Koch, George on thu 2 dec 04
One of life's interesting phenomena is how one culture regards something
as rude, that in another culture is neutral or even positive. Putting
your feet up here (US) is often a sign of comfort and relaxation -
feeling at home. In many cultures this is a rude gesture to anyone else
present.
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Bargaining on price falls in this category too. In our craft and art
culture, suggesting a lower price than what is asked is often considered
an insult to the seller. In other cultures, it is simply the beginning
of an expected, almost ritually required, haggling - arguing - until
settlement and reconciliation. Not only is no offense taken, but the
bargaining is normative, and anyone buying something at the marked price
is considered obviously an outsider and probably foolish.
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Even more interesting is that in many of these same cultures, the object
itself is given value by the seller (in the haggling) by the TALL TALE
associated with it, which is almost never true in fact: "This pot was
made by my mother's brother in a rural village, using clay he dug and
glazes he made from the surrounding wildlife. Each pot takes a day and a
half to make by hand. These pots are the only means of support for him
and his seven children. His wife was killed by a tiger and he has to
support them alone. How could you insult me and defame my mother's
brother by offering such a low price?" =20
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Of course, the pot wasn't made there but in a factory in China, and the
seller's mother does not even have a brother, and the low price that the
potential buyer offered is not actually an insult, just the beginning of
an amazing verbal exchange and contest of wills and haggling ability.
And for people in the culture, this is all quite normal and fun and no
one really gets mad or insulted (though they often pretend to). It is a
dance, and a means to discover if there is a price which represents the
value of the object to the buyer, at a sufficient income to the seller,
and if so, the deal is struck. It is all Economics 101, but through
complex, well-understood ritual.
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This is mostly not our method here in the US (with some exceptions), but
it is probably helpful to realize that it is our craft culture (and
artistic pride) that leads us to believe a low offer is an insult.
Sometimes it is, but often it is not, and it is hard to read motives. =20
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It's also interesting to reflect that I may debate with myself whether
to mark a pot at 65 or 70 dollars, finally mark it at 70, and then get
mad when someone offers me 65, thinking it insults my art. Really it is
still just Economics 101 - finding a price that represents the value of
the pot to the buyer, while still making me a sufficient income.=20
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Often cultures have a way of creating ritual, odd as it may be, to help
us through negotiation to reconciliation. Maybe we could learn to enjoy
that dance.
=20
George+
_________________________________________ .=20
Rev Dr George Byron Koch, Pastor (and Potter) .=20
Church of the Resurrection .=20
West Chicago IL 60185 .=20
www.resurrection.org .=20
Isaiah 64:8b We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed
by your hand.
William Melstrom on fri 3 dec 04
George, that was a great post. During the current haggling thread, I seem
to be the only one who admitted that I WILL take less than that. Some even
implied that by doing so, I am "part of the problem."
Do what you want, but try not to get offended when people offer less.
William Melstrom
----- Original Message -----
It's also interesting to reflect that I may debate with myself whether
to mark a pot at 65 or 70 dollars, finally mark it at 70, and then get
mad when someone offers me 65, thinking it insults my art. Really it is
still just Economics 101 - finding a price that represents the value of
the pot to the buyer, while still making me a sufficient income.
Often cultures have a way of creating ritual, odd as it may be, to help
us through negotiation to reconciliation. Maybe we could learn to enjoy
that dance.
George+
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