Since free-form bargaining is an acquired skill, you're pretty likely to walk away from your first attempts paying full pop for your assorted treasures. There will be times in those early days when you crack a smile at precisely the wrong moment or get just a bit too nervous to hold the whole deal together. But with practice, you'll develop the eyes and reflexes of a hardcore haggler.

When you get to this next level and are ready for some real competition, here are a few upper division tips for when things start to get nasty.

Bid WAY Low. One hallmark of the novice haggler is playing timid -- for example, opening up with a $2 bid on a $3 baseball -- which gives the seller unfair advantage from the outset.

The initial bid speaks volumes about a haggler, because it reflects your level of inner confidence. Anyone who starts off with a twelve dollar bid on an early American armoire better have the negotiating skills to back it up. A low opening offer lets a vendor know that their bluff is being called and you need them to help "clear up a little misunderstanding." But maintain a charming, stoic game face to keep a fight from breaking out.

Inspect Each Item Carefully. Before taking your selection up to the nice lady, examine the object of your affection for any surface flaws or other imperfections that can be used to bolster your low bid. "Oh, see? This teapot doesn't even have a lid. How can you ask that much for it?"

Look for Duplicates. It always helps your case for a lower price if you've seen a similar Spirograph set at the table down the way. It cuts down on the effectiveness of the old "collector's item" story.

Up the Ante. A classic distraction technique: Before going into a bargaining session, choose a couple of "spoiler" items that you can throw into your side of the deal. ("Okay, if you won't take $4 for this cast iron skillet, then how about $4.50 for the skillet and this steak knife?") The strategy here is to force the vendor into doing quick math based on the number of items in your pile. (Often they'll just calculate the average and close the sale. Math does that to people.)

Bonus points: Add items to your pile and then CUT your offer by a buck.

Water Torture. This approach, based on simple everyday hypnotic techniques, should be reserved for the toughest deals. If you get stonewalled mid-haggle, choose a comfortable price and rephrase it as many times as you can in the course of the discussion.

Buyer: "So, how about nine dollars for the whole toolbox?"

Vendor: "No, I really need to get fifteen. I paid thirteen for it."

Buyer: "Well ... would you take nine then?"

Vendor: "I'm pretty set on fifteen."

Buyer: "Hmmmmm. ... (dramatic pause) What say you throw in this hand sledge and I'll give you ... oh ... nine bucks for the whole thing?"

Vendor: "Can't really do that. Fifteen."

Buyer: "OK, here's my final offer. You throw in the sledge, I give you the nine dollars, you get very sleepy and when I snap my fingers, you'll bark like a dog whenever you hear a car horn. Whaddaya say?"

Vendor: "Zzzzz ... Zzzzzz. ... Hunh? What? Nine dollars? SOLD!"

Buyer: "Pleasure doing business with you."

Disclaimer: If you get REALLY good at this, make sure to only use your powers for good.