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Though a tradition still prevalent in China, Turkey and Egypt, haggling has been absent from the high streets of western Europe and the USA for many years now.
‘Bartering for bargain’ at the fruit and veg market was common practice in my parents’ day, but we seem to have been shoehorned into this cage of obedience as the rise of the credit card (see, you thought I was going to say crunch, tut tut) and luxury aspirational advertising take hold.
Not anymore!
A recent report by Experian reveals that 57% of British adults now say they are more likely than they were 12 months ago to try and negotiate a discount on an advertised price.
Not surprisingly, the [yawn] ‘economic downturn’ is cited as a reason for this, as well as the rising cost of ‘every day goods’. Interestingly, the majority of participants said they were most comfortable haggling with technology retailers (though I question how many ‘everyday goods’ fall into this category!), and men are much better at dickering1 than women. (My only experience of haggling occurred in Morocco, where a thrifty market trader suggested my mother sell me to him in exchange for some prize camels, so I’m happy to leave the haggling to the men, thanks)
Truth be told, even though the report suggests that we can save money by bargaining in this country as well as the next, I just can’t see myself in Currys.digital asking for a couple of hundred quid off that nice new LCD TV that I so desperately need. Moreover, if it’s true that many retailers are willing to give a discount to the confident few who ask (across all segments, from electronics to grocery), is it true that they are overpricing their goods in the first place? It’s very confusing, and I for one am not keen on factoring this market tradition into an already lengthy checkout process in my favourite high street stores. If the price on the tag is the true value of the item, then this is the figure I either will or will not pay. I’d like price tags to reflect reality, not ‘ball park figures’, please, so that I can just finish my shopping and get on with my day!
1A brilliant word I discovered today meaning ‘bargaining or bartering’! Quite apt for the description of any male activity, I feel.
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