Negotiating French style

[benjj]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

I've just driven for 2 hours with 2 very unhappy kids and an unhappy wife to a Citroen DS breakers.

I had a shopping list of about 4/5 things and was expecting to drop about 300 Euros.

First item: a specific year of DS headrest. He has two minus their covers which suits me down to the ground as I can get my car trimmer to sort it. The item is available new from old Citroen stock for 69 Euros. His two are, in English, fked. However I'd be quite happy to spend a couple of hours repairing one so we get to the cash. I ask how much he wants. He says I have to make an offer. I know that these items have a value of between 30 and 50 Euros depending on how quickly he wants to sell them. I start at 25.

Monsieur ttbks picks them both up, walks off, up a ladder, puts them on his top shelf and tells me, my wife, my 3 year old and my 5 month old to get out. End of discussion. He turns away and won't talk any further.

What. The. Holy. fk?

He should have had my arm off for 40 Euros for one item. Now, I'm delighted to say I'll be spending my cash with a UK distributer.

Is this just me or did I meet the one man in Europe dealing with old car parts who doesn't know how to negotiate?

Merde.

[VR46]

Typical frenchman I'd say.

[AndrewW-G]

I know I shouldn't, but what a complete loon

[leyorkie]

You offered cash
He would have preferred liquid, not as in French cash but alcohol.
I find I can get away with a lot with a smile and a bottle of decent malt.

[SlipStream77]

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

It's a seinfeld reference.

[dave87]

[terribly predictable joke] I thought French negotiations were conducted with flags? [/terribly predictable joke]


It isn't only the french that don't know how to negotiate - judging by some of the threads on here the vast majority of private buyers don't either.