I love a bargain. Finding something I need at a great discount is a joy. Back when GPS devices were relatively new, I purchased a $199 brand name GPS navigation system for less than $50. That’s a bargain!

Our mother taught her kids the art of bargain shopping. It was a matter of survival for a woman with a tight budget and a hungry husband and six ravenous children to feed. I joke that I can sniff out a bargain.

When I go shopping I usually check out the clearance shelves first. I have also learned the skill of not buying something I don’t need just because it’s cheap!

The next generation has learned the art of bargain shopping, too! Our son uses coupons when he shops for groceries and on several occasions a combination of coupons and low prices have resulted in the store giving him money for buying something. He also checks out the clearance racks and has found some nice clothing bargains.

Our daughter routinely finds great deals. She called one day to brag that she had purchased $196 worth of clothing for $8. Now that’s a bargain!

While I enjoy shopping for bargains I dislike bargaining or, as they say in the automobile business, dickering. Having managed businesses I understand the importance of making a profit. If a store marks down an item, that’s their decision and I’m happy to take advantage of it. However, I don’t enjoy trying to squeeze the profit out of a business. Besides, I’m not good at it.

Years ago I tried being tough with a car dealership in Sioux City. I told the young salesman that I wouldn’t trade for more than a very lowball price. He took my offer to his sales manager who was a friend of mine. The sales manager came out of his office and sat down in a chair next to me. “Arvid,” he said, “I know what a perfectionist you are. Will you leave me just enough profit to be able to take care of you when you come in with a complaint — even picky little complaints?” He then promised that anytime my car was in the shop I could drive his Buick Riviera demo as a loaner.

My bargaining efforts pretty much went down the toilet. We negotiated a bit more and I enjoyed driving his Riviera several times.

Similarly, I don’t deal well with people who try to dicker or who make a stink over a price. If a price is too high, I shop somewhere else.

I still chuckle at the memory of a fellow who came into the newspaper office in Creston one afternoon wanting several color photocopies. We had one of the few color photocopiers in town at the time and the new technology was still quite expensive.

He asked the price for four copies of each of five originals. When told the total he balked. “That’s too expensive,” he bellered. He became antagonistic with our female employee behind the counter so I stepped out of my office and asked if I could be of any help.

The big tough guy that he was, he quieted down when I approached. Many loutish men are like that — nasty around women and children but much meeker when confronted by another male. He told me our prices were too high. I explained that the lease price of the copier was expensive as was the toner. Since we made the copies for him, he paid only for the good copies. We were, I explained, a for-profit business and our prices had to reflect that.

He wasn’t convinced. “I can get color copies a lot cheaper in Des Moines,” he protested. “Then go to Des Moines and have the copies made,” I said. “You won’t hurt my feelings.”

“But that’s 70 miles away,” he shouted, getting red in the face. “I can’t afford to drive that far just for photocopies.”

“So then how many copies can we make for you?” I asked.

He grumbled and placed his order. Fortunately he paid with cash.

I want to be clear — I’m not a tightwad. I just don’t enjoy paying more for something than I have to and anytime I can pay below retail … well, that’s nice. I don’t expect a business to sell to me a product at a loss … unless they want to.

Say, did I ever tell you that copper wire was invented by two of my ancestors fighting over a penny?

Arvid Huisman can be contacted at huismaniowa@gmail.com. ©2024 by HuismanCommunications.