This discussion reminds of an incident I was involved in years ago. A
friend and I were in the market place in Jerusalem, the Souk. I wished
to purchase a specific article from one merchant. Haggling is not only
the name of the game its a way of life in the Souk.

The merchant said the price was 5 pounds, I counterd with five agorot
(cents). The game was on. We haggled for a half an hour until we agreed
on one pound. My friend, thinking this was to good a price to pass up,
said he'd take one also. The merchant looked at him, wagged his finger
and said, "For you we start all over. 5 pounds."

I'm not sure what the point is here but a few come to mind:
1) I was a student on holiday and had time to haggle.  *Are busy IT
execs in the same situation?*
2) I was expected to haggle. *Are busy IT execs in the same situation?*
3) Was my friend wrong to want to jump in on my *bargain.*  Was the
merchant wrong to make him cut his own deal?
4) Is the Souk and its merchants as reputable as the software Vendors?
That may be the true question.

I do know that I am in a situation right now where I can't afford to
upgrade due to software costs. The software companies involved are not
even willing to send me upgraded software. The only think they are
willing to send is an invoice. I'm not sure what it is in the tier level
pricing algorithm of one company that does not allow the minimum price
increase to be less than  $37,000 but I have never seen them go lower.

I am not seeking bargains, I am seeking equity.