Who's Leading?

On The Table


Some people enjoy the thrill of chasing or haggling on “the deal.” You will hear them brag about how much they beat up this car dealer or this builder to get the best deal possible. I used to be one of those when it came to cars. I would walk into a dealership expecting to do the haggle dance. They would ask what I wanted to pay for a vehicle and would say, “I want the vehicle at your cost, and you can make the profit up on the next uniformed buyer that comes in behind me.” I would spend the better part of a full day doing the haggle, and even after the all day affair, I would sometimes wonder if I left money on the table.

When I bought the Raptor this past May, I was in and out of the dealership in less than two hours. How did I cut an all day event down to a few hours? I had a number I could live with in mind, and they had one they could live with in mind. We did the back and forth dance one time rather than many, got within a $1,000 of the number then found the number that was good for both of us. I paid a few dollars more, they sold the truck for a few dollars less, and we both got back probably four hours of time it would normally take to haggle. I used my “found time” to enjoy the new toy, and I am sure they used the time to sell another vehicle.


My view on the haggle has changed quite a bit since my younger days. I still try to get the best possible deal I can, but I look at the bigger picture and am more sensitive to time. For me personally, it is not worth four of my times to attempt to “save” $500 on a deal. My time is worth more than that to me. That’s time I could be spending with friends, learning something new, working out, drinking a beer, or sitting at Starbucks writing.

Here’s the deal. Everything in life involves some type of negotiation. Relationships, business arrangements, major purchases, etc. all require negotiation, and yes you will leave something on the table. Rather than driving yourself bat shit crazy trying to be the shrewd hard-assed negotiator and win all the time, why not look at negotiation as finding that happy place for everyone? Would you rather be sitting at that table looking at a stack of green paper or sitting at a table with friends and loved ones laughing, smiling, and loving life? I think you know which table I sit at. Wanna pull up a chair?

Rodney - Will Negotiate For Smiles and Hugs