Haggling at Currys using cash

minikarter

Hey, so I have heard that it's still possible to haggle using cash, at currys. Is this true? The explanation I was given suggests that currys gets charged when customers use their cards, and that it's possible to talk to a manage to get a discount when using cash so curries can avoid these charges.

Is this the full extent of it?

I'm planning on getting a tv in this way, probably spending up to 700 as a treat to myself, using their price match promise to get the price down from 799 in the first place. Then I'll use the cash incentive to get them down further.

Will this work?

And also, if this is true, is there any way of knowing exactly how far i can push?

moonpenny

Years ago I think you could haggle the price down for cash but, it now seems a dirty word. They usually say that the price listed IS the cash price.

I think you may be able to do "a deal" if you were buying several items at the same time but I don't think CASH means anything now.

You never know - try it, they can only say no!

jm2926

small business card rates (VERY SMALL Curry's will pay much less):

debit cards: 20-40p per transaction
credit cards 1.5 - 2.5%

So no, you won't get a discount. Effectively Curry's have factored the "average" cost into the purchase cost. And anyway, if the cheapest you can buy the "£799" product elsewhere is £XXX why would they go below that, and if you can get it cheaper then buy it there.

DNK

You're more likely to be successful if you ask for extras to be thrown in.
Not a cash saving per se but with a fair bit of haggling I got a 5 year warranty for nothing on a £300 condenser drier a couple of years ago. Initially it was a point blank "No" but after a a bit of discussion, I got what I wanted.
Stuck to my guns and said there are plenty of other places selling the item and that I would haggle with them also if need be and was in no rush to buy.

However was in PC World once and wanted a printer in a hurry (wouldn't go in the shop unless it was an emergency!) and the shop would not budge on £10 for a £150 printer that they confirmed was £140 on their own website (to do with franchises.) I said that if they didn't sell it to me for £140, I'd just drive 5 minutes down the road to get it from their competitor. They said "OK then, do that!"
It doesn't always work but you lose nothing by asking.

johnson293

Been wondering this myself, as I'm looking to buy an Xbox and Kinect.

Currys/PC World currently have a bundle for £279 with Xbox 250, Kinect and two games (Forza 4 and a dance one).

Was wondering if you could haggle for either a couple of different games and/or an accessory or two thrown in for a cash sale (have the cash in wallet).

Any hints on a strategy, or just straight ask them can they do a better bundle for a full price cash sale there/then?

MoreOn

Don't haggle on the basis of cash haggle on the basis of competition... Straight ask, your price is virtually/same as comet etc, what can you offer that i might consider would pursued me to buy from you rather than them..


i'm going to add.. it is possible to get discount from next as well..

bungle4by4

best bet might be to go to a smaller independant retailer. I've always found Richer Sounds to be open to a little movement on the price.

McKneff

Get the model no. of the TV you want, then have a look at the Dixons site.

They are much cheaper, even though they are sister companies to Currys and PC World.

Ive bought 2 or 3 things from Dixons, after comparing them and the saving is between £30 and £50 on each item.

Free delivery and excellent customer service.

LittleMissMPB

Just wanted to say I used to work for the company and tbh it would really wind me up when people asked if they could get discount for paying in cash. One guy even started asking me why not, so I explained that it costs the store money to employ people to count the money at the end of the day, costs money to employ people to prepare it for going to the bank, and it costs the store for every courier collection on the cash.

ETA - you are much more likely to get a cable or accessory thrown in if you ask what deals they can do and push a bit.

marleyboy

My experience of Curry's was when I went in to purchase a new Fridge\Freezer. I had seen the same appliance in a rival store which was literally next door to them. I went into Curry's just to compare the better deal.

Albeit Curry's was a little more expensive (but not much), they would not do a 12M interest free, whereas the other store did, as my intention was to pay for the product within 12 Months, it worked out more expensive than the rival. So I thanked the Curry's staff member for his time and said I would go next door and get the product.

I got as far as the car park, when the staff member came running out of the Store saying he could do it for me, it turned out his manager had overheard the deal offered and told him to go out and secure the deal. The assistant said "I cant let you go to our rivals, I have had a word with the boss and he is happy to offer us a better deal.

Needless to say he won me over and secured his sale, but it was not my intention to haggle with them, a genuinely was just comparing prices.

The moral of the story is not to let them think your haggling, assure them of your interest but let them know you have seen a better deal and intend to go elsewhere for it, dont let them think your trying it on, as they see that day in, day out.

The staff are there to secure a deal, its their job to get the customer to pay the maximum price for it, although they do have some leeway to swing a deal, they cannot just jump up and offer you the cheapest deal, such methods would only be used if they are convinced you are genuine.

lucky_charm_2

I also used to work for the company and tbh cash means nothing, in fact we much preferred cards because many of the tills on the shop floor did not take cash so it was a bit of a bother to go to the 'small items' till at the front.

What you definitely can use as a bargaining chip are the added extras. For each large item (i.e a lap top, tv or washing machine) staff have 5 or 6 extras which they have to try and sell, and targets are usually based on these. For a tv, we had to push insurance, stands/ wall mounts, cables, sky packages and 'tech guys services' (now called know how, basically intallation etc). The insurance is your best bargaining chip. It can be paid for in monthly installments, so if you don't mind phoning up to cancel it, when they push the insurance ask for the first month free to 'try it'. If you listen and try and appear interested instead of interrupting and saying 'no I just want the tv' when they are telling you about the cables etc the staff member may be more receptive to discount further.

We were not meant to discount more than 1% of the sale but you might be able to get the cheapest of the massively overpriced cables for £5 or so by asking for it at that price as there may be one on a deal that the colleague won't mind discounting further. Taking a cable and insurance puts you in a better bargaining position.

If you do want a stand or wall bracket, installation or sky your sale will become even more 'valuable' for their figures, but even if not if you are taking a cable and the insurance (even discounted/ free) they will not want to lose the sale so when you mention a competitor's price is cheaper you could try asking if they will take it down to the competitor's price with an extra 5% off to make it worth your while getting it from them. This is probably the only method that would work in the store I was in. Also as the poster above said, appearing genuine will get you far, and not being rude, the nicer you are the more the sales colleague will want to help you.