I recently read a very interesting article online entitled, "If the eBay auction is dying, why does haggling thrive?"The article brings up some great points about today's consumers and what they are and are not willing to do for a bargain. 

One would think it odd to see eBay struggling during these tighter times.  I would have suspected that sites like eBay and auctions in general would be increasing in revenues, as consumers try to find every way to cut corners by still maintaining their normal way of life.  The proof is even in the new Sex and the City movie, where Carrie's new assistant is renting designer bags just to keep up with the other women in NYC.

So why I ask is eBay dwindling?  Well the author of this article is in the same state of amazement as me.  In fact, they found that haggling in stores has increased while auctions have decreased. 

"I've also been reading that haggling, (which is a lot harder than participating in an auction), is thriving because consumers will go to any length to score bargains in these tight economic times... Why are people who spend five hours driving around to different electronics stores and bargaining with the managers deciding that it's too hard to make a bid for something on eBay? Are the bargains available to hagglers really that much better than those available at auction? Do people enjoy the direct confrontation?"

I am just as stumped as the author.  The only answer I can think of is that people like instant gratification and therefore, if they haggle in a store they can take the item home today, if they participate on eBay, they have to wait for the auction to close and the wait for shipping.

The author goes on to bring up some additional great points about the affects of haggling in your stores, "I think consumers lose out when stores allow haggling, but the rise of haggling does seem to be a legitimate, (if overstated), trend. Search under "haggling, retail" and you'll get a fair number of stories."

Wow, I did this search and expected to find flea market tales, but I had no idea how many people are actually trying this in respectable retail stores.  Do you allow haggling?  In my wine shop, I do not allow this beyond bundling some items together and possibly throwing in a freebie or discount with a larger purchase.  Thoughts?