Screw your courage to the sticking place

[Savaquid]

Frugal by nature, training and necessity, I lack a major

skill - the ability to look someone in the eye and offer a

lower price, or to say no to the first offer made, when

selling. The mere thought of so doing turns my bowels to

water.

But when,a couple of years ago, at the age of 70, it became

necessary to sell my 33 year old car and replace it with

something requiring less maintenance, I realised that I

needed some negotiating skills. Too late for the sale, but

the buyer looked as embarrassed as I, and the outcome was

not too unsatisfactory.

The Net proved a goldmine of information on the subjects of

both car buying and negotiation and, armed with that, a pair

of spectacles and a cap as psychological armour - and brown

boxers, just in case - I sallied forth to meet the demon

dealer.

It worked like a charm. In a forty minute negotiation I got

over 15% off the asking price, plus a set of car mats, mud

flaps and a tank of petrol, saving about £1000 in the

process. And the dealer even thanked me for brightening up

his day! "People who just sit and look at me with a hangdog

expression and hope I'm going to reduce the price are so

boring", he said.

Can't say I enjoyed it, or would ever do it again for small

purchases (just wait for sales, or stick to charity shops),

but the lesson is there for those who want to try. Take Lady

Macbeth's advice and :-

"Screw your courage to the sticking place,
And we'll not fail"