Card Shows: Tech as a servant or master?

[Exhibitman]

I like the euphemisms and double-speak from people who are not comfortable bargaining. My pet peeve is: "What's the best you can do on this card?" My answer is "Well, more than I am asking." Another one I hear a lot at shows is: "Is there any flexibility?" --Yes, I am certain every card bends, but you can't try it until you buy it.

When I am buying, I ask a specific and explicit question:

"What is the absolute lowest price you will take for this?"

I get a surprisingly large number of laughs and double takes. People are not used to a direct question. What's really fun is when the response is too high and I hand the cards back. Many of the sellers offer an additional discount as I start to walk away.