fandomhigh | Informed Investments -- Wednesday; Third Period -- 08/06

Informed Investments -- Wednesday; Third Period -- 08/06

"Good morning, class!" Charlotte greeted them all in her usual bright demeanor. "Before we get started, I would just like to sincerely apologize for having canceled last week." And there were extra cupcakes available to them to make up for it. "It was all really quite...um...unfortunate, but that's all over now, and now we're back, and we're going to talk about bartering!"

"Now, bartering, or bargaining, is a way to convince a seller to sell you what you want for less," Charlotte started out, picking up a piece of chalk for the board. "Usually, this doesn't go over well in department stores that have very set pricing, but in other stores and markets, however, it's an extremely valuable tool. There are many tips to remember, but the top one is simply that just because something is marked a certain price, doesn't mean you should buy it at that price."

"Tip number one," Charlotte said, turning to write on the board, "know what you want! If you want to make an effective bargain, it helps to not only know the product you're bartering for, but to also know competitive prices. Sellers are a bit more willing to negotiate if they know that you know that you can get the same thing for less somewhere else."

"Tip number two, know how much you want to spend. Remember our budgeting? Budget out what you this is your reasonable price and stick with it, but make sure to give yourself a good margin to work with. No one wants to barter with someone who's too stubborn on something without wiggle room."

"Three, ask what their best price is and use that a starting point. A lot of people will suggest that you go in with your lower price and work up, but that sets the standard on your side of things and gives the seller the higher bartering power. This way, if they say, 'The best I can offer you for that is, oh, one hundred dollars,' you can return with either your knowledge of the product or an attempt at a lower price. 'Well, what about seventy five?' They want to make the sale, remember, so their 'best price' might not really be their 'best.'"

"Sometimes," Charlotte added, "you can get a deal by going in on a combined purchase. Sometimes, you can barter out a better deal on one item if you agree to buy it with another item. I recommend this only for when you want or need that second item as well, because otherwise it isn't much of a deal, is it?"

"You should always make it fair and try not to insult the seller by bargaining too low. You should always be friendly and polite, because no body likes to work with a Negative Nancy, or someone who screams and demands all the time. A smile can get you far in this regard. But while you should be friendly, you need to have nerves of steel and not back down. Show a sign of weakness, and you totally lose the barter. If you find someone who you've had a good bartering with, considering going back to them again. If you're dealing with smaller sellers, especially, they'll get to know you as a loyal customer and be more willing to give you better deals."

"Bartering with money is probably the best way to go, although bartering with services is also certainly not out of the question. For example, Ned agrees to bake a few pies for that nice apron he's had his eye on. Or Brooke will design something for a dramatic drop in a pair of shoes. However, remember, that bartering something like your time or sex is bad, because that's called prostitution, and is mostly illegal."

"Of course, these are just the basics, and the more you barter the easier it becomes, especially if you find a good sort of rhythm or approach that works best for you. So, if there aren't any questions, what we're going to do today is we're each going to pick out some items out of this box here, and we're going to barter with each other over the item. If anyone's interested, I'd be willing to be a seller, too, but, as an art dealer professionally, I definitely know a thing or two about bartering a price! So go ahead, pick an item, and go barter!"

[[ ocd ~~on the way!~~ is now 25% off! ]]

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Like you're ready to really barter.

Amber Atkins

Ned

Worf

Summer Roberts

Take notes, pass notes, ask any questions at all, just so long as you eat some damn cupcakes.

They're all frosted in such pretty pastel colors!

Ooh, Amber was eating a cupcake, yah, you bet she was.

She was also taking notes.

Ned took a few cupcakes and then listened in, trying to think of things in his head that he'd successfully be able to barter for.

It wasn't a long list.

The items in the box are completely random and entirely moddable. ENTIRELY. Have fun with it. Pick an item; try to sell it or buy it.

There are only six people in the class, so go hog wild and barter with several people if you'd like. BE A BARGAINING SLUT.

Green and pink striped socks! Amber grabbed them in a hurry and clung to them. She was going to buy them before anyone else could!

Ned decided to try the bartering skills out so when he saw Amber pick up some socks, he said, "Those aren't for sale unless you have a lot of money."

Amber clutched her socks protectively. "Yah? Who says?"

"The owner," he said, sounding about as confident as a stray cat playing in traffic. "I ain't giving those up without a good deal."

Amber wrinkled up her nose. Nobody was going to take away her lovely socks. Nobody! "What's your price?"

[Alas, I must go AFK for movies and lunch time! Pick up pings when I get back!]

"A hundred dollars!" Ned decided, starting as high as he could. "No less!"

[Yay lunch and a movie! Have fun!]

Amber gasped. "That's plain sock robbery! I'll give you a buck fifty, not a cent more!"

[Thanks! It was super good!]

"A buck fifty!" Ned frowned. "I can't even buy a new pair of socks for that price!"

Amber had to be frugal, dangit. "Well, you must wear silky socks!"

A beat. Hand to hip.

"Three bucks. Tops."

"Five," he said. "The stripes deserve at least another dollar added to the price."

She looked down at the socks, studying the stripes. "But they're not even even. Three-seventy-five," she asked, arching a brow.

"Four fifty," he said. "The unevenness gives them character."

"...and makes my ankles look crooked. Four."

"Four...and a stick of gum," Ned said.

Amber looked down, grinned, and shoved her hand in her pocket, pulling out a pack of Juicy Fruit. She handed over a stick with four bucks. "Deal."

"I hope you enjoy your socks," he said, taking both money and the gum. "They're keepers."

"Of course they are. And now they're perfectly mine. I love socks."

"And I love gum," he said, smiling. "So, it's a good deal all around."

"It is," she agreed. "You are crafty at your bartering techniques, Ned. I imagine you'll have more gum than you'll know what to do with one day."

Edited 2008-08-06 21:22 (UTC)

"I hope so," he said, laughing. "I can always do something with gum."

"Besides chew it you mean?"

Laughing, he shook his head. "No, I mean just chew it."

"Ah, that's good. You never know some people and their habits. You could be one of those bedposts people, which is just ten times weird."

"Yeah, not me," he said, grinning. "Just chewing it. That's about all I can handle anyway."

"Not to mention that's what you're supposed to do with gum. Not chew it and then save it for a rainy day."

"Right," he said, nodding. "Gum goes in the mouth, not on the bed."

"Warm feet and yummy gum. We couldn't have come to a better agreement," she smiled with a nod.

Worf pulled out a pack of Juicy Fruit gum.

He frowned at it as though it had insulted him somehow.

Summer was very determined to buy an amazing pair of shoes.

Charlotte is more that willing to exercise her bargaining chops for the students if they're up for a challenge, and she's also available after class for any other reason any of the students might like to speak with her.

*stretches out comfortably over day off*

...aaaaahhhh. Nice.

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Informed Investments -- Wednesday; Third Period -- 08/06

Sign In -- 08/06

Re: Sign In -- 08/06

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During Class -- 08/06

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Barter! -- 08/06

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Talk to the Teacher -- 08/06

OOC -- 08/06