Price tag

Before the late 19th century, in most cases, retail goods did not have a fixed price, and each customer would be expected to haggle with the store clerk.

The Pennsylvania Quakers" "honest price" was institutionalized in 1874 by John Wanamaker, when he opened his eponymous department store in Philadelphia.

[2] Even large stores kept goods behind a counter, requiring clerks to fetch items for customers.

The Piggly Wiggly chain of grocery stores was the first to become self-service in 1916, further cementing the need for price tags.

Price tags soon became commonplace in Western retail stores, and haggling rare outside of proprietors and individuals selling used items.