Haggling 101 - How to Negotiate Better Deals Online and Purchase More for Less

Do you haggle to get a better price when you make an offer to purchase from a private owner online or are you reluctant? Most people are reluctant. They are generally afraid their low ball offer may offend the seller. In a face to face situation few people possess this reluctance.

Why is it prevalent online? It need not be. Haggling online is actually part of the process because overpricing is common on Craigslist and other such want ad sites. Referred to as the endowment effect, the mere fact of owning something tends to make its owner overestimate its worth. That means there is room for negotiation.

Haggling to bring the seller around to your point of view involves fairness. Universally, offers of more than a 30% discount are generally rejected. Sellers routinely refuse offers they think aren't fair, even if it hurts them, and above the 30% discount realm is the area most offers are summarily rejected as unfair. Many sellers would rather hang on to something, even if they do not have any use for it, than accept an offer they think is less than its worth.

Haggling online to get the best deal is not about besting the seller anticipation, it is about finding and reaching an agreement on what is right for both parties. It is your job as the haggler (negotiator) to work on changing the seller's perceptions. Do not low ball just for the sake of making a low ball offer. That will only generate mistrust and the feeling your intent is only to push an unfair bargain. You should never make a low ball offer without providing a solid rationale as to how you arrived at you figure. With your connection to the item for sell being a photograph, creating your rationale will require creativity.

The most personal medium to haggle in is face to face. That is usually not possible with most online want ad offer to purchase transactions. The telephone is the next best thing to being there and can work also. Online text will most likely be the medium used. You need to gauge the seller's reaction to proceed properly with your counter offer. If there is no vocal or visual contact that will be difficult. Playing to seller's reaction and creating a counter offer which relates to the seller you respect their views is the key to successful online haggling.

Do not hesitate to haggle on craigslist and other online want ad sites. It is all about the Washingtons'. Always provide rationale for your lower bid and make them an offer they can't refuse.

Resource: Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

Tags: online want ads, craigslist, selling online, buying online, how to negotiate