thing here. Listed price is the price and even with the online sales, the best you are probably going to get is a discount for picking it up themselves.
Heyoteyo@reddit
We just take our ass right over to Sharjah and don’t bother hassling the store clerk over the price. If their prices are too high, they will know because people won’t shop there. No need to tell them your opinion on it.
Weird_Squirrel_8382@reddit
There was a car dealership that had billboards "cars, like eggs, are cheaper in the country."
CogitoErgoScum@reddit
🇺🇸
keithrc@reddit
I don't think that OP means that the item in question is actually for sale cheaper in Sharjah. It's a metaphor meant to open negotiations, used in broad circumstances.
Heyoteyo@reddit
I know that. But in the same spirit, if you can get it cheaper elsewhere, go there. If you can’t actually get it cheaper anywhere else, you’re just complaining. There are very few places where the person selling you something has the authority to adjust the price. It’s kind of rude to complain to someone who is just doing their job and has nothing to do with pricing. It’s just giving them a hard time for nothing.
redheadedwonder3422@reddit
😂bingo
MarcatBeach@reddit
Yes. people here are thinking retail. but if you go to farmers markets or flea markets people do haggle. even on the streets. In the US it is typically not geographic, it is a reference to a known sales channel. Like Walmart, Ebay, or Amazon.
Crayshack@reddit
The US doesn't really have a culture of haggling. Attempting to haggle will be taken as rude, if it's even understood. Some shop clerks will just be confused if you try to haggle.
Recent-Irish@reddit
I used to work in a restaurant in an area with a large Indian diaspora and they’d regularly try to negotiate lmao
CoeurdAssassin@reddit
They’ll do that at like Lowe’s/Home Depot too lmao
redheadedwonder3422@reddit
rude and distasteful. my roommate still does it at inappropriate times here and there and i be so embarrassed every time 😭😭
Crayshack@reddit
Something that some people don't realize is that often the clerk doesn't even have the ability to change the price. So attempting to haggle just pressures them to do something they can't.
captainstormy@reddit
Haggling isn't a big thing in the US. It's really only done in a few circumstances.
Mostly it's sales between two private people. Like if I'm selling a used PlayStation on Facebook Marketplace or having a yard sale.
Sometimes done in large purchases like a car or a house. Although haggling with cars is a dying thing. A lot of places these days are lowering their prices and doing no haggle pricing. Basically treating car sales like you would most other goods.
Big businesses will do it on large deals and transactions.
But the vast majority of the time, we don't haggle.
Comfortable-Owl-5929@reddit
We don’t haggle in the US. Prices are pretty much set in stone. If you don’t like with something cause you just don’t buy it The only time you can haggle with someone would be if they were having a garage sale or a yard sale. But that’s pretty much it.
rawbface@reddit
Cashiers have NO CONTROL over the price of an item. We don't haggle in retail...
thelordchonky@reddit
Haggling isn't much of a thing for most stores, but I frequent a lot of flea markets and second hand stores, for what it's worth.
To be honest, not really. If anything, you'd just mention a nearby shop or something a bit more local, rather than a more widely known location. So it's a bit closer to what you're thinking, but not quite. I hope this helped!
Avbitten@reddit
The only place we haggle is at car dealerships. And people buy cars so infrequently that there's not really any haggling specific idioms.
cohrt@reddit
we don't haggle in the US
muskrateer@reddit
Living in the midwest, you'd be more likely to hear the inverse as someone from the coasts loses their mind about how cheap gas and houses are.
Unable-Economist-525@reddit
Don’t come to the US and haggle for small-ticket items. It won’t work, and you will just make people angry.
Do haggle for larger-ticket items, like vehicles, houses, property, equipment, livestock. But there is an art to this, so probably better to hire an experienced, successful American to assist you with the process. A phrase I heard out in Texas was, “Is this the best we can do?” followed by a smile. And once you come to agreement, do not try to renegotiate, or you will be perceived as a man with no honor.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
Haggling isn’t a thing here really. I mean, there’s some back and forth for major purchases like homes and cars, but it’s much more formal.
creativedisco@reddit
“Well shit, I can get it for half that down at the Walmarts.”
QuirkyCookie6@reddit
We don't really haggle here. List price is usually list price.
There are a few exceptions are large ticket items like houses and cars. There is also price match guarantee, but there needs to be another retailer selling for cheaper, and retailers usually only say that if they're sure they're the lowest.
A general rule to follow is, if they have their name on the building, no haggling. Independent sellers not in a building and people at flea markets and garage sales are ok to haggle.
rosietherosebud@reddit
Retail, haggling isn't a thing. If it's a garage sale or like Facebook Marketplace, you ask "Is the price firm?" Or just say "I'll give you $X" or "would you take $X?" We don't have like a coy phrase to signal we're trying to haggle.
47-30-23N_122-0-22W@reddit
Not for haggling. "Do you know how much this costs at X" means you're leaving and want to complain.
t00zday@reddit
People who haggle in the US are generally thought of as irritating.
Haggling over prices might cause some US service providers to not wish to deal with the person who is haggling.
Select_Cantaloupe_62@reddit
Other comments have mentioned that "haggling" is very rare in the US outside of cars, houses, and maybe some other high-value items you get at mom-and-pop stores.
But, there are plenty of companies that leave an avenue open for customers who *really* like saving money, via price matching and coupons. "Extreme coupon cutting" was a thing for awhile here, and yes, if you were really good at it, you could get really weird shit for super cheap (think like, 40 bottles of mustard for $5, that kind of thing). It became a hobby, or a way for stay-at-home parents to contribute financially in a very significant way.
You'll have a hard time getting a discount at a discount supermarket (such as Walmart), but a lot of mid-level stores offer some kind of price match, so if you show up with an ad for the same product somewhere else, that store will match. Although you need to do your own research, don't just show up with a SEARS catalog at Target.
Evil_Weevill@reddit
We don't haggle really at all here. Most stores are big companies where prices are set by folks higher up the ladder than anyone actually at that store, and are non-negotiable.
And most small business usually aren't going to haggle either cause they've already determined what the price they need to sell for in order for it to be worth it to them.
The only place where any kind of haggling is common is when buying a house or a used car.
Bigdaug@reddit
We don't haggle but while negotiating on FB marketplace I've heard a saying that I don't doubt has been said in the middle east lol.
dangleicious13@reddit
We don't really haggle here.
JesusStarbox@reddit
My very country grandfather would. He called it mule skinning. He taught me.
But he only did it for cars, furniture, and for some reason fireworks stands.
Sometimes I will do it when I go to a middle eastern owned store. They seem to enjoy it.
CalmRip@reddit
It was horse trading in my neck of the woods (and often literally involved trading for horses).
limbodog@reddit
Yes. You see people all the time on Facebook marketplace. "I can get that for half the price online" or some variation of that
DMTrious@reddit
"Do you take competitor coupons"
DrBlankslate@reddit
Americans don't haggle. It's not a thing at any retail store, anywhere. We see it as low-class to try to haggle. You might occasionally see it at yard sales or garage sales (where homeowners are selling off things they don't want any more), or swap meets (where people set up stalls to sell things) but as a regular cultural practice? Never.
You might negotiate a price on a car, but that's not considered haggling.
CogitoErgoScum@reddit
The economy in the US is generally pretty transparent and there is a shitload of money chasing a shitload of products over here. And of the products, we have a staggering amount of options-basically anything you could ever want or imagine. The producers deal with haggling openly across the same huge market that their competitors do so the end products are about the same quality/markup.
You still have haggling over used products and services sold privately, on the black market, or otherwise outside of tax considerations, but those markets are more opaque and it’s easier to get either an amazing deal, or absolutely screwed.
Wespiratory@reddit
Nope. Haggling is frowned upon in general retail settings.
There are a few exceptions, like flea markets or yard/garage sales, where it might be acceptable to haggle, but those are the only exceptions. Haggling at a retail store is absolutely not acceptable.
know-reply@reddit
Some places run promotions where if a different store sells an item for cheaper they will do a price match, this is most common with stores that sell electronics. Or if the item is cheaper on the company’s website you can get it in store for the price on the website. Price matching is the closest we have to haggling when dealing with retail businesses.
In my experience the places where haggling isn’t considered rude are at flea markets or garage/yard/estate sales but it still depends. Some second hand stores it would still be considered rude if they are considered more upscale for a secondhand shop.
And if are a regular customer of a small business and the owner likes you are more likely to receive discounts on your purchase without asking for them which kind of feels like reverse haggling.
just_pudge_it@reddit
The only time you haggle for small items is at a garage sale
afunnywold@reddit
Tourist services on the street in NYC are definitely negotiable lol
worrymon@reddit
We don't haggle. Our retail system is set up that if you don't like a price, you go elsewhere.
We haggle with our feet.
And honestly, if you were to tell me that something was cheaper at some place far away, I'd just tell you to hop in the car and go there.
Remote_Leadership_53@reddit
The only time we haggle is when buying cars or items being sold secondhand online. Our haggling isn't very good though. We have what's called "lowballing" where people make offers far lower than the list price and try to convince people that's the only good offer they'll get. Very annoying
srock0223@reddit
I’ve noticed its way more prevalent with tourists or those who emigrated rather recently.
srock0223@reddit
Used to work at Best Buy. The price on the tag is the price, the end. No I won’t give you a discount for buying 2. Every weekend someone would hold up a MacBook and say “is this on special? I’ll give you $750.”
TheAcuraEnthusiast@reddit
Outside of cars, not really.
JLR-@reddit
When I was in the Middle East the shop keepers were probably dismayed I just paid the sticker price. I have the money and haggling to save a few bucks seems exhausting and a waste of my time.
Weightmonster@reddit
I’ve only ever haggled for cars. In that case, there isn’t a specific place I would mention, but I might say, “this place quoted me $15000, can you match that?”
blueponies1@reddit
You only place you haggle in the US is with private listings. Things like Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, and garage sales. You can sometimes haggle for larger purchases at things like used car lots or gun stores too. But otherwise there is a distinct lack of haggling
1979tlaw@reddit
If I knew something was cheaper elsewhere why would I bother arguing with this guy? I’d just go buy it from the other guy.
joepierson123@reddit
Common in car dealerships, furniture mattress stores, flea markets, home Improvement repair contractors, facebook marketplace.
Not common in Big Chain corporate stories, the workers have no authority to drop the price
Traditional_Entry183@reddit
As someone who worked as a retail manager for more than a decade, there were few parts of my job worse than trying to deal with someone who insisted on trying to haggle. It's extremely uncomfortable and aggrevating. The price is what it says it is, end of story, and trying to negotiate is horribly offensive and out of line.
riarws@reddit
If I am in a situation where I think haggling might be appropriate, but am not sure, I ask "do you have any discount programs?" Or "do you have anything similar to this, but on sale?"
olivegardengambler@reddit
So the answer is ultimately depends. A lot of people say Americans just don't haggle, but the answer is we do, it just depends on the business. People would negotiate prices with me all the time when I worked in transport, even when our rates were already beyond reasonable (we're charging you $1 a mile, the next cheapest price you can find from somebody who isn't going to hold your dog hostage is $3 a mile).
w84primo@reddit
Haggling or bartering isn’t really super common here. Most regular stores have a set price and that’s it. Sometimes they might offer a military discount or something similar, but that’s generally what you’re paying.
However smaller markets, farmers markets, yard sales and things like that is where you can try to haggle.
Gail_the_SLP@reddit
I sell handmade items at craft fairs. I never see people trying to haggle. If someone tried to get me to lower my price, I would invite them to purchase elsewhere. I’m sorry, but in the US, it would probably be considered offensive. The only place bartering would maybe be acceptable is if you were making an offer on an item being sold secondhand by an individual, like on craigslist or Facebook marketplace
Magmagan@reddit
I was at a Lebanese food stand and the experience was the opposite. I asked for a meal and then asked the price of some sweets (pistachio borma). They were pretty expensive so I just wanted the meal. The vendor actually haggled and I hard balled so I could get the sweets off his hands for almost half price 😆
It's an amusing culture, but definitely something you don't see elsewhere.
ljb2x@reddit
I might try if I was going to buy multiple. Say you sold widgets for $10, I might try to get you to sell me 2 for $18 instead of $20, but that's about it.
OceanPoet87@reddit
I go to Farmers Markets a fair amount and don't see haggling there at least on produce.
w84primo@reddit
Really? That’s exactly what I haggle about. Especially if it’s closer to the end of the day.
OceanPoet87@reddit
Could be the time of day for sure. I usually go earlier though not right at open.
w84primo@reddit
Yeah! I happened to be walking by this place in Boston and some of the vendors were basically begging people to buy anything. My wife wanted some blueberries anyway, so I just asked how much for the lot. They seemed pretty happy about it, and we got a better deal. I don’t really try to haggle with them, but if I see they are almost out I might ask of they’ll sell me the rest for a lower price.
riarws@reddit
So what do people say in Sharjah?
Siessfires@reddit
I hate our tip culture, I hate how we don't include tax price on sales items but I LOVE that we don't have a barter culture here.
The only caveat is at stuff like garage sales or niche collector's meet upstairs. In situations like that, if somebody is trying to haggle me down, I increase the price by equivalent amount.
sgtm7@reddit
American don't really haggle except for cars or second hand goods. I am an American living in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and those are the only things I have ever haggled on here. I would say with all my friends here, the same applies.
UltraShadowArbiter@reddit
No, because we don't really have a haggling culture. We only haggle if it's like a person-to-person sale.
nestestasjon@reddit
No this isn't something someone would say. If they did, the shopkeeper would say "Why don't you go buy it in Sharjah if you can get it cheaper there?"
Substantial_Grab2379@reddit
I have bartered for a cash discount before if I were going to spend hundreds of dollars in a store. But trying to negotiate a 2-3% for smaller purchases is not worth it.
MisSpooks@reddit
People might try and say, "I can get this cheaper at X," but they'll be met with, "Well then go get it from there."
Bertosaurus_Rex@reddit
While haggling isn’t too common here, some places will give you a discount if you can prove that a competitor sells the same item at that discounted price.
itds@reddit
Even then, they sometimes check if the item is in-stock at the other place. The price may have been so good that they sold out and then it shouldn’t be on the other stores to honor that price.
Vict0r117@reddit
Haggling USED to be more of a thing in the US, especially cars, pawn shops, and flea markets and stuff. It's kind of gone away because the internet lets everybody see what something is worth retail and what you end up with is a bunch of sellers hilariously overvaluing what they have and buyers who are just blatantly low balling or wasting your time. In the US haggling phrases would be "I know what I got" on seller's side (they usually don't) and "well I can get it on (insert website) cheaper!"
It's less of a saying and more just kind of how the internet has changed social and commercial interactions.
NorwegianSteam@reddit
Here it would probably be a website. "Do know how much this Glock costs on Palmetto State Armory's site?"
doors43@reddit
I only do this with vendors at the state fair but I’ll say “will you take xx for this?”
They ALWAYS haggle. You just have to ask.
HopelessNegativism@reddit
We don’t haggle like that BUT if something seems overly expensive, one might say “what is that, in pesos?”
TheBlazingFire123@reddit
I’ve never heard that in my life
TheBlazingFire123@reddit
No. We don’t haggle, ever.
Baymavision@reddit
I was in a gas station maybe an hour north of NYC and a guy who was buying a soda or something was at the register.
He's complaining about the price of his item saying, "You know how much this is in Manhattan? Half the price! It's less than a dollar in Manhattan!"
Guy at register, "Then I suggest you drive to Manhattan and buy it there."
So, no. Haggling isn't really done here.
whip_lash_2@reddit
This thread is filled with the kind of high-class Americans who shop retail and never go to flea markets. We absolutely do haggle, it's just limited to very specific situations where you're dealing with (or are) the actual owner of the goods being sold. There's no point trying to haggle with someone who has no authority to set prices.
There is no specific cultural phrase to get across what you're asking for, but there absolutely is something like, "You've got to be kidding me. I can go on eBay and get it cheaper than that."
HareWarriorInTheDark@reddit
Yea definitely agree, haggling is allowed when you’re dealing with the person in charge or prices.
Spirited-Dependent82@reddit
I disagree with some of the commenters that there’s no haggling in the United States. I agree that for most lower cost consumer goods purchased from retail stores, there’s almost no negotiation over prices. Largely, I suspect, because an individual buyer has no negotiating power. But for more expensive consumer goods like cars or boats and machinery in which the market is more limited and the buyer therefore has more power, price negotiation is way more common. Not to mention that larger organizations like businesses and governments very frequently negotiate prices when purchasing goods or services from vendors. I worked as an office manager for several manager and spent a lot of my time negotiating with vendors. And, as any others have said, haggling is pretty common in more informal and second hand markets.
That said, I’m not aware of a widespread saying suggesting that prices are usually better in a specific location.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Not really, but what comes to mind is a phrase so popular with selling used items (especially used vehicles) that it has become a meme: "I know what I got." It's a response to a low offer, but also the meme makes fun of people who try to say that when selling something very overpriced. Example: https://imgflip.com/i/58vhbf
There is another phrase that originated from a show about a pawn shop, "That's the best I can do" when offering a very low price for something you know is worth more. https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/77045868/Pawn-Stars-Best-I-Can-Do
Loud_Insect_7119@reddit
"That's the best I can do" definitely didn't originate with Pawn Stars, just as a point of interest. I've been hearing it and saying it since the 1990s when I've haggled with people, it's a really common way to politely indicate that you're not going to lower your price any further.
I don't blame people for not knowing that, though. I probably have a lot more experience haggling than a lot of Americans because my first career was in agriculture (specifically horse training, though I also raised cattle, goats, and sheep at various points), and haggling is actually fairly common in that world.
Lower_Kick268@reddit
“Can you do any better?”
BlackSwanMarmot@reddit
There’s a phrase that’s sometimes used in situations where haggling is the norm. It’s an older phrase and probably on its way out of use. “What’s the good guy price?”
warrenjt@reddit
I love all the people saying haggling isn’t common in the US. I guess it’s a matter of what experiences you’ve had. I work in sales, and haggling is absolutely a thing.
The most similar to OP’s phrase is simply, “insert other store here has this for less.” Or even, “I’m sure I can find this for less somewhere else.”
Thankfully, in my current place of employment, we’re firm on pricing. But the one prior to this (selling mattresses), haggling was an all day, every day sort of thing.
03zx3@reddit
Just about the only place we haggle are car lots and swap meets.
SchismZero@reddit
Prices are the price in shops. If you don't like the price you just don't buy it. Haggling isn't really a thing here unless you're buying a car or something off of Craigslist or Facebook marketplace.
TheOwlMarble@reddit
Haggling in the US is pretty much just for high-value items like cars and houses. Random retail goods are not haggled over.
Techaissance@reddit
Usually you aren’t allowed to negotiate prices, with few exceptions: very expensive things like cars and houses, or informal business like garage sales.
OceanPoet87@reddit
We don't really haggle. A price at a store is the price you get. At farmer's markets, the prices are also set. Perhaps at a swap meet where people bring non food used items and antiques to sell, but generally we don't haggle. If you go to a Walmart and try to haggle you'll be laughed at.
jrhawk42@reddit
In the US most sales people are hired. They have no say in the cost of the item so there's no use in haggling, and there's very little haggling in the US.
In the home and automotive repair world there is something people tend to hear often, and that's "I know a guy that says he can do it for cheaper." The guy is usually untrained, uninsured and getting paid under the table (unreported income). Most places will just say "then have your guy do it, and then you'll pay even more when we have to fix it." There's great video of an electrician at a woman's house saying her nephew did the electrical work, and the electrician asks "what year did his house burn down?" to which she replied "two years ago, how did you know his house burned down?"
atomfullerene@reddit
While haggling isnt common here, people will absolutely compare prices to lower cost of living areas when talking and grumbling about expenses. Like " I could get a house in Kansas for the price of this apartment!"...but there isnt really a single location they refer to.
kgxv@reddit
We don’t really haggle here and since we only have one measurement of currency there is no apt comparison to what you mention.
Practical-Ordinary-6@reddit
All the major stores here are owned by corporations and the people who work there are just employees. They have no authority to haggle.
That's just the expectations everywhere really. Even in a small store with an owner, generally whatever is of the price tag is what you pay. We have no tradition of haggling except for a few specific items like cars. And we call that negotiating usually.
Haggling is seen as kind of tacky by most people I think, since it's not our tradition to do that. One mistake people from other countries make when they come here is trying to haggle over some small item. If you're not buying a car, forget about it.
Littleboypurple@reddit
Very specific immigrant groups might have something but, overall, haggling for goods is extremely uncommon in the US. Restaurants, Grocery Stores, and most retail businesses, you'll be given strange looks if you try to haggle because that isn't how it works at all.
The only place where haggling can be really common is garage/yard sales, flea markets, and swap meets. These are one of the few places in the US where haggling is acceptable because you're dealing with a singular individual simply trying to sell, usually, used goods of their own so they might be willing to negotiate the price because they don't want to deal with lugging it back to the car.
yabbobay@reddit
"What if I paid cash?"
theClanMcMutton@reddit
"I can get this cheaper at Walmart?"
It probably won't work though, they'll just say "then go to Walmart."
dmbgreen@reddit
It is more common to haggle at flea markets or yard sales. Also if you are going to pay an independent tradesman in cash. You might mention how much something costs at Walmart or on Amazon to get a better price.
typhoidmarry@reddit
“I’ll take $20 for the bicycle”
“Can you do $15?”
I’ve only ever haggled over a car and I hated every second of it.
the_real_JFK_killer@reddit
Prices are not negotiable in the us, do not attempt to haggle.
RyouIshtar@reddit
The only place you can really haggle at is the flea market/ swap meet/ jocky lot (Same thing different names based on location)
emartinoo@reddit
"What's the best price you can do?"
But, like others have said, it's pretty rare to haggle in the US outside of pawn shops and used car dealers. Even in those situations where it's culturally acceptable to haggle, most people still don't haggle. The one major exception to this, I've found, is on Facebook marketplace. For whatever reason, probably because it's not face to face, people have no problem haggling and low-balling on there.
redheadedwonder3422@reddit
the only place i ever really haggle is flea markets for second hand goods
SavannahInChicago@reddit
No one negotiates here. It actually makes it really awkward with people from different countries that do haggle because I promise you I would be fired if I changed the price without corporate’s ok. I’m not changing any prices because I can’t lose my job.
GF_baker_2024@reddit
No. Haggling isn't really a thing here.
AziMeeshka@reddit
The only times where haggling is really appropriate in the US is items like houses and cars or private sales between individuals like on Craigslist or something. There really just is not much of a haggling culture here. I think any American who has worked retail before has experience with foreign people trying to haggle in stores and let me tell you, it never works.
101bees@reddit
Haggling is rare here. With the exception of some used cars sellers or people just selling their used items privately, the price on the sticker is the price (excluding tax).
buried_lede@reddit
We haggle at car dealerships, over new and used cars both.
Otherwise we haggle at used ships, thrifts stores, yard sales, and very rarely, farmers markets.
Wish we could haggis more m, it’s more fun
scottwax@reddit
The price is the price. Maybe some leeway with buying a car but otherwise there's no haggling.
wooper346@reddit
As others have pointed out already, haggling isn't really a thing here, but this isn't a totally unfamiliar phrase either.
The difference is that instead of trying to use it as leverage for a better deal, someone says it to simply express frustration about the price.
Similarly, I've also heard a few people complain about how something used to only cost [value] in [random year.]
GlumFaithlessness392@reddit
The only haggling you’d do is Craigslist or another direct Owner to buyer platform. The most common way to haggle is to show imperfections with the item and explain how much money you will need to pay to fix them and ask for that much of a discount. For example “ 5000 isn’t a terrible price for this car, but this coolant leak will cost me at least 500 to fix, Can you do 4500?”
foxsable@reddit
So, sometimes at yard sales, which are like when a person sets up a tiny market in their front yard to sell old things, you sometimes haggle a little. But here you don’t want to make anyone feel bad or make the item seem worse. So pretty much the only thing you say is “would you take $5 for this?”. And then you either pay them $5 if they agreed or the original price if they did not. Yard sales are not really common, and a lot of stuff is priced fairly so you don’t even always haggle.
Kevin7650@reddit
We only haggle when buying second-hand items like a car or at a yard sale or Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace/etc.
It’s not a common enough occurrence for there to have developed a culture or specific phrases for it.
cdb03b@reddit
Haggling is for the most part not a thing in the US. You can haggle when buying a car, and sometimes when negotiating for a service like getting your lawn mowed, but for the most part everything else is set prices that are non-negotiable. As such we have no common phrases used in haggling.
nsnyder@reddit
I love this question.
No there's not. Americans don't haggle. Most prices aren't negotiable, and the ones that are (e.g. used cars) aren't frequent enough for there to be a culture built up around those negotiations.