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Eye contact alone is golden. With no words offered from me, the car salesman negotiated the price of our new car down and double the trade in of our old car.

So after his initial offer you remained silent and held eye contact, then he continued to give you a more favorable deal?

I do this every time I'm buying things with negotiable prices. My trick is to not use any eye contact until negotiation time. The surprise throws most people off their game enough to give you an advantage. Plus, it is kind of fun watching someone talk themself out of money. FYI, it doesn't work every time, typically there will be an awkward silence and I'll have to throw out an offer.

He leaves out one of the most important parts -- the slight nod of understanding that follows the eye-contact. You have to acknowledge that something was communicated.

Works even better in Japan! Now that's a society that understands non-verbal acknowledgment -- even from a foreign 16-year-old.

Pro tip: practise on babies first.