How do you haggle down prices?

pretzelnut

I know how to haggle, but i always forget.

I want to know if any off you have any hints and tips on how i can do this.

Whenever i am given a price i always just say - oh that sounds reasonable!

Then 10 minutes later im like DOH - never accept the 1st price girl - haggle, then i think its to late.

What do you say? Do you just walk away if they wont budge on price.

Or if somewhere wont budge on price - what extras have you managed to get thrown in for the same price?

I always feel a bit embarresed if i do try to haggle.

There are a few things that i havent booked yet, but as we are getting married on a thursday - i feel i have some room for negotiation regarding prices.

fellap

princesswoo wrote: »

I know how to haggle, but i always forget.

I want to know if any off you have any hints and tips on how i can do this.

Whenever i am given a price i always just say - oh that sounds reasonable!

Then 10 minutes later im like DOH - never accept the 1st price girl - haggle, then i think its to late.

What do you say? Do you just walk away if they wont budge on price.

Or if somewhere wont budge on price - what extras have you managed to get thrown in for the same price?

I always feel a bit embarresed if i do try to haggle.

There are a few things that i havent booked yet, but as we are getting married on a thursday - i feel i have some room for negotiation regarding prices.

We've done ok, not paid full price for anything yet but then I'm not claiming that we will have got the most amazing deals out there either - but we're hapy. (my fiancee hates it and walks away whenever I haggle)

Most people expect you to haggle, especially on things like this -but I find it's important to have a price in mind that you want to pay, research it beforehand and see if this is realistic. I normaly just respond to any prices with 'Our budget for 'x' is '£' and I just can't go any higher than this, if you can you do it for this then I'd be prepared to book today'

Obviously don't reveal your true budget, go lower, 9 times out of 10 they will at least meet you part of the way. I fnd it's important to let them know you are serious and want to book, but you are on a budget - stick to your guns and don't just cave if they seem reluctant, they probably want your business as much as you want their cars/cake/pictures etc. If they say no, you can always walk away and book with them at a later date anyway!!

I'm no expert but as I say it's worked for me in getting some decent discounts!

Mrsday2Be2

May this phrase part of every single one of your wedding negotiation conversations:
" And what kind of discount do I get on that...", it'sbeen the jumping off point for all my negotiations to date.

2010

princesswoo wrote: »

Whenever i am given a price i always just say - oh that sounds reasonable!

BUT so and so down the road has got it for X amount cheaper.

Always say you can get it cheaper elsewhere and try to convey that you`re not all that bothered whether you buy it or not.
Fix a price in your head and if you don`t get it for that,walk away.

frannyann

fellap wrote: »

We've done ok, not paid full price for anything yet but then I'm not claiming that we will have got the most amazing deals out there either - but we're hapy. (my fiancee hates it and walks away whenever I haggle)

I'm no expert but as I say it's worked for me in getting some decent discounts!

Mine does this too, however always happy with discounts I get :rotfl:

I ask a price, then walk away for a bit. It gives them time to start calulating discounts in their head, whilst it gives me time to think how close to my budget it is and then what I am prepared to pay. Then I go back and ask what would be their best price on X and see where it comes. I am always prepared to walk away if the price is not right, there is very little that is 'that' unique that I couldn't find it else where. As to venue I looked at what could be discounted. The room hire is usually the easiest to knock off!!

pretzelnut

Thanks for the tips.

We saw another venue last night that is perfect.
No rrom hire charges, all chair covers and sahes included, free hineymoon suite for 2 night whichis lush as it has a massive spa bath and 4 poster bed. Loads of grounds outside.

Other venues were charging us £300 ceremony room hire fee, £150 a night honeymoon suite, £300 chair & sash hire, So i have already saved us £900 and got a totally better venue to the one we orignally wanted.

Place was fab, we can do things how ''WE'' want not what they want us to follow.

They only charge for food which for a 3 course meal is anywhere between £22 and £40 a head, but we can submit our own menu and the chef will give us a price.

And the evening buffet is £8 a head plus we can add extas or agagin sumit our own ideas for a quote.

The whole venue for the day including food, accomodation, ceremony room, chair covers, master of ceremonies is £2400 for 65 guests day and night.

There's No minimum or maximum numbers and if we want to get rid of the desert and get a chocolate fountain we can at no penalty to ourselves.

We are working with the venue to create a drinks package as not many of our family will drink the standard wine one, their mainly beer and vodka drinkers, we dont mind being toasted with a pint of beer, at least it will get drunk and not wasted.

Obviously i havent told them that im happy witht that price yet - im gonna gi back with the line of - how much discount do i get on that as im getting married on a thursday. Or what else can you throw in for the prce.

magicgirl

i haven't really haggled much cos we have gone for the cheapest of what we can find.

our venue is giving us a suite for the price of a standard room and they themselves told me i would be better off telling my guests to go to a local hotel as it would be cheaper! They told me not to bother with chair covers cos they are an unecessary expence but their chairs are blue and gold while my colours are pink and gold but I found some covers for approx £250 instead of the £450 quoted by the hotel. I do think that is perfectly reasonable and not fussed about haggling those prices.

We have saved about £500 for not having a reception drink. Our room hire is actually included in the price anyway. We looked at doing it separately or even doing a buffet but the only way of saving was a cold fork buffet and i was not willing to forgo a hot meal. I was also not willing to compromise on teh quality of the food however i did find many places offering same menu for less but the quality/taste was not the sort of thing i would feed my kids so no way would i feed my guests that.

personally, i have found it easier to get extras than to get money knocked off cos i am not very confident haggling and that is why i look for the cheapest deal in the first place but it proves that things can be made cheaper by those that charge more.

lauraaurora

As a consumer, I always ask for a discount when I can, but I don't push it. If they say no and I want the product I buy it anyway.

When we got married I would ask for a discount and then/ or something extra on top. We got a discount on most things.

As a wedding supplier, I am surprised at how in-frequently we get asked for a discount, especially for late availability queries. For our busier periods, I would be unlikely to be able to give a discount, but at quieter times I would be happy to give a discount if it meant I got work on a day I otherwise wouldn't. But put it this way, I'd never be offended if someone asked me for a discount; I'm the same, and I know if you don't ask, you don't get!

And to avoid being embarrassed when you do it (not that you should anyway, you're only asking, not demanding!), I find it easier to have a 'last question' so if they say no I quickly say, "Oh, and the other question I had was..."

HTH It gets easier the more you do it...