Tom Chiarella's adventure into the art of negotiating the un-negotiable, starting with the price of a hot dog on the streets of New York. With practice and expert advice, he finds there basically is no such thing as a firm price.

"You're offering them less money," [Cohen] says, "without giving them anything in return." He holds a finger straight up in the air and wags it at me. "You always have something to offer. Loyalty. Future business. Increased volume. Whatever. You have to think about their needs. You have to create an offer that gives something rather than takes it away."

My mom is unbelievably good at this. I'm not. Must learn...

I'm really terrible at this....I have a lot to learn

I love the scene in Life of Brian when Brian is trying to buy the gourd so he can escape the crowd and he tries to give the seller what he's asking for, but the seller refuses to sell it to him unless he haggles.

I didn't get the haggling gene from my mum.

I just remember her pretending to go to another merhcant and just as she was about to step out of the shop, the shopkeeper would agree to the price she suggested. That woman is very convincing, and according to the opposite sex, also very charming. Oh, and she will haggle down...even if it's 19 cents or something.

this isn't really haggling though -- this is cheaping out with freebies and such. true haggling is bargaining over price and being able to get something for more/less (depending which side of the haggle you're on!)

I disagree, maquser. Tom explores exactly the concept you describe in his full article. I just clipped the two most entertaining paragraphs. His point is that, given the right incentives, almost every seller of services or goods will compensate in their own way, given the constraints they're working with.