How do you feel about Bartering?

In white US culture, it is uncomfortable to barter. We'd rather pay full price than accept the shame that comes with admitting that we'd prefer to pay less. We'd rather go to another store entirely than request special treatment. Bartering is shameful. Bartering is for poor people who don't have enough money to pay full price. That's why the local flea market is only filled with Mexicans and Hmongs, right? Imagine how your skin would crawl if you walked into a place with no prices, where you said what you wanted. Ah! The mere thought terrifies me.

But thrift culture requires a good sense of bartering, the ability to say what you want, the ability to argue a little. If you can't grab a bunch of stuff from a flea market vendor, look it over, and name your best price, you're not going to get what you really want. And who wants that?

When I lived in Brazil (and I also saw this in Peru), everyone bartered taxi fare before they got in. And if they couldn't come to an agreement with the driver, they would send it away and wait for another. Today, is surprises me how shocked I was when I first saw this. In a capitalist society like the US, where we pride ourselves on the power of competition, we don't utilize the power of the barter.

I think a safe way to try bartering is to use the eBay Best Offer feature. No face time required. The seller can accept, decline, or counter your offer. You may get a great deal, or you may save a few bucks. Either way, I think it's always worth a try. Sellers often set the Buy it Now price at their perfect selling price, but they'll accept less if offered. Selling an item is better than not selling.