Not a big chain store anyway, where they're going to be a little less costly to begin with. A town 70 miles away has a couple large independent stores, but their sale prices are much higher than regular at the big boxes - and I don't mean WalMart, where I boycott. So yes, I had to do it over the phone like all other major purchases. It's good that you insist on free delivery at least. The whole schmiel works in-store too, at least sometimes. I don't always 'win' even on the phone. I just try to optimize my chances. If my efforts fail, I really do walk away from the deal.
What I used to do at flea markets was to have my $ in 2 different pockets, so when I thought the seller had surpassed the true bottom price, I could fall back on a reluctant, seeming agreement and frisk myself for $ but be sure not to find quite enough. Then I could shrug my shoulders, look embarrassed, apologize and start to walk away. At that point I'd discover what the real bottom price was. But you have to be very practiced in the art of the bluff not to give yourself away. And for goodness' sake, never dress up because these methods don't work at all if you look well off.
One time I used to drive past a certain antique/junk store on the highway and would often stop to admire a particular iron bedstead which I considered overpriced. The owner knew I wouldn't buy at ticket price. So finally, in the middle of an awful storm predicted to last 2-3 days, I went to 'browse' again. Laughed at myself for being fool enough to be out in such weather, then mumbled something at least meant to sound sympathetic and wondered how many other people would be as stupid to try driving in a blizzard. The owner gave me a dirty look but I got my 50% off that day - finally. If you enjoy the contest, it's not really work.
My last major funtime to share happened when I was rummaging around a big old real junk store and found what looked like a genuine solid oak bed that had to be at least 200 years old. At least it had ropes to support a mattress. Anyway, I started telling the owner that my mil was coming to visit and I was searching for some junky old bed to accommodate her. Ha ha! How about that outfit in the corner? (He still had other junk piled on it; no suspicion of its value.) How much do you want? (Made sure he knew the joke was about my mil - although I was already divorced) He looked at me, shrugged his shoulders, and asked if 35 would be too much. Since I was about to faint from shock, I mumbled the price to myself, unbeliving. Thirty-five dollars? He even asked if I thought that was too much. Shaking my head in disbelief, afraid he'd realize the huge mistake he was making, I paid that $ faster than you can imagine. Even offered him extra to carry it out to the truck for me, but he refused. He really thought he had over-charged me a little. I've always felt a little guilty, but I still love that bed.
The one place I won't pull those stunts is at a yard sale where the people look worse off than me. It wouldn't be good clean fun then.
Sorry about all the edits. The dogs have been frisky this morning.
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