Quote Originally Posted by jamesa2580 View Post
This is an interesting thread and because haggling or negotiating is second nature to me, I've never thought about it as anything to be considered. I use a lot of logic in my negotiating tactics however. The sales definition of negotiating, btw, is: giving either party permission to say no.
For me personally, I never go to a show to browse. I always know what I'm looking for before I pay the admission to get in. A good example is the enchi male I grabbed last month at the Cleveland show. I had been looking on Kingsnake for a month or more for a nice enchi male and just kept my eyes out. The going rate was around $200-$300 plus shipping. I went to the show not expecting to find one let alone get a deal, but I found a nice male who was already in the 300 gram range. I knew he was probably on the high side of my range and I had $300 in my pocket. I asked the price and the seller said $300. I nodded and asked if he'd consider taking $260. He hesitated, so I explained that I'd been looking for an enchi and had found several for around $200-$225 that would have worked, but add shipping and I'm up to $250/$275. By offering the $260 to him, he still makes more than the lower end animal I would have bought, gets cash instead of Paypal, and makes the sale on the spot. It was a win/win for both of us. I think he felt ok knowing I had done my research and made a good case for the lower offer. I wasn't just haggling to haggle. I'll, of course, buy from him again as well. He worked with me so I'll happily work with him again.

Jim
Off topic...Did you by this animal from Carl? I go to this show all the time and know a few of the breeders pretty well.