ESL Podcast 849 – Bargaining With Store Owners

 　　Connie: You speak McQuillanese. Ask the store owner the price of this vase.

 

　　Ivan: All right. He says it’s $60.

 

　　Connie: That’s actually a great price, but let’s see if I can talk him down a little. You should never accept the starting price and the prices in these stores are all negotiable. Ask him what his rock bottom price is for the vase.

 

　　Ivan: He said that he’ll take $50, but not one penny less.

 

　　Connie: The vase is really a steal at $50, but maybe he’s still willing to bargain. Tell him that I won’t pay a penny more than $40.

 

　　Ivan: I told him and he says that at that price, he’d be giving it away. I don’t think he’s going to budge¹. I think you should just buy it. He doesn’t look like he’s willing to haggle² with you.

 

　　Connie: Don’t be impatient. Good things come to those who wait. Tell him that I’m ready to walk away if he doesn’t take $42 for it. Hey, where’s he going?

 

　　Ivan: He says that he’s walking away because he doesn’t sell to cheap Americans.

 

　　Connie: Hmph!

 

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

2 haggle   

vi.讨价还价，争论不休

参考例句：

• In many countries you have to haggle before you buy anything.在许多国家里买东西之前都得讨价还价。
• If you haggle over the price,they might give you discount.你讲讲价，他们可能会把价钱降低。