BlogHer - shopping - Comments

Haha

Wilma Ham — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:40:00 -0600

Hey kate, noting wrong with that. Good use of our time and good example after all those political slinging matches.

Wilma Ham

www.wilmasblog.com

Thanks

aftercancer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:22:37 -0600

We sound like a mutual admiration society. Thanks again.

Kate

I blog at http://www.aftercancernowwhat.wordpress.com

That is action; leave the world better

Wilma Ham — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:24:43 -0600

Hi Kate

I saw your comment on my comment on American Dream.

I wanted to say, thanks for your obvious connection with what I wrote and I came here to see who you are.
I love what you say here too.
If we don't start with ourselves doing small things in our direct environment, we won't make a difference at all.

That is where we take power and responsibility, and in the process we make our own and other people's lives as best as we can.

Have a great Christmas,

Wilma
www.wilmasblog.com

Laina@abundantfoodsavings

lallen — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:32:19 -0600

Laina@abundantfoodsavings

I LOVE IT!!

Denee King — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:01:59 -0600

If I had to do my own all over again it would be flip flops and Bar-b-que!! It's all about having FUN! But I wouldn't trade either of the two I just experienced for anything because we all had THE BEST TIME everywhere we went.

BTW - that is an AWESOME idea for wedding favors. I can't wait to see the pics. :-)

I'm the other way...

Denise — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:56:27 -0600

I am trying to convince my daughter that flip flops will work. It's an outdoor wedding. In SC. In March. Flip flops are the answer. They're so much the answer that I think she's giving all guests flip flops as a wedding favor.

:-)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Just left you a comment on

Amy Gates — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:27:29 -0600

Just left you a comment on your post, Beth. Great ideas! Thank you. :)

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

Happy No-Plastic Holidays!

bethfly — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:29:18 -0600

Thanks for writing this post. I started to leave a comment with other ideas, and it turned into a Blogher post all its own:

http://www.blogher.com/zero-plastic-packaging-challenge

Now I know why you were looking for a "'made by mom' holiday gift challenge" on Twitter!

Beth Terry

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com

"Haggling" vs. "Negotiation"

maria.tseng — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:25:08 -0600

Why does "Haggling" summon up a sun-burnt sook with characters in exotic dress gesturing to the accompanyment of rapid-fire speech, whereas "Negotiation" changes the scene to business people doing sophisticated "important work?"

Haggling and negotiation use same process, the same techniques and have the same goals. Who values what at what rate?

Just as in business, it's important to know what's important to the other side, and how important. What's negotiable and what's not.

I try to appeal to people's helpfulness by opening with something like "Can you help me with the price?" When buying high margin items such as jewelry where the price might be more elastic, I try offers with real value such as "can I get a better price if I pay in cash?" While buying cars, I try to use relevant information such as "it's the beginning of the next model year so I'm sure you'd like to sell this model to make room for the new ones." For unusual items such as a petite extra small sweater, I try "this is an unusual size, can I get a break for it?"

As the blogger said, stay friendly, stay positive, and be persistent. Almost everything is negotiable if the other side gains the value that is important to them.

Its just you. And just me. And just most of us!

saraolive — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:17:38 -0500

Totally unflattering, even for J.S. I'll opt also for "short and fat" -- as opposed to pouchy and slightly malformed... Thankyouverymuch.

Amen!

seattlegirluw — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:56:03 -0500

I'm so glad i'm not the only one thinking this. I'm incredibly short-waisted. There is literally about 2.5-3 inches between the top of my hips and the bottom of my ribs. So even normal women's pants try to create a waist where there isn't one. High waisted pants try to compress my ribs! And I've always thought that they make ordinarily-svelte women look puffy. But I could just be bitter.

Lay Away is in comeback mode

TodaysBudget — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:53:33 -0500

Nice article and yes, layaway is making more and more of a comeback. This weekend in the SF Bay Area, many of the stores are starting to tout a layaway plan.

Neo-haggling works in Europe very well but in the states, most of the stores don't empower people on the showroom floor to change prices. This is especially true in department stores and box stores.

I think my sister has been

queenmother — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:49:29 -0500

I think my sister has been "neo-haggling" for years. She is definitely of the policy of ask and ye shall receive. Lately I have to say I've been doing the same thing, flat out emailing companies whose products I use and saying "could I have any coupons?" Everyone so far has obliged, and generously. I think companies are just happy to keep your business right now.

I think my sister has been

queenmother — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:49:27 -0500

I can't help but always

MrsWsKitchen — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:41:27 -0500

I can't help but always associate price haggling with my time living and travelling outside of the US. It's an art and a skill to haggle respectfully and know how to get the best deals at everyday markets. (For example, in Korea, it's bad luck to lose your first sale of the day--they will sell items at deep discount just to get you to buy.)

I can't say that I'm great at it here. However, I can say that my husband once worked at a hotel, and there's a huge push for the desk associates to sell out the hotel--even if it means selling a room at a ridiculously low rate. It's all negotiable. I've been moderately successful at negotiating room prices for myself. Other prices to haggle on: taxi fares, flights and other trips.

Don't forget, too, that when you have a customer service issue be clear about what you want to restore your satisfaction with the store--this is another excellent way to hone your haggling skills. Customer service staff have flexibility in offering discounts and freebies and other incentives.

I love the recommendation to haggle for repairs. I bet it would work for tailoring, too. And the re-emergence of layaway makes my heart happy, I must say!

Amanda
Mrs.W's Kitchen