Discounts and haggling with retailers - carpet right/Storeys.

PaulJM

A lot of years ago, when I bought my first house, I remember accepting the first price I was quoted for everything. It was simple cheap stuff, so I imagine the mark ups were far less, but still, I think back to the money I could have saved.

With years and experience, I'll always haggle for things - politely and lightly for things like hotel rooms, but more tough with the likes of car dealers (though still politely), etc.
I've always had in the back of my head though that I want to pay a fair price, and I'm not after ripping anyone off, so I've never started off at what could be seen as a cheeky suggestion for the discount.

However, I was out looking at carpets for 2 lots of stairs, 2 landings and a room.
I got my prefered independent around, and with good quality underlay, decent carpet, fitting, he worked out about £950.
On Sunday, knowing that me and my wife can only ever conviene to sort these type of things out once a week, we went to Storey Carpets (Carpet-right basically, I think).
I hate buying from these big boys, but the manager there are helpful, and he said he'd come and do the estimate then. Which was very convienent, saved us time in the week, etc, so we accepted.
He measured up, and I made sure we were quoting the same stuff - best quality underlay, same price per metre carpet, etc, and it worked out at £1400.
He asked me how the price was, and I told him, honestly, that the indy had quoted £950.
He's called this morning, and after discussing with his regional office, they will do it all for £900!
That's a quite ridiculous price drop!
So, the discount in store said the carpet had 25% off (I know that's a load of rubbish, but it did say it) It also said that we could take another 20% off the advertised price.

So, if they were making at least a £500 profit on a £1400 sale, what would they be making on their supposedly 'usual' price?

I'm not complaining. And I'm probably preaching to the converted here, but if anyone is reading this, and is in any doubt about whether they should haggle hard, read this and don't be!
I guess different businesses pull different margins - I remember working at an electrical shop, and being told the goods had a 5-10% mark up at best. But I reckon for soft furnishings, there must be a lot.

I don't know what carpet right are like, that said. Might well still pay the indy £50 more.

Cpt.Pugwash

I've just started to buy carpets and am amazed firstly at the difference in the price of on-line underlay compared to the sheds and high street, and secondly at the fact that Carpetright can offer 70% discount on most of their products! Can 70% off the mrrp be genuine?