Just ask any hockey fan out there. The recent lockout and cancellation of 2004-2005 NHL season is a perfect example of poor negotiating. Both players’ union and league owners broke all of rules when it came to brokering an agreement on player contracts. The result are hockey rinks across North America that are so quiet that you can hear a pin drop—unfortunately, not a puck. In dollar terms, professional hockey is missing out on television contracts, advertising fees, and tons of ticket sales.

Of course, you won’t lose billions in revenue if you fail at latest negotiation at your favorite online classified or auction site. But you could let a treasure slip through your fingers. Success in deal making, on other hand, could land you that rookie Bobby Orr card, signed Stanley Cup puck, or whatever other fantastic item you’re bidding on.

Plus, proper negotiations and compromise can ensure that you get item for its fair value, including a good price on shipping and taxes. This increases profitability of trade for both you and seller. The deal gets closed without nasty disputes, blow-ups, or hip checks. And both of you are left to do business again in future.

To score all of these benefits, and avoid your own mini lockout, follow these simple tips on negotiating that will net results at online classified sites. As you’ll see, victory isn’t so much an exact science or a mystic sixth sense. It’s more about simple know-how and common sense.

Warm up. Don’t jump into a negotiation cold. Before you even face off with your opponent, figure out for yourself what would count as a victory. What do you exactly want out of trade—and at what price?

Consider a truce. It may not even be worth dropping puck at all. In other words, negotiations, like hockey games, can end in a loss for home team, you. So weigh this risk before you start. If item at hand is a dream buy, you may not want to endanger your purchase with a drawn-out negotiation.

This is why we'd like to share our gift giving philosophy: Focus on "The Who". No, no, no... not band. Don't go giving someone a "the who" t-shirt. (Unless, of course, they are a fan of Pete Townhsend.) What we mean is... who is recipient? Who are you giving to? And we don't mean their name. You need to know about this person. You can't give a great gift without knowing that. It's helpful to have a general idea of what they like, and better to know some specifics details about their life and personality. It's also useful to know what they dislike (to avoid "wrong" gift).

For your own, self-made help with gifts, ask yourself: Where do they work? Do they like what they do for a living? How do they spend their day? Their night? Their free time? Do they have any hobbies? Where do they live? What kind of car do they drive? Are they married? Do they have any kids? What about pets?