What to say when haggling?

carl310166

I have never haggled for anything,YET!

Is there a set way of asking for a discount? something like,

"what is the best price you can do?"

What if they reply "YES"

Are there any other phrases that would help?

VickyA_2

My boyfriend has just used this trick for buying a second hand car. Asked "what is the best price you can do?". Pulled a face at the "extortionate" price ummed and ahhhed and "I'll have to discuss it with the girlfriend" tactic. Went back in and asked for more money on his old car he was part exchanging (an L reg nissan micra that had as many dents as it had wheels), got mats too and bob's your uncle - £500 less than he was willing to pay in the first place.

You've got to know the price of the same/similar items in other places. Look for faults (legit eg a hole that can easily be mended). Then you can go in with another price, lower than you're willing to pay for it eg the "price" is £60, you're willing to pay £50 but you go in at £40. You may get it for £45, you may get it for £50. Depends on how desperate you are to have it.

Or, "I'll take it off your hands" (eg at the end of a sale) for £10. Oh. And persistance.

moggins

And be nice. I got a suede effect ottoman reduced to half price that has a tiny hole in one side, it was £40 and I went in prepared to pay the full price as I loved it so much, when they lifted it onto the counter I noticed the hole and asked if they had any more in stock.

I think the assistant manager was having a lazy day as first he offered to knock £15 off and I thanked him for doing that and as he went to put it through the till he just said oh lets make it £20 so I got the ottoman for £20 and the hole is on the side that faces the wall anyway

coupon_king_2

moggins .... It may be faced against the wall but everyone will know about the hole anyway........ as you will be itching to tell them how you got such a fantastic bargin

moggins

coupon_king wrote:

moggins .... It may be faced against the wall but everyone will know about the hole anyway........ as you will be itching to tell them how you got such a fantastic bargin

Only if they're lucky enough to be in my bedroom to see it

System

Sometimes you need to be direct. My son fell in love with a top he had seen at the shops but it was way overpriced. I ummed and ahhd untill i saw a dirty mark on it and i asked if that was the only one they had and they said it was. It was also a tad too big for my lad and i almost put it back but then i decided to try and get some knocked off. 'Can you knock me some off for the dirty mark?' i asked her, she got onto the manager and he said i could have a fiver off the price. It was a £20 top that i had for £15. Was well chuffed with it especially when i got home and put it in the wash as it came out perfectly clean. However, i wouldnt be tempted to just knock someone down if there wasnt a fault.... I aint that brave.

chinagirl

A good way to get a discount is to ask at the till when there is a queue behind you and the sales person just wants to keep the queue moving. I did this in Sport Socca, I bought my 6 year old a Liverpool strip consisting of long-sleeved top, shorts and socks, reduced (after haggling about dirt etc) from £22 to £10. I was courteous and joked and smiled with the guy at the till, and luckily he seemed to have the authority to reduce prices himself. Bit cheeky to take advantage like that, but hey-ho, my son got the footy strip he wanted for his birthday, and I had money left over to spend on a goal for the back garden. Happy days!

moneywasternomore!

Glad I wasn't behind you in the queue..............;)

Sofa_Sogood

carl310166 wrote:

I have never haggled for anything,YET!

Is there a set way of asking for a discount? something like,

"what is the best price you can do?"

What if they reply "YES"

Are there any other phrases that would help?

"Will you accept cash?" always helps, but usually on big items

IvanOpinion

DW and I do a double act. If it is something I want then she stands around looking bored. I generally let the sales assistant know exactly what I want and how much I am willing to pay for it (cash of course) and then give them the option to take it or leave it ... if they start haggling DW does her 'I am in a bad mood and very !!!!!! off act' and chews the head off me saying she is sick looking for this and wants to go home now ... sometimes the shop assistant takes pity on me (I once got a free stand and video recorder with a TV using this act).

On the other side if DW wants something, I do the bored husband routine. She would ask the sales assistant to 'sharpen the pencil a bit more' at which point I would say something like 'No, I told you I am not willing to pay that amount for it, you will have to make do with the other one'. DW then puts on her best 'I am embarassed and offended' face and asks if there is any way that they can even come close to the other price. Often works ... especially with the male shop assistants. Last year we used this technique to get a piece of jewellery for just under half the marked price.

The down side is that one of us looks like a big bad monster.

If a sales person says to you 'What do I have to do to make you buy this now' then go for a ridiculously low price - you know it is silly and the sales person knows that you know it is silly but they will come somewhere in between. I recently used this technique to get an additional £300 off a new car above and beyond the discount I had already negotiated (I had suggested an additional £1000 discount).

Also, negotiate using goods .. we have successfully done all of the following. If buying a TV ask the shop to throw in a video recorder, DVD player or portable TV - it could be worth £100 retail but may only cost the shop £50. For a camcorder ask them to throw in a box of blank tapes. For a car always demand mats, flaps and a full tank of petrol. If buying a load of big tubs for the garden ask for a free bag of compost. If buying a washing machine get an iron thrown in. All of these above and beyond any discount you can negotiate.


Some golden rules for haggling ...
ALWAYS BE WILLING TO WALK AWAY! The price might start coming down if you try to leave.
DO YOUR RESEARCH! Know exactly how cheap other stores and internet are willing to sell it for.
BE HONEST! I would say to the sales assistant that the internet is selling it for £100 but allowing for £10 postage ask how close could they get to £110. I know some people lie through their teeth about other prices but I just can not bring myself to stoop to that level.
TAKE CASH! If possible, make sure that you have enough cash to pay for it outright - you can always negotiate to get the interest free credit.
BE PLEASANT! Don't get 'nasty' with the sales assistant, keep it light hearted but stay in control. A sales assistant is rarely likely to help you if you start ranting and raving at him.
LOOK POOR! Don't go out to buy something if you are dripping in jewellery and furs.
DO A RECCE! Sometimes we would call into a store several times over a period of days to see which assitant is easiest to haggle with. They also get to see your face and know that the sale is there for the taking.

Ivan

DMDz

Always ask if they have any end of line display models they want getting rid of. Your choice is restricted but you’ll normally get 10% off without having to ask.

That’s how I furnish my rental properties. I’m not bothered about having the latest machines and appliances since most landlords buy second hand anyway. I prefer to buy new, have the warranty but don’t mind if its missing its box and instructions! The properties also have the “wow everything is new and in good condition” factor for the tenants, so you get more rent and the tenants stay with you longer.

I tend to find telling the sales people I’m a landlord with “several properties in and around city X” their eyes light up. “I’m getting sick of buying second hand appliances for my tenants only to replace them 6 months later, so I’m looking to buy new ones under warranty which will be more reliable and less hassle for me”.

They are aware if they make you happy with the first sale, you’ll potentially come back and put a lot more business their way. How good will this make them look in front of the store manager?

Just use the “Im not happy with the price” line, you’ll be able to tell how much the assistant will budge by his/her reactions. Remember to ask if there are discounts for cash payments, and always haggle over delivery costs!

As the story is true for me its not really too difficult to pull off, but there is nothing to stop someone blagging their way into discount using the same lines. Just be confident in what you are doing and make it seem you aren’t too bothered about what you buy and where. Don’t be cocky though, be nice but firm with the assistant!