Gah. Got applesauce in the empty tooth socket. Novocaine is still sort of there, so it didn't hurt, just felt really weird.

Eek, Hil. Good luck over the next couple days.

I'm glad the extraction went ok. I hope the pain stays manageable, Hil.

Hil, you should go get the Vicodin just in case. With your history you'll be glad you had a few in the medicine cabinet.

My dad asks for Percoset with every dental procedure, just to have some on hand for other pain issues he deals with.

I need advice. I am CRAP at bargaining with salespeople.

The Boy broke his cell phone last night, so we have to go to the Cinti Bell store tonight to get him a new phone. They currently have a lot of really good offers on smartphones that I'd consider upgrading to. Most of the really good offers are, however, accompanied by the standard caveats: "new activation only," and/or "Web special only."

My current cell phone is one that was a "Web special only" -- free on the Web site, and $30-ish in-store. When I bought it, and told the salesman that the Web site had it free, he told me that was the Web-only price, and there was nothing he could do about it.

I caved and forked over the $30.

My co-workers, who (for background) were not new activations, and got their phones in-store, got free Blackberries at the Cinti Bell store last week.

I don't really want a Crackberry, but Nokia has a couple of smartphones that look nifty.

Anyway, how do you people who have tougher (metaphorical) spines than I do, bargain in such a situation?

I realize this marks me as a sad individual, but there you have it. I hate to bargain. It's too much like conflict, and I hate conflict.

EPIC_T is my HERO! Timing is wonderful! Thank you!!!!!!!!

(we now resume our rehearsal day)

[Hil, I second getting the script filled. And I'm not one who advocates lots of meds. At worst, you can borrow a cane, and be snarky and pretend to be House!]

I hate to bargain. It's too much like conflict, and I hate conflict.

It doesn't have to be like conflict. I would say that it might make you more comfortable to have an alternative. It's also good to just tell the truth. "I'd really like to get this phone here, but option X is Y dollars cheaper. What can you do for me?"

And be prepared to walk.

The only bargaining advice I have is you need to be prepared to walk away. If they can't give you the deal you're asking for, you leave without a phone. Most salespeople would rather have a small commission than none, and if they see that you'd rather go somewhere else, will suddenly discover that they *do* have the power to grant discounts.

Steph, my husband is awesome at bargaining with people and like Jess and Hec said, I think a lot of it is that he's willing to walk away. He's also always nice, unless someone has been rude or something. But in this sort of situation, I've noticed that he seems to present his situation, let the person know that *he* knows they want to help/sell him something, and then if it doesn't work, leave.