Discussion
So I'm moving into a new flat, and need a new bed with all the associated junk that goes with it. After trawling through the internet, it seems no matter where I look I'm unlikely to find the bargain I'm after. I've managed to find the same bed on a few different websites, priced differently and they will all price match each other, but not drop below that.
I opted to go to one of those horrible retail parks to try my hand at getting some more cash off, being a cash buyer. The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was, "The one advertised, sir". Then gave him some banter about looking on the internet all day and finding better prices, but would rather deal with someone face to face, to which he replied "We're not running an auction here, it would probably work out cheaper if you bought from there"...I said maybe I should, and left.
The same happened when buying carpet with my brother, the price came to £264, after buying 30 odd square metres of carpet, asked him to round it up to £250, he said no chance, that's the price, said I'd walk away if he wouldn't negotiate £14. He actually let us leave, the next place came up cheaper luckily...
So, to the point. Is haggling a lost art form, or am I just being a loser? Have any people got some useful tips other than crying on my knees and begging for £10 and a free mattress cover? Or is it genuinely the case that in this financial situation most companies are in is discount a word that has been taken out of their vocabulary?
I opted to go to one of those horrible retail parks to try my hand at getting some more cash off, being a cash buyer. The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was, "The one advertised, sir". Then gave him some banter about looking on the internet all day and finding better prices, but would rather deal with someone face to face, to which he replied "We're not running an auction here, it would probably work out cheaper if you bought from there"...I said maybe I should, and left.
The same happened when buying carpet with my brother, the price came to £264, after buying 30 odd square metres of carpet, asked him to round it up to £250, he said no chance, that's the price, said I'd walk away if he wouldn't negotiate £14. He actually let us leave, the next place came up cheaper luckily...
So, to the point. Is haggling a lost art form, or am I just being a loser? Have any people got some useful tips other than crying on my knees and begging for £10 and a free mattress cover? Or is it genuinely the case that in this financial situation most companies are in is discount a word that has been taken out of their vocabulary?
Edited by MKAndy on Friday 14th August 16:28
MKAndy said:
So I'm moving into a new flat, and need a new bed with all the associated junk that goes with it. After trawling through the internet, it seems no matter where I look I'm unlikely to find the bargain I'm after. I've managed to find the same bed on a few difference websites, priced differently and they will all price match each other, but not drop below that.
I opted to go to one of those horrible retail parks to try my hand at getting some more cash off, being a cash buyer. The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was, "The one advertised, sir". Then gave him some banter about looking on the internet all day and finding better prices, but would rather deal with someone face to face, to which he replied "We're not running an auction here, it would probably work out cheaper if you bought from there"...I said maybe I should, and left.
The same happened when buying carpet with my brother, the price came to £264, after buying 30 odd square metres of carpet, asked him to round it up to £250, he said no chance, that's the price, said I'd walk away if he wouldn't negotiate £14. He actually let us leave, the next place came up cheaper luckily...
So, to the point. Is haggling a lost art form, or am I just being a loser? Have any people got some useful tips other than crying on my knees and begging for £10 and a free mattress cover? Or is it genuinely the case that in this financial situation most companies are in is discount a word that has been taken out of their vocabulary?
Talk with the manager, they can allow you to haggle on stuff like that, but I have done it before, some people are going to shift on price and some people dont, but may give you freebies. your choice.I opted to go to one of those horrible retail parks to try my hand at getting some more cash off, being a cash buyer. The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was, "The one advertised, sir". Then gave him some banter about looking on the internet all day and finding better prices, but would rather deal with someone face to face, to which he replied "We're not running an auction here, it would probably work out cheaper if you bought from there"...I said maybe I should, and left.
The same happened when buying carpet with my brother, the price came to £264, after buying 30 odd square metres of carpet, asked him to round it up to £250, he said no chance, that's the price, said I'd walk away if he wouldn't negotiate £14. He actually let us leave, the next place came up cheaper luckily...
So, to the point. Is haggling a lost art form, or am I just being a loser? Have any people got some useful tips other than crying on my knees and begging for £10 and a free mattress cover? Or is it genuinely the case that in this financial situation most companies are in is discount a word that has been taken out of their vocabulary?
Once upon a time a long time ago, I worked in sales for a short while. Have you any idea how annoying it is to be constantly asked "what will you do for cash" "what's your best price" "what deal can you do" when your powerless to do anything about the price.
The price it scans through at in most cases is the price the company are prepared to sell it for and the sales guy cannot do much about it that does not amount to fraud or theft.
I did then work for a company who had a more flexible approach, they promptly went bust twice, which says a lot.
Try it next time your in M&S and see how they handle it...if you wish to negotiate then head down the market and talk to the man in the F reg transit called Bazza.
Alternatively shop around!!!
The price it scans through at in most cases is the price the company are prepared to sell it for and the sales guy cannot do much about it that does not amount to fraud or theft.
I did then work for a company who had a more flexible approach, they promptly went bust twice, which says a lot.
Try it next time your in M&S and see how they handle it...if you wish to negotiate then head down the market and talk to the man in the F reg transit called Bazza.
Alternatively shop around!!!
Edited by eddie1980 on Friday 14th August 16:45
Dodgy Fooking Sofas always make me laugh, I've tried two branches with both offering pay FA for 5 years then interest free for the next 10 decades or whatever, well I'm not interested I want to pay in full now on my debit card which is the cheapest method of payment for you so what can they do? The answer is nothing at all, no matter who you speak to that is the price.......full stop.
mel said:
Dodgy Fooking Sofas always make me laugh, I've tried two branches with both offering pay FA for 5 years then interest free for the next 10 decades or whatever, well I'm not interested I want to pay in full now on my debit card which is the cheapest method of payment for you so what can they do? The answer is nothing at all, no matter who you speak to that is the price.......full stop.
The answer to that is fraud. I asked about this once walking into a store and trying to buy.They are unable to offer interest free credit, and then give a lower price to a cash buyer because it would effectively be intimating there is a charge for credit, and that it wasn't free afterall. This goes against the trading standards.
Aparently every so often a trading standards under cover offers exactly this and then fines them heavily if they do allow the lower price.
Its cos the world is geared to wayne and waynetta credit filled ways, as there are many more of them than the sort of people like you who only buy what they can afford.
MKAndy said:
...The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was...
So why did you then leave if you found a bed at the price you would expect to pay?V8S said:
MKAndy said:
...The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was...
So why did you then leave if you found a bed at the price you would expect to pay?The RRP according to the store was originally £400 more, thank goodness I caught them with a sale on though.
Edited by MKAndy on Friday 14th August 17:05
MKAndy said:
V8S said:
MKAndy said:
...The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was...
So why did you then leave if you found a bed at the price you would expect to pay?The RRP according to the store was originally £400 more, thank goodness I caught them with a sale on though.
Edited by MKAndy on Friday 14th August 17:05
But consider this: when DON'T bed and sofa places have a sale on?
I bought a bed from Sleepmasters earlier in the year and they said they only need to show the full price of the bed for 3 weeks of the year. The rest of the time they can have it 'on sale'.
How about seeing if they will sell you (discounted) the demo bed in the actual shop?
I always ask for some money off if I'm spending a reasonable ammount (2-300 upwards) especially if I know the kind of stuff I'm buying has large margins.
I had a new PC and a whole load of extras and bits and bobs all ready to go to the checkout at PC world, came to about £1600 in total, I asked the sales guy how about a discount as I'm buying so much? no dice, asked to speak to the manager, hows about £50 off? no deal.
Ah well, I'll just buy it elsewhere then..
Dont think I was asking for the earth, we get haggled down on price at work by clients all the time, same as we beat up our suppliers on price too.
Any consumer advice website will tell you if you dont ask you dont get, I've haggled several hundred quid off white goods from comet before, but I was buying a whole "suite" of stuff and been told to bugger off in no uncertain terms in other places.
the ball is then in your court, pay the "full" price of bugger off elsewhere.
I had a new PC and a whole load of extras and bits and bobs all ready to go to the checkout at PC world, came to about £1600 in total, I asked the sales guy how about a discount as I'm buying so much? no dice, asked to speak to the manager, hows about £50 off? no deal.
Ah well, I'll just buy it elsewhere then..
Dont think I was asking for the earth, we get haggled down on price at work by clients all the time, same as we beat up our suppliers on price too.
Any consumer advice website will tell you if you dont ask you dont get, I've haggled several hundred quid off white goods from comet before, but I was buying a whole "suite" of stuff and been told to bugger off in no uncertain terms in other places.
the ball is then in your court, pay the "full" price of bugger off elsewhere.
I'm based in the Middle East and haggling is expected. Basically halve the price quoted, get sworn at and accused of being disrespectful towards their family, cat etc... meet around 25%.
Some shops, like the main electronics places and there's nothing to be done - they fix the prices betweeb the shops so they get a good share - not a lot you can do about it.
Funny thing is, when haggling, you never get told a price. They hammer away on a calculator and then show you that - I now do the same in return.
I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
I actually enjoy it - makes shopping far more enjoyable. I hate shopping.
Some shops, like the main electronics places and there's nothing to be done - they fix the prices betweeb the shops so they get a good share - not a lot you can do about it.
Funny thing is, when haggling, you never get told a price. They hammer away on a calculator and then show you that - I now do the same in return.
I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
I actually enjoy it - makes shopping far more enjoyable. I hate shopping.
Edited by Asterix on Friday 14th August 17:43
V8S said:
MKAndy said:
V8S said:
MKAndy said:
...The first shop had a similar bed at an extortionate price, but luckily they had the ubiquitous 50% sale 'biggest ever sale, evar - must end Monday' nonsense going on, which brought the overall price down to what I would expect to pay. Asked the grumpy old fella what his 'best price' was...
So why did you then leave if you found a bed at the price you would expect to pay?The RRP according to the store was originally £400 more, thank goodness I caught them with a sale on though.
Edited by MKAndy on Friday 14th August 17:05
But consider this: when DON'T bed and sofa places have a sale on?
I bought a bed from Sleepmasters earlier in the year and they said they only need to show the full price of the bed for 3 weeks of the year. The rest of the time they can have it 'on sale'.
How about seeing if they will sell you (discounted) the demo bed in the actual shop?
Update: Emailed another online retailer with some completely fabricated sob story and have secured a deal at £100 less than the first place I saw! E-mail haggling FTW!
Asterix said:
Funny thing is, when haggling, you never get told a price. They hammer away on a calculator and then show you that - I now do the same in return.
I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
Just imagine the frustration you're going to feel if that calculator ever breaks and you have to buy a replacement!I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
Asterix said:
I'm based in the Middle East and haggling is expected. Basically halve the price quoted, get sworn at and accused of being disrespectful towards their family, cat etc... meet around 25%.
Some shops, like the main electronics places and there's nothing to be done - they fix the prices betweeb the shops so they get a good share - not a lot you can do about it.
Funny thing is, when haggling, you never get told a price. They hammer away on a calculator and then show you that - I now do the same in return.
I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
I actually enjoy it - makes shopping far more enjoyable. I hate shopping.
yep i would agree, I hate to shop but I love to haggle. Big stores will haggle, and small electronic shops will haggle on high value items. For me I dont mind still buying the item even if they wont haggle as long as its a good price. I have bought three sofas from a local company and he remembers me now :-)Some shops, like the main electronics places and there's nothing to be done - they fix the prices betweeb the shops so they get a good share - not a lot you can do about it.
Funny thing is, when haggling, you never get told a price. They hammer away on a calculator and then show you that - I now do the same in return.
I've walked in to a place to buy something and apart from asking what the 'best price' would be - actual figures are never mentioned, just shown on the calculator.
I actually enjoy it - makes shopping far more enjoyable. I hate shopping.
If you like to haggle. then read "everythning is negotiable" by Gavin Hayes. 
Read it about 20 years ago, and it has saved me many tens of thousands over the years.
A few basics are:
Only try and negotiate with someone who has authority. Simply ask them and if they say know move up the ladder.
Shock 'em with you opening offer. Especially when it's a product or service that is difficult to actually value.
If you can't change the price change the package. i.e. Get lots of extras/ service included in the deal.
Time your purchasing well. Supermarkets reduce the price of food when it gets near to sell by/eat by dates. Car dealers and most US quoted companies sharpen their pencils at the end of each financial quarter.
By products with damaged packaging. You only bin t he packaging once you've got it home. Again supermarkets sell tins of beans that are dented at a discount. M&S sell clothes with marks that will easily wash out, or a button missing at reduced prices.
The same basics apply to just about everything that you might buy. I suspect most people choose not to negotiate as they are not comfortable or don't enjoy it. Not me though.
Read it about 20 years ago, and it has saved me many tens of thousands over the years. A few basics are:
Only try and negotiate with someone who has authority. Simply ask them and if they say know move up the ladder.
Shock 'em with you opening offer. Especially when it's a product or service that is difficult to actually value.
If you can't change the price change the package. i.e. Get lots of extras/ service included in the deal.
Time your purchasing well. Supermarkets reduce the price of food when it gets near to sell by/eat by dates. Car dealers and most US quoted companies sharpen their pencils at the end of each financial quarter.
By products with damaged packaging. You only bin t he packaging once you've got it home. Again supermarkets sell tins of beans that are dented at a discount. M&S sell clothes with marks that will easily wash out, or a button missing at reduced prices.
The same basics apply to just about everything that you might buy. I suspect most people choose not to negotiate as they are not comfortable or don't enjoy it. Not me though.
voyds9 said:
Strange with all the companies going to the wall through this recession, people still seem to think retailers are making massive amounts and screwing the public.
The competition is so tight on the high street there is very little profit to be had.
I was in a similar position to the OP last christmas, I bought a new mattress from the local bedshed (national chain) and haggled quite a reduction on the delivery. They are advertising larger percentage reductions at the moment, yet the price is dearer that the one I payed at the beginning of the year. The before sale price doesn't seem to have increased either.....The competition is so tight on the high street there is very little profit to be had.
Just bought load of stuff from B&Q on Wednesday to redo my mothers bathroom.
Shower screen and base 75% off, tiles 50% off, free delivery 'cos we bought so much and then it being Wednesday out comes the OAP Diamond B&Q 10% Discount Card...........
When we got back home I added up all the discounts and calculated that we had got an overall discount of 68% on the retail value.
I then got onto Screwfix ( three guesses who owns Screwfix) to buy the cheapo bathroom suite and they give me an additional 10% discount for buying off the web. Free delivery as well.
At this rate B&Q can't have made a bean out of us. In fact they are likely to be paying us to take stuff off their hands.
Cheers,
Tony
Shower screen and base 75% off, tiles 50% off, free delivery 'cos we bought so much and then it being Wednesday out comes the OAP Diamond B&Q 10% Discount Card...........
When we got back home I added up all the discounts and calculated that we had got an overall discount of 68% on the retail value.
I then got onto Screwfix ( three guesses who owns Screwfix) to buy the cheapo bathroom suite and they give me an additional 10% discount for buying off the web. Free delivery as well.
At this rate B&Q can't have made a bean out of us. In fact they are likely to be paying us to take stuff off their hands.
Cheers,
Tony
voyds9 said:
Strange with all the companies going to the wall through this recession, people still seem to think retailers are making massive amounts and screwing the public.
The competition is so tight on the high street there is very little profit to be had.
companies have a massive margin still e.g a item my partners store sells for £140 was recently in the sale to get rid of the last few priced at £70 and they were still making £15 on themThe competition is so tight on the high street there is very little profit to be had.
J
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