Juice Squeeze

You cannot, in the present era, sell a used item to another person for a stated price. If an item is worth $50 and you price it at $40, you will either be ignored (because there's clearly something wrong with it) or else be counter-offered $25. It's been years since I've seen anyone accept an offer as-is. I don't think it's stinginess. It's competitive imperative. People rush forward to perform the juice squeeze to indulge their adversarial impulses. An opportunity to conquer and crush! Unilateralism! It's a bit like Sue and the speed bump. I recently posted an item for sale, making abundantly clear that the (very fair) $100 price was firm, and was flooded with messages ala "$85". I replied to one: Do you see any way to do this without launching a game of “Haggling and Screwing”? Can you imagine a universe where someone charges a fair price, and you pay that price, and you’re happy? Or does that sound empty and pointless? Am I silly for even suggesting it?" To be fair, current…

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