The Art of Yard Sale Haggling

Posted by Mrs Zeee on 04/22/2009

I was just reading a post at Faith, Hope, Poop and I was inspired to share my tips on the best way to haggle at a garage sale/ yard sale/ flea market.

A few disclaimers:

First, you have to prepare yourself to do a little “acting,” second, you have to be willing to lose or walk away from the item or else this method does not work and third, I am not claiming to be the world’s best haggler, but I am darn good…

So here we go…

Once you have spotted the TARGET item, here is what you do.

1. The Prep Work

Prepare yourself mentally.

You have to convince yourself that you do not need the item (whether or not this is true).  That way, you project a sense of casual shopping which makes you more of a challenge to the seller.

Prepare yourself physically.

Have cash stashed in an easy-to-access (for you) pocket. It should be the maximum amount that you are willing to spend on the target.

2. The Approach

As you approach the seller to inquire about the item, tap into those high school drama lessons and be ready to cry poverty and disinterest.

Casually ask the seller to give you the lowest price that they are willing to offer for the item. If the offer is lower than you were planning to spend, then jackpot, make the deal or if you feel bold, try to go even lower and get a better price. Either way, Yahtzee!

If the price is higher than you are willing to go, this is where that stashed cash from #1 comes in handy.  Offer the seller 20% less than the amount you have in your pocket and say that is what you are willing to pay.

If the seller balks at the offer, quickly point out any chips/cracks/fading on the item. And reiterate that you are giving him/her a solid offer. You can be nice about it, but definitely allude to the item as “junk” without actually saying the word “junk” because then you are just insulting the seller. Be nice :)

See what they say. You should receive a counter offer that is closer to your price. If it has not matched your “pocket” amount, you can come in a little higher but still less than your pocket stash. Again, see what they say.  Still no agreement?  You can keep this up as long as you please until you are ready for the next step.

3. The Final Offer

Pull out the cash in your pocket and say “THIS IS ALL THE CASH I HAVE TO SPEND. It is $___(amount) and It is my final offer.”

Trust me, there is something about actually seeing the cash amount that makes the seller want to reach out and grab it on the spot. Don’t wave it in his/her face (that’s rude) but definitely make it visible as if to say “here it is, come and get it….”

A smart seller will bag the item for you immediately. The logic is: why turn down crisp cash within inches of my hand? Done deal.

Hopefully that worked and you do not have to employ other methods. If not, read on…

4. The Hard Part

Stubborn sellers may not bite. Some people think the crap they are selling is waaaaay more valuable than it actually is. To this person who will not meet your cash offer, you say. “Ok, I don’t really need this anyway.” and WALK AWAY. Even better, walk toward another booth that has similar items if you are at a multi-vendor sale.

Watching you go to a competitor is a killer for a true salesperson and it is your Hail Mary Pass. The hope is that they will promptly call you back to seal the deal.

5. The Not-So-Satisfying Deal

Of course, if you really want the item, you always have some less attractive options. For example, if your deal does not come through as planned, you have the option of 1) Paying the seller’s asking price (least favorable) 2) Coming back at the end of the day before pack-up time — if the item is still there, you’ll likely be able to get an even better deal for it. 3) Keep hammering away until you finally get the seller to crack. Sometimes you will annoy them so much, they’ll make the deal just to get rid of you. Hey, it’s not glorious, but it helps you achieve your objective.

Here are some more tips to get you closer to your deal:

> Be realistic about your “pocket” price. If you come in too low for something that is clearly worth more, the seller will not take you seriously and will perceive you as a waste of his/her time and be unwilling to engage in negotiation.

> Don’t over-express your interest in the target. Gushing and compliments make it a more desirable product to the seller. If you add value to it, then they begin to feel like they can sell it to anyone at the asking price so they’ll be less willing to bend.

> Also, you should never dress-up to go to a yard sale. Leave your nice jewelry at home. Don’t be a show-off. If you look like you can afford the item at cost, then you make a weaker argument in the eyes of the seller.  (BUT please brush your teeth — lots of sales take place in the morning and no one wants to haggle with dragon breath)

For the  timid buyer, this might seem like a daunting exercise. You have to ask yourself this question: At the end of the day there will be one winner — the seller or the buyer — as the buyer, why shouldn’t it be you?

Remember: you are shopping a second hand sale to score a deal, so stick to your guns and get your price. It is much more rewarding that way.

Happy Haggling!