@Ann72 And there are some cultures in which haggling is quite normal- vendors always name a price much higher than what they expect to get, as it's assumed that there will some back and forth and that the price will meet somewhere in the middle. You'd be considered some kind of fool if you didn't counter with a much lower price.
It's actually a problem for those of us who live in countries which have a heavy tourist trade- the tourists think the named price is quite reasonable and just pay it. They don't realize they're actually being ripped off, and when that happens a lot, the sellers start to expect those higher prices, or crazy big tips, which those who actually live here full time can't afford. When I first moved here, I used to go out to eat a lot, because it was quite affordable. Now the restaurants have gotten so expensive I rarely do.
But in countries where haggling over prices isn't the norm, it seems insulting to ask for a discount. People wouldn't think to haggle over prices at a grocery store, a hardware store, or a hotel, yet when it comes to Airbnb hosts, it's almost like they think they're at some garage sale.
