This is poker, and either you are a player with them, or a sucker (geek etc.). My goal in life is not to be this guys Monday morning joke. I bid against and cut deals with my suppliers all the time. I have NO illusion that they respect me, but now they know that I am totally nuts and that I enjoy running up their bids if they annoy me. OTOH they also know that I am happy to just get even, I don't carry the burden of big grudges, and generally am not a nasty person, just doing business like they are, even if my "business" makes no sense to them. Number one item I did have to learn is to keep my mouth shut. Don't talk about other peoples deals, unless you mean business. Never talk about what somebody paid for or sold an item for, and generally don't act too stupid (ie keep mouth shut). Never let them catch you snooping, ie writing down names from property tags, do that in the car. ;) Never point out any "big" mistakes they are making.