How the world works - part II

Haggling

One of my favorite stories from years past is of a recent immigrant to the USA living in California. He goes to his local supermarket and sees everyone picking up the things they want and putting them in a wheeled cart and taking them to the check out counter, so he does the same. When he gets to the cashier he takes out his first item and says "how much"? The cashier gives him the price and he says, "Too much, I give you (another figure)" and so it would proceed except, as you can imagine, the cashier is dumbfounded. You can also imagine what the other people in line are thinking. This, folks, is how the world works. We haggle.

It is common practice even in the most remote locations of the world to go to stores where items are put on shelves and they have a price and that is what you are expected to pay with little variation. However, the real world is the marketplace. People bring their wares to a common location, generally weekly, set up shop on the ground and try to sell at the best price. Negotiation is expected. The shopper and the seller are well versed in the art.

I don't know about you, but I'm a little uncomfortable in this realm. To some extent we all do this when we make major purchases such as for a home or automobile. And I know some people really have the knack. My father and my father-in-law both have the skill and have been known to bring used car salesmen to tears with their incessant and relentless bargaining. They aren't satisfied unless they get the car for free, with a full tank of gas. But I'm going to guess that in our fast pace lifestyle we've forgotten how or at least can't take the time to haggle over the price of an apple or a latte or whatever.

In the USA and Europe the practice of negotiating a price for normal consumables is not nearly as common as it is in the rest of the world. But we do practice a little bit more of this in other areas of our life in Morrison. There are garage sales, farm or household auctions and even the occasional farmer's market. You can travel the world searching for the ultimate good deal or stay home and just take your time. But be careful, some of the sellers are pretty good at this too.

And if you do plan any trips abroad, particularly to Africa or Asia or South America, you'd best be prepared - go to those garage sales or used car lots and hone those skills.

(by Marc Adami, Guest Columnist)