If the art of “sniping,” items on eBay, e-mailing sellers with off-the-record offers, and attempting to figure out hidden reserve prices isn’t enough of a game for you, a new online marketplace called Fididel might just satisfy your need for flea-market-style haggling. The site allows buyers to connect with people selling items they want, then try to shimmy the prices down in negotiations.
Although the bartering concept makes it sound an awful lot like Craigslist, Fididel adds its own twist with the option of hired negotiators. Sellers who don’t want to be bothered with the haggling process can hire “Fididelers” to take their place. Since they receive a commission based on the price they manage to get, Fididelers have a vested interest in the sale, and will presumably do their best to close it. They also have to go through training at “Fididel University” before picking up the role.
Fididel is currently in beta testing, which limits buyers and sellers to those in the US, but Fididelers can offer their services from any country. The company claims it already has negotiators from the US, China, India, Vietnam, Europe and several other countries.
