AIBU to think that haggling is still expected?

[CreativeBee]

Ok so last Christmas we were given a voucher for a family photo shoot from my sister (so p*ed off) it included a 10x8 print, unframed, worth £65.
So we went to the shoot, when booking they wouldn't give a price list but I thought I'd just go get my 10x8. The DC had a fantastic time, we all did really but at the back of my mind I was thinking I'm going to look huge in all these pics (I had an accident earlier this year, hurt my back and due to immobility and drugs put on about a stone and half) and also how much it'll cost to buy the pictures.
Today we went to see the pictures, I had told my DH and DC that I wasn't going to be able to justify spending so much since I've lost my job and we're struggling, not to mention Christmas .
Anyways, we loved the pictures and DS (16) was adamant that he wanted them as the individuals of him looked great, he's a little vain lol. But at each print costing £65 for 6x4 I knew it was impossible. The digital package which allows you to print them up to a 6x4 was £275.
I felt torn as did DH and my DH haggled and we ended up getting the digital package for £230 (still a lot of money for us but DH said it'll be ok we'll budget on other things).
On the way home our DS said it was 'immoral' to haggle in this country and that we were taking the p**s. My question is, AIBU to assume haggling is expected for something like this, or is it just cars etc.?
Feeling really crap about spending so much money as it is and also hate the way I look in them all but love the pictures of the DC, last ones we had done professionally was 10 years ago when DD was born.

[Joolsy]

You weren't BU I don't think. These places tend to pressure you into buying there & then and I think they expect to bring the prices down a bit. I certainly would haggle!

[Msqueen33]

My dh always haggles. It's the accountant him. And he always says if you don't ask you don't get. If they don't like the offer they can say no. Same with house buying. Not everyone offers the asking price the vendor can say. Nothing lost nothing gained. Enjoy your pictures and I bet you don't look as bad as you think x

[VimFuego101]

At that price for a photo YWBU not to haggle, and I bet they would have dropped the price if it started to look like you were walking away without buying anything.

[PuntasticUsername]

DS thinks it's immoral to haggle? He was paying for the photos with his own money, then?

Thought not.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

God, what an awful present from your sister! Just dreadful.

I find haggling tiresome. I put something up for sale on my local forum asking £25.00. First person to reply said "would you take £20.00. Well, ok then, but you're pissing me off."

Put something up for £6.00. First reply "Would you take £5.00" and repeat.

So now I'm going to ask for a round figure more than I actually want for anything, no matter how small or how little the figure, then the buyer can feel satisfied they've got a bargain. What a ridiculous time-wasting farce!!

[CreativeBee]

If DS hadn't been there, we would have walked away but he was being a typical teenager and not only were we put in the situation of "if you don't buy now you can't buy later," we were also dealing with DS's I'll give up my Christmas presents for the photos. Best start looking at ways to budget I think lol.

[CreativeBee]

Oh by the way DS said that he'd give up Christmas presents but as soon as were in the car it was a case of "I'll ask nanny to chip in and you can put some money towards some of my presents". He also said that he knows we won't DEPRIVE him of Christmas presents and he's smarter than he looks. He's walking a very thin line at the moment.

[suitsyousir79]

I haggle everywhere. If you dont ask you dont get. They can simply refuse and thats fine, but i got £100 worth of pillows for free when i bought a £600 bed a couple of years ago.

[RachelRagged]

I haggled once .

I had seen a second hand laptop for £140 and had reserved it after making a verbal agreement that I would pay in instalments .
I then thought on it and was luckily enough to have a small win somewhere and went back . . Offered £100 in cash there and then for the laptop and came home with it , Incidentally, it was the best laptop I'd ever had and lasted a good 3 or so years

[Floggingmolly]

She gave you a present that ended up costing £230? The gift that keeps on giving...
I'm amazed your 16 year old was even happy to accompany his parents to a photo shoot, though. Never mind agitate for you to buy far more than you intended to? You've called him a "typical teenager"; I don't think so...

[Trifleorbust]

I hate haggling - I would rather just pay the price asked, or not. And if I am selling something I will put the price I'll accept on it. But YANBU if it doesn't bother you

[FoulMouthedIlliterateHarridan]

Oh by the way DS said that he'd give up Christmas presents but as soon as were in the car it was a case of "I'll ask nanny to chip in and you can put some money towards some of my presents". He also said that he knows we won't DEPRIVE him of Christmas presents and he's smarter than he looks. He's walking a very thin line at the moment.

Did you point out that he was being immoral by haggling at that point?

[JustMarriedBecca]

I haggle for everything. Won't buy anything without looking for a discount code online these days as everything is so heavily discounted, even the major retailers.

[llhj]

Odd that your ds is so keen on a family photo shoot. Most teens wouldn't be seen dead.

[Sparlklesilverglitter]

Haggling in Sainsbury's etc, weird and no on would do it

BUT

These photo places normally give you a price that leaves room for haggling and even at £230 I bet they got what they expected anyway

Also it wasn't a present if it cost you £230

[Costacoffeeplease]

I hate haggling, I get it all the time 'what's your best price?' I walk away from anyone who says that to me, even if they then offer the original rate

Your son sounds very selfish and entitled

[libprog]

In certain places of the earth haggling is a must!

[EatTheCake]

In the U.K. I wouldn't go to Morrisons and try to haggle over a tin of beans but I would haggle and Have done so for photo shoot pictures in my experience they never offer best price straight off and they are quick to reduce price if you ask

[PinkSwimGoggles]

yanbu
if you don't ask you don't get.
good for you for getting a good price!

[OohhThatsMe]

The thing is, in Sainsbury's they put the price next to each item. If you can't see a price, you can ask an assistant and they'll tell you. That price won't change between you entering the shop and you leaving it, either.

The studio acted very immorally by not giving you a price list. You wouldn't go anywhere else where there was no price list, would you?

Even after haggling, you have paid more than they bargained for anyway. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

So the 16 year old wanted the pics of himself? Wrap them up and that's his presents sorted!

[WLF46]

Haggling is perfectly acceptable but only works provided you are prepared to walk away altogether. Make an offer on those photos but if it is not met, walk away. Remember that the only way they can make money from these photos is to sell them to you.

[ViewBasket]

I think haggling in the UK is only acceptable in a few places, such as buying used cars, or if you've answered a small add that says "or near offer". Not sure what you mean by "still expected" OP, as haggling has never been a standard part of modern British culture AFAIK?

I just want to pay the correct price and get on with my day, not waste time on haggling. Also, if haggling was to become the norm, suppliers would just put their prices up artificially to compensate for it, and you'd end up paying the same.

[Littleallovertheshop]

Your DS sounds like a pain.

YWNBU - when it's his money he can spend it how he wants.

[CreativeBee]

Been sat here having a very long discussion about this with my very annoying son about where haggling would be acceptable and where it would be a big no no. He's actually shocked that people would haggle at an actual car dealership, he assumed that it was only done at second hand dealers. Costacoffeeplease you are right he is very entitled, he's a pain in the a**e but my DH is very much a soft touch and I think he knows how to play the game. Coming to a family photo shoot not only got him brownie points with me but he also managed to get lots of photos of himself (must admit that I find it a little odd that he loves having his photos taken, didn't think that was a teenage boy thing ) I'm just hope that as he gets older he won't just go pay asking price for everything, of course I don't mean haggling in middle of Sainsbury's about the price of milk