Is it still proceeding well, then?

And I'm not sure. I presume it doesn't count if you merely sell expensive things at a steep discount. Charity worker to stars?

It's proceeding slowly, but apparently without major hitches so far. My solicitor now wants the first slice of my money, in order to transfer it at exchange of contracts.

If the electron-microscope-making company phoned my supervisor and asked him for tens of thousands of pounds for the new microscope, he would be very happy that it was such an enormous discount.

Payments clerk at the World Bank? Many third-world nations would be grateful you weren't asking for millions.

I think the (in fact entirely hypothetical?) examples where you were expecting to be asked for even greater sums are cheating.

That was my thought. Though it's hard to give firm criteria. For that matter, simply getting a good deal (your mercedes is on its way, Mister Tatham,) could be pleasing, the point about conveyancing is it's particularly pleasing because you were waiting around waiting and hoping for this.

Ooh, I got one. If i companies each have i employees ring you up and charge you £n0,000...

On the smaller bill than expected theme

"Hello Sir, we've had a look at your Bugatti Veyron, we didn't need to change the engine after all - we replaced a plastic clip and it's running fine now"

Undertaker for someone you really dislike?

(cf The Lord Chief Justice of Orbury (http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/lawyers.html))

Anything where you're selling something expensive and desirable, I guess. Not that people are pleased about the payment, but about the whole transaction.

Specifically when the supply is limited, so there's a strong chance of the transaction failing to take place at all. Houses are the obvious example of that; another might be high-end auctions. Limited-edition cars, too, probably.

Supply doesn't have to be limited, but I guess a long and variable lead-time will help.

Or hostage taker?