The Art of Haggling · Brotherhood Of Scent

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The Art of Haggling

Had a fun time at my local Car Boot Sale today. For US readers, this is equivalent to a Flea Market / Swap Meet. Usually trestle tables piled with stuff, lined up under the blue sky of a farmer’s field.

First stall had a bunch of random stuff, including a storage box with some opened Middle Eastern perfumes in it. I was checking one out. It was Armaf Niche Oud.

The seller spoke as I opened a box to check the bottle.

“Lovely scent, that. Costs £140 new.”

Of course, everyone reading this will know that what he said was absolutely false. So I told him, gently.

“Nah, it’s a Middle Eastern fragrance, but Armaf are a decent one. It’s likely about £30.”

He looked disgruntled. I continued looking, and he turned to his mate and said, “that’s why I usually just keep my mouth shut, y’know? Any time you say anything, people just chelp up and think they f***ing know everything.”

I mean, I could have just left it, I suppose.

Instead, I got my phone out and googled the fragrance. It was £25 new, from reputable discount e-shop JustMyLook. I showed him the screen, which led to the following exchange:

“Twenty-five quid new from here, mate,” I said. He looked.

“Yeah but what about eBay?” he said.

“EBay? Why?” I asked. “JustMyLook is a shop.”

“I don’t trust buying from a random shop,” he sneered.

“… But I should trust buying from a table in a field?” I asked. His mate burst out laughing at that, but he just glared at me.

So I doubled down, and checked eBay.

“Oh look,” I laughed. “Twenty two quid on eBay. Even cheaper!”

He dead-eyed me. “You’re an arsehole,” he said, which of course I am.

I laughed and skipped away.

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