starting price

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 849: Bargaining with Store Owners

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 849. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. Go there, become a member, and support this podcast.

This episode is a dialog between Connie and Ivan about bargaining, trying to get a good price, at a store. Let’s get started.

[start of dialog]

Connie: You speak McQuillanese. Ask the store owner the price of this vase.

Ivan: All right. He says it’s $60.

Connie: That’s actually a great price, but let’s see if I can talk him down a little. You should never accept the starting price and the prices in these stores are all negotiable. Ask him what his rock bottom price is for the vase.

Ivan: He said that he’ll take $50, but not one penny less.

Connie: The vase is really a steal at $50, but maybe he’s still willing to bargain. Tell him that I won’t