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Dealing With Tradesmen
NMB, Florida MARCH 7, 2002 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
DEALING WITH TRADESMEN
All transactions between people are business deals - I guess. I am not
experienced in the art of selling - or buying, for that matter. I know
ABOUT the art of "hondling" (Yiddish) or "haggling" over the price of
something. I don't "barter" for I haven't the skills needed. I do not
"dicker" for things because I can't remember each time a price is quoted
that I am not barred from offering a lower price. Selling is even worse. I
know the value that something has to me. It is usually inflated. I would
hate to take advantage of someone who wants it by asking for more than it is
worth to me - although, if I get that price I will have earned it by being a
sharp dealer.
The mythic ability of a certain "people" to "Jew" others down in a business
transaction is lacking in me. When you deal with tradesmen I am never sure
if you can try to "bargain" over the price. You don't do this in department
stores. I think, deep in the recesses of my being that you can always
bargain because you don't have to have what you desperately want. It is
that desperate quality that intervenes when you want to buy something or
sell something so badly that it causes you to give more or ask more than you
know it is worth. "Clearance tables" have a certain fascination.
I remember the lady who came to a garage sale that we were holding who
wanted two huge steamer trunks that we needed to get rid of. They were
smelly and dirty but sound. She was willing to give us our price (we had no
idea of their "real" worth) but dithered back and forth until she went into
the garage and came out with a nice ceramic piece that had an arbitrary
price of $10.00 on it. I should have had the sense not to ask for that
$10.00 and give it away and get rid of those steamer trunks. But I didn't
and she screwed up her face and demanded the trade or else. So, I said no
and she went away without the trunks or the ceramic piece. Eventually I
gave them away for much less than the asking price of either the trunks or
the ceramic.
Life is like that. I think we all enjoy the process of trying to get a good
deal and great glee when we think we have gotten the better of the other
party. The "clearance tables" hold fascinating promise for us.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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