Price Negotiations

Dear Victorious,

Is haggling over price a non-Christian thing to do? I know it's customary when buying a car or a house, and it's done it when shopping in markets and bazaars in other countries. But something about it doesn't feel right.

Fair Price

Dear Fair,

You ask a good question. It requires a complex answer. It is good stewardship to make sure that you're getting good value for the money you spend. This includes not over paying for something. So yes, it makes sense to get a good price when you buy anything. And I believe it's Biblical to get good value for your money --- exercising that good stewardship.

On the other hand, if there is something about it that bothers you, perhaps that bad feeling is the Holy Spirit convicting us of something that's wrong. How could something so right be wrong? When we cross the line from good stewardship to greed. It is one thing to get a good price for something. But it is quite another thing to deny the seller a fair price.

The Bible tells us to love our neighbor as we would like to be loved. That merchant, vendor or service provider you're buying from is your neighbor. Treat them as you would want to be treated if you were selling them something. That may mean you haggle a bit on price and/or terms. But it will definitely mean you agree on a fair price ... and not chisel them out of a fair price because they are desperate for your business.

Make sure that when exercising good stewardship, you're not exercising selfishness, greed, vengeance or other defects of character in that transaction!