Haggle or Hassle?

This started as a Facebook post (OK, mild rant) but it really does need a wider audience. Haggling is part of many cultures, from the Arab souk to the spice-laden Hindu bazaar and beyond. Folks have haggled over big ticket items like cars and houses for years. That all said...

 Several times a year, one news source or another urges people to go out and haggle for everything, big ticket or small. Just march in to a shop (a few even suggest the smaller the better) and politely request a discount for no reason other than you want one. If the answer is no, threaten to stop shopping there, bring up the competition, or repeat your request until you get what you want. Some articles even mention that the price isn't the point, it's the haggle itself that's a fun little game. Fun for whom? I cannot speak to the time-honored car haggles or the big chain stores' big ticket policies, but I can clarify my shop's policies.

Our frequent shopper program rewards and encourages repeat customers: after $250 of  purchases, you get a $25 store coupon. Easy peasy, no cards, no time limit to accumulate the points. If you Like the Ravenswood Facebook page, mention that and you get $1 off your next purchase (over $1). Consignment prices are fixed by the maker, not me, and so are always non-negotiable.

My shop is a business, not a flea market. I have to pay the bills. My prices are as low possible and still keep open. If my vendors give me discounts, I try to pass them along. How often does haggling happen? More frequently than you might expect, and never from regulars. "I won't pay more than $20 for that!" (on a $43 item) "I'll give you $5 for this bottle of vitamins." (on a $30 bottle) "I want a discount. I want a discount. I want a discount."

 As "fun" as you might find haggling, put yourself in a small business owners' shoes. What would you do if your boss told you he was going to cut your salary 10% this pay period because "he wanted a discount" --- If you don't work for free, why expect a small shop owner to?