High Street Haggling Discussion

vodkashot

I bought a King size bed, bedside drawers, large chest of drawers and a king size mattress from Dreams last year.

I went on a really hot day to the shop when there wasn't anyone about. Did the whole browse around and said we liked something but it was too expensive etc and left the shop to look elsewhere. Went back about half an hour later or rather we walked passed the shop and the sales assistant jumped out of the side door and persuaded us to come back and he would do us a deal.

In the end we paid £1200 for the 4 items, delivery and he threw in one of their dreams teddy bears (bit useless but still it was something). Can't remember if we paid cash or credit card but we definitely bought the items without credit.

I remember whilst the salesman said he would charge us something like £1289, I just said I was prepared to pay £1200 and he punched the calculator furiously but eventually said yes.

Have just added up the cost of the bed and 2 sets of drawers from their website and that comes to £1157. The mattress must have cost us at least £5-600 if not a bit more. So all in, the deal seemed pretty good to me plus we managed to find exactly what we wanted.

I think they are less likely to discount mattresses but will do on the beds & furniture.

Happy haggling!

AdzBrown

Hiya, just looking for some advice as I've never haggled on the high street before. Thanks in advance for any replies.

I'm looking to buy a new television, blu-ray/3D player and a few accessories. Got my eye on the Samsung UE40ES6300
40" 3D LED TV as it has good customer reviews and has everything I could possibly want. It's currently £729.99 on the Comet website, which I expect will be the instore price too. They currently have 10% off online, which would bring it down to £656. This price is still £30 more than Amazon have it for.

I was thinking about going instore, looking at the television then asking what blu-ray would go best with it and also looking at a wireless keyboard/more 3D glasses. I would also feign interest in an extended warranty. Would this be likely to get me a discount? And what tips would you give me?

Swafe

Feint interest in an extended warantee will get you nowhere

Print off the amazon page and go straight in and say your interested, but its a lot cheaper at Amazon, they should price match at least (I assume the amazon price is 656 - 30 = 626)

Depending on the shop they miht beat it, I know Comet will beat any price difference by 10%, in this case it would be 10% of the shop price (730 - amazon price 626) so about another tenner, might get you to just over 600 but it depends on what shop it is, the bigger the shop the more likely they will price match and the more likely theyll beat it, but youll have better luck talking to the manager who has the autherisation to sanction the price instead of a shop grunt who may shrug his shoulders and say thats the price i cant do anything

almillar

If I was a smarmy salesman, and you asked me all of that, I'd be telling you that you'd need the £200 Blu-Ray player for it, and that the £100 one would be no good, thereby getting my money back that you just saved on the TV. I'd also offer you an overpriced stand, and HDMI cables, and 3D glasses...

patacake58

AdzBrown wrote: »

Hiya, just looking for some advice as I've never haggled on the high street before. Thanks in advance for any replies.

I'm looking to buy a new television, blu-ray/3D player and a few accessories. Got my eye on the Samsung UE40ES6300
40" 3D LED TV as it has good customer reviews and has everything I could possibly want. It's currently £729.99 on the Comet website, which I expect will be the instore price too. They currently have 10% off online, which would bring it down to £656. This price is still £30 more than Amazon have it for.

I was thinking about going instore, looking at the television then asking what blu-ray would go best with it and also looking at a wireless keyboard/more 3D glasses. I would also feign interest in an extended warranty. Would this be likely to get me a discount? And what tips would you give me?

Take an amazon print out in store as already mentioned.
If you are buying in cash ask if they will do a discount for a cash purchase.
Good Luck, Pat.

DUKE

Just ask them what's the best price that they can do for you, then go to walk away to think about it. Usually they'll knock that little bit extra off too. Of course they'll tell you that must buy it there & then to get the deal. If you're happy go for it. That usually works for me, if not I walk away.

System

Most retailers won't price match web prices,why not just buy from the cheapest source?

AdzBrown

It's £623 on Amazon which is obviously a lot cheaper but then I want a blu-ray/3D player too so I thought I'd see if they'd do a deal.

What I meant by feign interest in a warranty is buy one then cancel it. After reading a few things about haggling, salesmen are more likely to do a deal if you buy a warranty/buy a few things all at once?

And would it still be better to go in towards the end of the month when the targets for the month are ending?

jopov

Primark usually have clothes which have been loosend and some dropped on floors. A small black mark or missing buttons will get a discount is you ask politely. Supervisors are empowered to allow at discretion so please remember that the staff are people also. Ask don't demand!

username

My remarks were not aimed at the customers who ask politely and accept an equally polite refusal. They are aimed at those who pitch up un-prepared ("I've seen it cheaper on the net" - "Which site?" - "Oh, I can't remember. But that means you'll price-match, won't you?"), and those who act as if they are entitled, because they've seen that bloke on the telly and he says that if they ask they'll get a discount. And then get sulky and belligerent when you don't roll over. Yes, it happens. Most days.

Totally agree with you. The ones that irritate me the most are those that blatantly just lie to try and get something out of you, whether it is a discount or something thrown in.

We do have internet and phones in our office and can always check and call a competitor! And if the offer was so good with company X, why don't you take it with them, rather than trying to a discount on something I can't physically be allowed to discount!?

Also if you are going to ask for a discount, do it politely and be reasonable in your expectations. If the sales person says no several times, then accept that is the case. I wouldn't ever say no to someone so many times if I wasn't telling the truth, after all, do I want to turn your business away for fun!?

When I mean be realistic - what sane business is ever going to give away something for free when it's one of the most hotly awaited and over-hyped products (yes I am talking about those generic fruity phones)?!

If you're going to negotiate, then be prepared to lay the cards out on the table. Don't get all arsey and refuse to say who else has offered you something and at what price, after all, how are we going to be able to offer you something favourable if we don't know who else is offering what?