Another Times Trend that Isn't - Gawker Comments

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Lycosidae — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:02:42 EDT

I found out accidentally that I could haggle at one of my local liquor stores (I say this at the risk of sounding like a Times Style writer, since maybe everyone except me has been doing this forever?).

Lycosidae

Another Times Trend that Isn't

pssshwhatever — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:29:48 EDT

@travelina: We don't get paid enough to give accurate information to self-righteous assholes.

pssshwhatever

Another Times Trend that Isn't

travelina — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:58:36 EDT

Haggling at Best Buy? The real trick is finding a human being to help you there. Brian Sack of Banterist imagined what would happen if you put a Best Buy employee into a different line of work, say, the New York Stock Exchange:
"Is adamant that SBUX is around $80 per share. Finally consults a computer and admits it's $34 and he doesn't know what happened because he's sure it was $80 yesterday."
[www.banterist.com]

travelina

Another Times Trend that Isn't

mz_wysiwyg — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:54:20 EDT

I love going to the local Vietnamese markets and making them an offer they can't understand - as a consequence I eat the most beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables at half the price and amuse myself into the bargain.

mz_wysiwyg

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Saxon 212 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:42:50 EDT

I just bought a phone a J&R today so I asked what the best price was and I was told you're looking at it!

Saxon 212

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Koreanish — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:38:43 EDT

Awesome. I'm going to Nieman's now to throw pennies at the shoppers.

Koreanish

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Cheap Shot — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:30:50 EDT

I have heard that haggling is acceptable for places like Best Buy and PC Richards, but I could never imagine asking a Starbuck's barista to chop off a buck from my 5 dollar latte.

Cheap Shot

Another Times Trend that Isn't

pssshwhatever — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:53:27 EDT

You actually CAN haggle at Best Buy (I work at one and sell appliances) on certain stuff. Computers? No chance, there's no margin in them. Regular-price appliances and televisions? If you're buying ENOUGH (a kitchen full of new appliances, several new TVs for a new house, etc), or if what you're buying is particularly expensive and rare to sell, then if approached correctly the salesperson will probably give you some kind of discount to not walk the sale. To say its a trend, though, is reaching. Usually people who are buying those types or volumes of things know that we're at their mercy to get the sale. Buying a $700 LCD? I'd rather walk it than trying to deal with a d-bag trying to haggle with me over that.

pssshwhatever

Another Times Trend that Isn't

DonPardoCalrissian — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:46:02 EDT

Haggling is for savages and does not indicate Americans' resourcefulness in the face of adversity but rather the descent of our nation into barbarism. GAME OVER, folks.

DonPardoCalrissian

Another Times Trend that Isn't

donmiguel — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:29:45 EDT

Yeah, sometimes I wonder if Jayson Blair isn't still freelancing for the Times -- haggling?? If I tried to "haggle" anywhere on the island of Manhattan, I'd be arrested for "shoplifting" and taken off to "jail."

donmiguel

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Seeräuber Jenny — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:48:40 EDT

@lulugo:
I thought this post was going to discuss the story you cited. After reading it yesterday, I wrote a few people asking if they'd actually heard a single person advance the theory that the recession would benefit them.

A rising tide lifts all boats and an ebbing tide ... yeah.

Seeräuber Jenny

Another Times Trend that Isn't

MrInBetween — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:27:01 EDT

I once asked a preppy dude at Ralph Lauren if he'd snip $30 off a $399 blue blazer if I paid cash. He laughed in my face and suggested I try that kind of lame play at JC Pennies.

MrInBetween

Another Times Trend that Isn't

mitchel_stevens — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:40:29 EDT

@In Other News...:
you mean every fucking bodega known to man.
(seriously. how a six pack of bud is $10 on one block, then $5 at the Met Market makes no sense.)

mitchel_stevens

Another Times Trend that Isn't

TedSez — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:40:07 EDT

Hey, congratulations. The N.Y. Times is taking story ideas from Consumerist now.

[consumerist.com]

TedSez

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Buzz Killington — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:34:12 EDT

I got a floor model coffee table at the MoMa store in Soho for 1/3 of what the sticker said after haggling with the manager. It was my proudest moment, and one which I've recounted to my friends and family often enough to make them borderline homicidal.

Buzz Killington

Another Times Trend that Isn't

lulugo — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:57:17 EDT

Trend In Trend Pieces
Recession ignites flow of "yeah, we wish!" pieces in NYTimes.
Haggling for couture jeans and plasma screens,
and now, richies abandon real estate to "creatives"
[www.nytimes.com]
Next.....watch for in-depth look at those "Sell Me Your Diamonds" outfits.

lulugo

Another Times Trend that Isn't

belltolls — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:34:55 EDT

@Ian Spiegelman: Not at all, lol. The two just don't always go together.

belltolls

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Saxon 212 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:59:47 EDT

What happened to the New York Times?I remember a time when you had to read it everyday,but now?It's so wind baggy and boring.

Saxon 212

Another Times Trend that Isn't

Ian Spiegelman — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:44:23 EDT

@SarahHeartburn: Mornin' Sunshine!

@belltolls: Thank you... But are you saying I'm not being editor-ly enough?

Ian Spiegelman

Another Times Trend that Isn't

In Other News... — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:36:12 EDT

You know who rips us off? Mom and pop stores, that's who! (Ducks. But you know it's a little bit true.)

In Other News...

Another Times Trend that Isn't

famousauthor — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:30:38 EDT

I go into Best Buy all the time and ask for a lower price. The answer is always: "The door is that way, buddy!"

famousauthor

Another Times Trend that Isn't

belltolls — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:23:30 EDT

I read that last night and thought "God, some of these Times writers just make shit up out of thin air!" It makes it hard to rag at the tabs too much. By the way Ian, I know you have written lots but being an editorial type is a little different, anyway, you are just a grand and thanks for your gawkery.

belltolls

Another Times Trend that Isn't

SarahHeartburn — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:16:51 EDT

Oh, and good morning, Ian!

SarahHeartburn

Another Times Trend that Isn't

SarahHeartburn — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:16:26 EDT

I love watching the upper middle class learn to live like us peons. Just stay the fuck out of my Salvation Army stores if you know what's good for you.

SarahHeartburn