Probably Stolen: How to Haggle, Negotiate & Barter
Open the Bargain panel to request a better buy price or offer a selling discount. Treat reputation and budget changes as separate effects, and only discount when you can afford the margin loss.
On this page
Where bargaining happens
At the counter, open the Bargain controls instead of accepting the first offer. You can ask for a better purchase price when buying, or offer a discount when selling. These moves change the deal in front of you; they are not a separate mini-game outside the shop.
Official patch notes have adjusted how bargaining affects customer budgets, so treat older Demo screenshots as historical. Always read the live offer in your own build before committing.
When a discount is worth it
- 01
Decide whether you need the deal or the reputation
A published Steam fence guide describes using a 10% selling discount to roughly double Black Market reputation gain, and a 50% discount for about triple gain, only when the run can afford the lost margin. Treat those multipliers as that author’s playtest-era observation, not a guaranteed release formula.
- 02
Raise budget before dumping stock
The same guide notes that a modest discount can raise a buyer’s effective budget so you can move more inventory in one visit. Check the remaining budget after the bargain rather than assuming every customer scales the same way.
- 03
Avoid heated or contraband goods as a shortcut
Players warn that selling goods that still carry heat or clear contraband status creates investigations later. Bargaining does not clean an item; it only changes the price conversation.
- 04
Record one successful deal before scaling
Note the discount, the cash result and any reputation change shown in your UI. Copying another player’s percentage without that check wastes rent money.
Buying versus selling
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Buying stock you barely cannot afford | Ask for a discount only when the item is worth the risk; some players skip bargaining on dangerous customers. |
| Selling surplus to build reputation | Small, repeatable discounts may matter more than one deep cut. |
| Clearing inventory before rent day | Prefer a discount that still leaves the rent reserve intact. |
| Old fence guide percentages | Confirm against the current Bargain UI; official notes say budget effects were retuned. |
What this page does not claim
This site has not independently measured exact reputation multipliers or budget formulas for every difficulty. Use the Bargain panel’s live numbers as the source of truth.
Haggling will not replace appraisal, labelling or heat management. Pair it with the item guides when the goods themselves are the risk.
Common questions
How do I haggle in Probably Stolen?
Use the Bargain panel at the counter to request a better buy price or offer a selling discount, then confirm the updated offer before finishing the trade.
Is haggling the same as bartering items?
Price bargaining changes Credits. Separately matching a customer’s needs with goods is still a stock decision; both can appear in the same visit.
Should I always give a 50% discount?
No. Community fence notes treat deep discounts as expensive reputation tools. Use them only when the run can absorb the margin loss.
Sources & version notes
Official patch notes & Steam player guide. Sources reviewed October 30, 2026. This guide does not claim an independent in-game test.
- Steam fence / Black Market playtest guide
Player-reported discount and reputation tactics; written during playtest and should be re-checked in 1.0.
- Steam news / patch notes mentioning bargaining budgets
Official notes have adjusted how bargaining affects customer budgets.