Haggling. Anyone else here do it?
Discussion
Was after a loan from the bank. They offered me the £$£$£$ immediately, but at 9.9%. I let them send out the paperwork to me, and did nothing with it.
I've just got off the phone with them, after telling them I could get 5.9% from a competitor. They didn't match it, but did cut the rate to 6.9% - a saving of about £25 or so a month. I'm happy to give the bank the business than chase the extra 1%.
Obviously only small change to some PHers, but better in my pocket than the bank's, as I just set up a standing order for that £25 into a savings account.
Anyone else managed to get a better than original offer deal by being "cheeky"?
I've just got off the phone with them, after telling them I could get 5.9% from a competitor. They didn't match it, but did cut the rate to 6.9% - a saving of about £25 or so a month. I'm happy to give the bank the business than chase the extra 1%.
Obviously only small change to some PHers, but better in my pocket than the bank's, as I just set up a standing order for that £25 into a savings account.
Anyone else managed to get a better than original offer deal by being "cheeky"?
Plotloss said:
Banks, car dealers, markets yes.
Everywhere else, no.
Indeed, there are places where i find it perfectly acceptable, and others where I wouldn't waste their time.
However, i'd add to that list music shops (musical instruments), mobile phones, insurance providers and no doubt there are others.
Cheers,
Rob.
Incorrigible said:
This should probably be in the miss-use of English thread
But it's haggling not bartering
Bartering is exchanging goods or services for other goods or services. Which I would reccomend as Greedy Gordo can't tax it quite as easily
Sorry. You're absolutely correct. I'll go and find a tall building to launch myself from...
derestrictor said:
Don't...just, don't!
Quite. Seems to me that it heralds the death knell of good service. People won't pay for goods from a quality retailler who knows what they are talking about because they see they can get it cheaper from someone who employs a room full of acne-ridden oiks who know nothing about the product but are cheap. Either the quality retailler drops their price or goes bust.
Back on-topic, I always haggle. Mrs. MM hates me doing it, but does seem to like spending the cash I save on makeup and suchlike.
Edited to clarify, I don't save money on makeup and suchlike, she spends the savings on makeup and suchlike
>> Edited by miniman on Thursday 10th March 15:41
nel said:
You've gotta haggle.
Love bargaining, walking away, offering cash, etc. Short of supermarkets it's worth a try just about anywhere....
When I worked for a well-known chain of PC retailers we used to get people asking for a discount for cash. I used to say "If you pay by cash we have to pay someone to count it and someone to take it to the bank so you will have to pay an extra 2.5%"
miniman said:To my mind, there's room for both. If I wanted to buy an item of which I knew little, I'd be happy to go into a shop with knowledgeable staff who could help me make my decision wisely. In that case, the extra few pounds would be worthwhile. But if I know exactly what I want, why do I need to pay extra for their staff training and high street shop overheads when I'm not going to be making use of them?
Quite. Seems to me that it heralds the death knell of good service. People won't pay for goods from a quality retailler who knows what they are talking about because they see they can get it cheaper from someone who employs a room full of acne-ridden oiks who know nothing about the product but are cheap. Either the quality retailler drops their price or goes bust.
Of course, the worst possible is the combination of the two - incompetent staff *and* high prices - the first example of which that springs to mind being PC World.
Incorrigible said:
Sorry. You're absolutely correct. I'll go and find a tall building to launch myself from...
It's not as though we can't understand what the person means
I was quite disappointed this thread wasn't about trading four hours design consultancy for three tons of potatoes
On the odd occasion when I do work nowadays, it involves the sale or purchase of companies. This often requires pretty hard negotiation - which is basically bartering. I (and my staff) have spent a lot of time being trained by pschologists to assess body language and other things. Most interesting, I find.
LexSport said:
To my mind, there's room for both. If I wanted to buy an item of which I knew little, I'd be happy to go into a shop with knowledgeable staff who could help me make my decision wisely. In that case, the extra few pounds would be worthwhile. But if I know exactly what I want, why do I need to pay extra for their staff training and high street shop overheads when I'm not going to be making use of them?
True enough, but I don't think there's enough people like you or I who are prepared to pay extra for the knowledgeable service. I know plenty of people who will buy something that really doesn't do what they need, just because it's cheap.
A bit like Kia drivers, thinking about it...
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