Would you haggle on a price in a shop?

happymonday_2

Hi all

We have spotted a dining table and 6 chairs in a local shop (its not a chain). Its already been reduced from £999 to £850.

Going through Martins advice of 'do we need it', the answer strictly is no, but the dining table we do have has one broken (currently fixed with a large clamp but wobbly) leg and was given to us 15 years ago second hand and is laminate coated mdf (so not an antique). I guess I'm trying to make excuses, but believe me I don't like parting with my money now I have some (we have in the past few years sorted out our budgeting and finances and proud to say that we have managed to build up savings!) so as our current handmedown furniture falls to bits we are thinking of replacing it with 'better' stuff, if that makes sense.

What I'm trying to ask is - would you go into a shop and make an offer on an item that has already been reduced , I feel a bit cheeky, but the other side of me thinks if you don't ask you don't get! Even at £850 with 6 chairs I think its a good price so thats why I feel cheeky! Plus I run a business myself and get a lot of people asking for discounts so know what its like from 'the other side' so to speak.

Sorry to ramble! Thanks for any opinions. Even if you all call me cheeky mare! And if you would haggle, what would you think I should start at?

kranti

I would always haggle in a furniture shop. We used to in Courts before it closed and they would always reduce the sale prices by at least a further 10%. I would start by asking what their 'best price' is ... which may get you the reply that the SA needs to speak to their manager. From there see how the conversation goes and what they offer. if they offer 800, go for 700 and try and meet in the middle.

DocProc

10% discount should be a fairly easy target for you to go for and for them to drop down to.

So how do you get to that point?

Well, all the best negotiations are done on a Win/Win basis. Thus you need to find out what they might want other than just a 'sale'.

They might NOT want to deliver it quickly.
On the other hand, they just might want to do exaactly that because they need to free up the floor space, for instance.

A good thing to kick off with could be how your friends told you to pop in, seeing as how they know you needed a table and chairs. You could also say that you think they are also going to pop in later but you don't think they need a table and chairs. They won't want to upset you in any way then for fear of upsetting your frinds as well.

As for the table and chairs? Although you like it, you could mention the price is a bit over what you had budgeted to pay.

A quick calculation tells me that 10% off £850 leaves a balance of £765. How about you tell them your budget was £700? Ask if they would be preapred to accept that just to help you out and seeing as you are wanting some other things later on too. See if they bite.

Now they might feel quite confident...but there again...they just might not. Looking at all that stuff in the media about Northern Rock, M & S and the pootential for recession, they might be thrilled to bits you have walked in.

Hey! Don't miss it. Get off down there!

Mike_J

If you dont ask, you dont get....and has anybody ever heard of a shop saying "No and for beign so cheeky Im gonna charge you 10% more".

Remember, shops have sales to clear stock. In theory, as long as they still make a profit on it, it would pay them to sell it for £1 profit.

Halloway

For higher priced items there's nothing wrong with haggling. In this case the shop might well be glad to be rid of the item so would be happy to drop another 10-15%.

The only thing I would say is decide beforehand (a) how much you want to pay and use that to guide your initial offer (making an initial offer will indicate to the shop that you are serious - don't go in with whiffly questions like 'how much are you going to knock off this then mate?') and (b) decide what you are going to do if your offer is rebuffed - i.e. buy at the listed price or walk away.

Oh and (c) think about whether you could arrange pick up/delivery yourself - that might help as a bargaining tool.

If your offer is rejected you could always leave your phone number and ask the shop to call if they change their mind.

DUKE

Yes, I haggle for absolutely everything. In my case it's noramally clothes that are already in a sale, I ask if they can knock a bit extra off as I've spotted a slight pull in the garment or a little mark which may not come out in the wash. Thay normally tell me that it's already in the sale, but eventually they do say as a one off that they will knock a £1 or £2 off (every little helps) but they usually tell me that I can't return it, which is fair enough. I'd certainly haggle for a much larger item. You've got nothing to lose, you'll only be cross with yourself if you don't at least try

DonnaDoop

I love being cheeky and asking for a discount or haggling, and the satisfaction I get when I win is brill lol.

I'd say think about what you feel is a fair price for the dining set..so if you think it's worth £700 to you - go in a wee bit lower, say £670ish. Start by making sure you are talking to someone who has the authority to do you a deal first, find out his/her name and use it as you discuss the set. Go in with something like 'I would give you £670 cash for that and take it away today'. If the sales person looks stunned, keep your face dead-pan to let them know you are serious. If you get an outright negative to this first price, then say 'so what were you thinking?' Keep it bouncing back and forth till you are happy with the price.

If, on the other hand they are not willing to haggle at all, just wish them a good day and tell them you are off down to the nearest national retailer with your money!! You have nothing to loose and it's fun :-)

Good luck

Enterprise_1701C

What's the worst they can say - no! It is always worth a go, if it is in a sale then they want to get rid of it! If it has been in the store for a while it may be that they are having difficulty getting rid of it so would gladly haggle. It is always worth using cash if you can for this, no card fees etc for the shop to pay.

Mum-2-4

I always haggle, its a trait I got from my Mum! As the poster above stated have a figure in mind, that you would actually want to spend. I normally make sure on larger items free delivery is included & saying you are paying cash always seems to knock more money off.
If the deals not right, walk away, you haven't lost anything.

happymonday_2

Thanks everyone! I think I will give it a go! If its still there by Saturday that is (work full time!). Its only around the corner from my house so hopefully no delivery factor, I'll just carry it with hubby (if I manage to get it at a good price) ;o)

hollydays

We just bought a kitchen 50% off-then managed to get another 10% off plus extras by suggesting we would be looking around and price was critical. I am sure there is a massive mark-up on furniture.I would say We were looking at another table and chairs in MFI,but theirs was a couple of hundred cheaper-"could they move on the price at all?" Whatever they say-dont buy it then,go away,go back again and try to appeal to them a bit more,or see if they will throw in some seat pads or something if they wont go down more than £100.The important thing is not to seem too keen-make it seem as though you have other choices.