Rules for haggling?

[mearrin69]

Are there any codified rules for haggling over the price of goods or services? I can't recall ever having seen any and I didn't turn up any with a search of the PFRPG core book, the GMG, or this site. Seems like something that should exist...so am I just missing it?

In our home games we generally just roll diplomacy checks with situational modifiers to improve shopkeeper attitude (usually indifferent unless the heroes have done something good or bad that has influenced them already). Anyone do anything else?

As I write this I have a sinking feeling that I've just been missing something (i.e. the presence or absence of real rules for this) for many years... :)
M

[carborundum]

We do much the same. If there's a pile of loot I let the players throw a few dice and give them about 50+2d10% of cost price. With a decent/awful Diplomacy or Bluff I might throw in another +/- 1d10%.

In the Savage Tide they have medals for helping Sasserine - so they get an extra 5% when selling there.

There are 5 players and most modules are for 4 so the extra 10% or so keeps them in the right area.

[DmRrostarr]

I cant recall specificially what 3.5 book it was, but they actually listed haggling as a possibility under the Diplomacy feat. I am pretty sure it was Complete Adventurer or PHB2, but not 100%.

Sorry I am work currently so I cant look it up ATM, but when I get home I will look..unless someone finds it first...

[Alexander Kilcoyne]

For haggling specifically I would use the Appraise skill rather than diplomacy. Sure, a merchant who is your friend may give you a flat discount but haggling is something entirely different.

However, implementing a haggling system tends to throw wealth by level out of the window eventually.

[mearrin69]

Thanks for the quick responses.

@Alexander: I was mainly thinking for situations where a given item generally sells for x (PFRPG book value) but you're going to get it from a given merchant for either x-y, x, or x+y depending on how much he likes you and how good you are at sweet talking.

How would you use Appraise in that situation? I could certainly see it when selling loot, "What am I bid for this fine goblin weapon? Tis plainly worth 250 gold Crowns but I could part with it for a scant 150 gold Crowns." Appraise would let you know the thing was only worth 75. Actually, I guess I'd still work in Diplomacy in this situation...a skilled enough seller can make something you *know* isn't worth anything seem like it is. :)
M

[Are]

I generally consider the price in the book to be the average result after you're done haggling or otherwise determining price.

If the players want to haggle, I'll do it in a roleplay encounter :)

[Daniel Moyer]

My current DM has us sell using Diplomacy. One character/player makes the primary rolls (sell & buy), the other characters/players make assist rolls (10 or better for a +2, just like Aid Another). It's not shocking for a CHA based class to get well into the 30s with an assisted Diplomacy. We typically do not RP buying & selling because it usually sumps an entire 5 hour game session as it is.

I don't know exactly how the ratios (roll vs. percentage) work out...

Selling starts at 50%. Depending on how high we roll and modifiers for that specific town, possibly ending up at 100% sell value (max).

Buying starts at 150%/100%. Depending on how high we roll and the modifiers for that specific town, possibly ending up at 100%/75%, I'm pretty sure we've never seen lower than 75% buy price, this curve is typically much more difficult, hell most times were happy if we get 100% (book price).