I think it does not bode well that we don't know how to really haggle anymore.

I had some work on my garage door done and the the bill came to $250.00 parts and labor. I told the tech it seemed high and he called the main office and they came back with $150..

I was like 'Okay...' I mean a 10% discount was what I was aiming for not a 40% discount.

I ended up writing a check for $200 (taking a 20% discount) and called it a day...

Whatever happened to old school back and forth haggling?

But we really don't need to haggle. We see something, we get the price, we don't like it, we go somewhere else.

When you have multiple options about where to spend your money, why argue with one seller?

you got something to sell, i got the cash.

let's make a deal. :)

Why was the price not agreed up front?

The tech didn't know what it was at first or how long it would take.

It ended up the metal bar broke and bent the rails and the springs came loose.

The labor variable was what I had challenged.

i'm not much of a haggler(at least like that)

but a good buddy of my dads who is in the car business haggles for everything and he does have a point, hardly anyone buys a car without trying to drive the price down

i haggle over a lot of stuff except food and clothes.

electronics, cars, repairs, etc.

it's a little give and take that is good for the camaraderie IMO.