Bargaining: questions and Band 8 answers

Only occasionally, to be honest. If I'm shopping in a high-street store or a supermarket, the prices are fixed, so you can't really negotiate. But whenever I visit an open-air street market, like the antique fair in my hometown, I usually try to knock a few pounds off the asking price.

Mostly at local flea markets, independent car dealerships, and traditional fruit stalls. In those places, haggling is practically expected. For example, my dad always bargains over second-hand tools at the weekend car boot sale, and the sellers are usually more than happy to meet him halfway.

Not particularly, no. I tend to find it a bit awkward and time-consuming. I would much rather just pay a fair price upfront and get on with my day. Last summer, I tried negotiating for a leather jacket on holiday, and it felt so stressful that I nearly walked away empty-handed.

I don't think I did. As a child, I was far too shy to ask a shopkeeper for a discount. I remember watching my mother haggle for curtains at a fabric market, and I was genuinely embarrassed by the whole interaction, so I stayed well clear of it.

I reckon so, yes. With the rise of online shopping, everything is digital and prices are set automatically rather than through face-to-face discussions. Unless websites start introducing flexible pricing for everyday goods, I suspect the art of bargaining will slowly die out among younger generations.