Yup, lots of people just don't "get it" which is why I thought I'd start this thread...
The retailer at the other end knows this, and usually purchases the item at around 50% of the MSRP- don't take this as a gospel when buying things as the markup changes depending on the product, manufacturer, geography etc, but that's generally what it works out to. The retailer then factors in the costs involved in maintaining their store (brick & mortar or online/mail order) and adds what they feel is an appropriate mark up that covers their costs and an acceptable level of profit.
On most consumer items the shop price is the RRP and the majority of shops view haggling as a strange foreign custom that they don't want to be getting into thank you.
It's also worth noting that the actual price the retailer pays for an item may not be 50% of the MSRP.
Back in the days of dual income and no kids I would occasionally wander across town on a lunch break and peruse the gizmos and gadgets in the local electrical stores.Should I be tempted I'd go in and barter over the price. Sometimes the sales assistant would be up for it but most of the time they looked at me as if I had three heads The haggle just isn't something that is done much over here.