re: How come we always haggle prices on cars and real estate but nothing else?

Haggling is a negative term

If markets are efficient both buyer and seller should work in their best short term interest but also leave enough on the table to reinforce long term business relationships. In modern corporate America greed has taken over and we are forced to accept higher prices so corporations can make more returns. Eventually buyers find another option and the market corrects.

I love to barter, swap and trade but I come from a generation where this was an intricate part of establishing repeat business. Often I negotiate more for terms than price as in the end, service is what you are really spending your money on. On a car I negotiated for a family member I was able to cut the price by 8K but still left money on the table and a repeat business transaction as the accompanying service meant I referred more business their way. If you let them charge full price they will. Oddly enough they will take advantage on both sides (lowballing what they buy and peaking what they sell) if they generally say they don't negotiate so as always, "Buyer Beware".