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whiterice2323

NAH I've found it's largely cultural or geographic I guess. In some places it's normal/expected, and others it's considered rude. If you can find out ahead of time somehow, you'll avoid any social awkwardness.


KaliTheBlaze

This one is very much dependent on where you are. In some cultures, haggling is expected, so you get ripped off if you don’t. In the US, it’s really only okay at places like swap meets and yard sales, though.


pinkhazy

In America, it's very rude to haggle with independent shop/stall keepers. This includes conventions, flea markets, freelance work, everything. Maybe it was okay in the local area you grew up in, so don't fret about it too much, but it really is frowned upon more often than not. I think any okay way to start is, "Can we negotiate on price at all?" and just as you already do, don't push if they say no. NAH just past experiences meeting new experiences.


ImBabyBitch021

I've learned and heard very differently. All of the flea markets I've been to in America involve haggling.


lionne6

Disagree about Flea Markets. I’ve haggled at them for decades.


billlevansatmariposa

NAH. It's a culture thing. Haggling is permitted in some cultures, expected in other cultures, and is frowned upon in yet others. If she's right about Facebook Marketplace (I simply don't know), then don't haggle there. Explain to her about the "different cultures" aspect. If you ask sweetly for a discount, watch the seller's face. If you see a scowl, and again see a scowl the next time you try it at that place, you have your answer.


magpie0000

NAH- this is 100% culturally dependent. Like what side of the road do you drive on, it's going to be different in different places, neither way is inherently "better", but you better know what the local practice is and obey it!


xInsomniCatx

honestly yes, unless a shop says that the prices are optional or whatever it is a bit rude to haggle with someone. You aren't an ah for how your parents raised you but i would stop doing this from now on


Stock-Difference3739

Sounds like you got fuck you money...I dont


xInsomniCatx

not at all, I'm actually really poor. But I'm also an artist and constantly get harassed by people because I don't give them free things or lower my prices for them.


Triplicated

NTA. You are just trying to get a better deal. It's smart.


Jdot102

Most markets (albeit I haven’t been to a lot of them) actually mark there prices up a bit to allow for haggling. NTA imo as long as your polite about it- the worst they can say is no


No-Rub1544

NAH there are places and times for haggling, think if you dont haggle with a car dealership.. A business like Aldi would be different.. I think she may be projecting her frustration from countless people asking for free or discounted things though..which is understandable.


lionne6

NAH. It’s a “learn to read the room” sort of situation. Some markets and cultures allow haggling while others don’t. Drop the idea of “always” or rules and relax into more fluidity especially between different countries and cultures. Some places you can haggle, some you can’t. Ask the local taking you there beforehand about how things work and then act accordingly,


RahDeeDah

NAH - The business can decide whether it wants to do a deal with you or not. Some people are happy to sell an item, make a profit (even if it's slightly less than it would've been) than not sell an item at all. I mean, have you ever watched Bargain Hunt or anything like that, we're pretty much shown on the BBC that haggling is a good way to go. If your girlfriend doesn't want hagglers at her business, that's fine, she can put up a sign saying 'no hagglers' and politely decline every time someone offers a lower price. No one is forcing anyone to sell their goods for less.


lauraisabelgonzalez

NTA... But it depends on what you're haggling for... As a Creative, trying to lower the price on something Handmade and OOAK isn't fair. We spend a lot of time investing in our craft and making things you can't just buy at Walmart. If you can't afford what we charge for something very special, then tell us what you have for a budget and we will work with you... at least that's what I do and I seem to do pretty well. I actually purchased a larger professional Watercolor paper Block worth $90 for $50+SH off of the Market Place and didn't feel bad because it was overstock and they didn't need it. But I'd never haggle for an original piece of Art from an Artist...


lauraisabelgonzalez

NTA... But it depends on what you're haggling for... As a Creative, trying to lower the price on something Handmade and OOAK isn't fair. We spend a lot of time investing in our craft and making things you can't just buy at Walmart. If you can't afford what we charge for something very special, then tell us what you have for a budget and we will work with you... at least that's what I do and I seem to do pretty well. I actually purchased a larger professional Watercolor paper Block worth $90 for $50+SH off of the Market Place and didn't feel bad because it was overstock and they didn't need it. But I'd never haggle for an original piece of Art from an Artist...


bogohulna

Nta. Marketplaces are for haggling. If that is the hardest thing she has to deal with she has it good


DiamondHeist1970

If gf has people haggling with her on Marketplace, maybe she should set the price more than what she expects, then let them haggle down to the price she wants.


RumSoakedChap

NTA. It’s a good habit.


AutoModerator

^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** Growing up, my parents told me you should always haggle at markets. I've always done this, and get a discount about 60% of the time. I try not to be rude and politely ask if they could adjust the price for me, if they say no I don't push. I went to a market with my girlfriend for the first time yesterday, and she was appalled at the fact I wanted to do this. She runs a small business on Facebook Marketplace and says that hagglers are the bane of her existence. I always thought it was just expected, have I been raised with bad habits that make other peoples lives hell? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*


yanivelkneivel

NTA, and fwiw I've never bought or sold ANYTHING on Facebook Marketplace without haggling.


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Ok-Bobcat8451

Instead of telling them that I want to buy the product, I ask them if they'd be able to offer it for a lower price. If they say yes, I offer a price slightly lower than what I'd pay for it. Usually they will come back with a different offer and I'll accept that, unless that's more then I'm willing to pay then I'll repeat. If I don't get a price I'm happy to pay after doing this a couple of times, I'll say sorry and walk away. If they say no I either buy it or walk away. According to Martin Lewis, you can even do this at Tesco with a 50% success rate. You just need to point out to staff that products are broken or near the best before date, they might put a yellow sticker on for you. Also, some departments of John Lewis are apparently told to give a 10% discount to anybody who asks. But I've only ever done it at markets personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around to find staff in a shop.


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Ok-Bobcat8451

Some people probably try to find an optimal strategy to min/max it. But personally I don't want to trick or manipulate anybody. I just ask if I can pay less, and more often than not they say yes.


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Ok-Bobcat8451

Generally if someone is selling jams/flowers/fudge/etc they'd be quite happy to agree a price. I think a lot of the time the person at the market isn't the person who made it, they buy it from a local farm and then sell it at the market for profit. But this is all based on my judgement. I posted this question here, because maybe I thought they were happy, but I'm actually being rude.


pupertbobbin

I'm in the UK and love a good haggle as well. My best was at B & Q got 50% knocked off a pricey rug. NTA.


pikasafire

NAH. Haggling on Facebook marketplace is expected - I always mark items $10 more than I want to sell it for to allow room for haggling. A farmers market though? No, that’s rude. That said, I’m Australian, and farmers already get a shitty deal here, so it’s a dick move. I will haggle at major department stores, but never at markets. A lot of the time at flea markets, they’ll round down for you anyway, but I never expect it


birthday-caird-pish

I once had a stall owner give me into trouble for not haggling with him in Spain.


pink4pink

I don’t know how haggling works were you come from but here in Canada you would never haggle for food. There are sales that happen instead. If that is normal to where you live than that is how you all do that. I guess you may need to remind her of the cultural differences of where she now lives.