Today we are going to learn practical English for real situations. 

In life, whether you love it or hate it, sometimes you need to haggle - you need to try to get a better price for something. Some people are natural hagglers, and even if you are, you can still learn some useful English expressions to help you get the best deal.

Like Japan, western countries like the UK or the US, you wouldn't normally haggle in a department store here, or in other big shops. But you might haggle in a market, or for something like a second-hand car…

Ok, so imagine this. Anna is trying to buy a car from Neil, and she is looking for a good deal. But will Neil — who is selling — be happy with the price?

Let’s start!

Anna: Excuse me. How much for the  over there?

Neil:  Oh the Toyota, oh yeah, that's a bargain. £700.

Anna: 700?

Neil: Yeah. It'll cost you at least 800 anywhere else.

Anna: Could you do it for 500?

Neil: 500? No, sorry, no: I can sell this car for 700, I'm sure of it. 

Anna: I've got the cash. You couldn't do it for 550?

Neil: No.

Anna: You couldn't do a bit cheaper, could you?

Neil: Well, I tell you what, I could probably do it for about 650.

Anna: 650?

Neil: 650, yeah. You can't say fairer than that.

Anna: Well, is that really your best price?

Neil: It's my best price. 650. Come on.

Anna: I've got all the cash here. I haven’t got 650, I've got 600. I'll give you 600 for it.

Neil: 630, how about that? I've just knocked off another £20.

Anna: It's too much: I haven’t got that kind of money. Look, I saw it down the road for 600. In fact, I think I might go there and buy it. Thanks anyway, bye.

Neil: Hang on, hang on, let's not be silly here. Let's not be silly here. I'll tell you what. 600.

Anna: 600. It's a deal.

Neil: Go on then.

Key language points 

So, Rob paid £600 in the end. And here are the 'haggling expressions' that Finn talked about: 

1. 'Do' = sell

When we are haggling, instead of using the verb sell, we often use do. We use it with can/can't and could/couldn't:

• I can probably do it for about £650.
• Can't you do it a bit cheaper?
• Could you do it for 500?
• You couldn't do it for £550?

2. To 'knock off'

This phrasal verb means 'lower the price'.

• Can you knock off another £30?
• I could knock off £10 for you.

3. When you've got a deal: 'Go on then'

To show that the price is agreed, it sounds very natural in spoken English for the buyer and/or the seller to say: Go on then.

• Buyer: £600?
• Seller: Go on then.
• Buyer: I'll give you £40 for it.
• Seller: Go on then.

Key vocabulary 

to haggle
to argue about a price

a bargain
a very cheap price

to knock off
to lower a price

I haven't got that kind of money
I haven't got enough money for that

you can't say fairer than that
(idiom) that's very fair

go on then
I agree to buy/sell at the price you just said

Ok, that's for today's useful expressions. If you want to learn more practical English, please have a try at my lesson. 

Bye for now~