Do you haggle ?
- Thread starter leoncuprar
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But then the latter are always cheaper....
Friendly haggling can work in some stores however pushy or aggressive haggling will result in annoyed sales staff and possibly a worse deal than standard 
Depends on what you are buying and the margins involved too, far more likely to get a discount on additional services rather than the actual product. Or they'll make it seem that way, for example you take out finance and we'll knock a bit of the price / free delivery etc.
Depends on what you are buying and the margins involved too, far more likely to get a discount on additional services rather than the actual product. Or they'll make it seem that way, for example you take out finance and we'll knock a bit of the price / free delivery etc.
It depends on the situation, and the store, but yes, I'll often haggle.
The success of haggling depends on several factors, but key among them are first, to be talking to someone with the authority to haggle. In the words of the old saying, deal with the organ grinder, not the monkey. There's not a lot of point spending ages negotiating if they don't have the clout to agree. Second, be prepared to walk if they don't agree to your mininum position. Third, it has to be worthwhile for both sides.
The success of haggling depends on several factors, but key among them are first, to be talking to someone with the authority to haggle. In the words of the old saying, deal with the organ grinder, not the monkey. There's not a lot of point spending ages negotiating if they don't have the clout to agree. Second, be prepared to walk if they don't agree to your mininum position. Third, it has to be worthwhile for both sides.
The big problem is actually getting to deal with somebody who has the authority to offer you a deal.
I would be surprised if you could get much off electricals from currys, They are already right on the edge of profitability (which is why they push the extended warranties so hard, It is the only way they can make any money out of the deal)
As for furnature,
Go to an auction!
You will be able to furnish an entire house for £200! (Beds, wardrobes, dining tables, chairs, whatever! It is utter madness at the moment! "Brown" furniture (real mahogany and whatever) is actually cheaper than firewood!
)
The most expensive thing will be the van hire to get the stuff home!
I would be surprised if you could get much off electricals from currys, They are already right on the edge of profitability (which is why they push the extended warranties so hard, It is the only way they can make any money out of the deal)
As for furnature,
Go to an auction!
You will be able to furnish an entire house for £200! (Beds, wardrobes, dining tables, chairs, whatever! It is utter madness at the moment! "Brown" furniture (real mahogany and whatever) is actually cheaper than firewood!
)The most expensive thing will be the van hire to get the stuff home!
I am awful at haggling, it makes me feel awkward.
My wife on the other hand is a demon at it (Its normal in India to haggle everything and anything) and to be honest I am glad she does it.
Over the years she has managed to get 1000s knocked off items for us (TVs, Cars, Sofas, Holiday packages etc)........I just cant be around when she does it.
My wife on the other hand is a demon at it (Its normal in India to haggle everything and anything) and to be honest I am glad she does it.
Over the years she has managed to get 1000s knocked off items for us (TVs, Cars, Sofas, Holiday packages etc)........I just cant be around when she does it.
I will go against the grain here and say yes, I haggled with everything in my property, sometimes getting a discount, sometimes getting an free item.
best time to hit them is near the end of the month, where unit/cash sales are needed to make the like for like sales targets.
example: oak furniture land, dropped £4k on stuff for the whole house, haggled to include a free set of drawers and bed side cabinet to complete one of the bedrooms, total retail value of £400, so 10%
example 2: Victoria Plumb, done my two bathrooms with their gear, managed to haggle an undersink cabinet and mirror cabintet and various bits and bobs (toilet roll holders etc.)
those who say you cant haggle, just have never tried or been hard enough during the conversation, but it needs prep,
play one store off against the other, with price lists/total costs/any offers given.
good luck
best time to hit them is near the end of the month, where unit/cash sales are needed to make the like for like sales targets.
example: oak furniture land, dropped £4k on stuff for the whole house, haggled to include a free set of drawers and bed side cabinet to complete one of the bedrooms, total retail value of £400, so 10%
example 2: Victoria Plumb, done my two bathrooms with their gear, managed to haggle an undersink cabinet and mirror cabintet and various bits and bobs (toilet roll holders etc.)
those who say you cant haggle, just have never tried or been hard enough during the conversation, but it needs prep,
play one store off against the other, with price lists/total costs/any offers given.
good luck
Always worth it, what's the worst that could happen.
I got some money off a mattress recently. Also we had a full house carpeted and just went in told the guy what we wanted and how much we wanted to spend and he knocked some off so we could get what we wanted.
I got some money off a mattress recently. Also we had a full house carpeted and just went in told the guy what we wanted and how much we wanted to spend and he knocked some off so we could get what we wanted.
Soldato
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If you're spending a decent chunk of cash, it's always worth trying to get some discount or something thrown in.
I'll always give it a go anyway, with mixed results.
I'll always give it a go anyway, with mixed results.
I haggle almost anywhere provided it's enough money or I feel it's worth it. I'd haggle buying sunglasses, electronics, ANYTHING that's new (car or bike) etc. But I wouldn't haggle over buying dinner...
I'd guess anyone that comes from a culture with haggling or runs a business and is used to pushing suppliers and brands for better prices would be used to it. I tend to go in with the feeling that I want 20% off the value, but am happy with 10%. If a business can't drop 10% then their margins are so small I'd be amazed they could afford their overheads.
I do think the most important thing is you can't be fussy, desperate or particularly bothered about what you get
You need to be prepared to walk away and buy the slightly different version from their competitor.
I'd guess anyone that comes from a culture with haggling or runs a business and is used to pushing suppliers and brands for better prices would be used to it. I tend to go in with the feeling that I want 20% off the value, but am happy with 10%. If a business can't drop 10% then their margins are so small I'd be amazed they could afford their overheads.
I do think the most important thing is you can't be fussy, desperate or particularly bothered about what you get
You need to be prepared to walk away and buy the slightly different version from their competitor.
Man of Honour
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I always try and haggle if I can. If you don't ask you don't get!
Different cultures have different views on it, here we're all so awfully polite that it seems rude to ask
I remember reading a thread on one of the small business forums about their perspective on haggling and was surprised by how many openly said that they try to avoid doing business with asian customers (mostly tradesman) as they won't agree on the final price. Massive generalisation I know but they just didn't want the hassle.
Different cultures have different views on it, here we're all so awfully polite that it seems rude to ask
I remember reading a thread on one of the small business forums about their perspective on haggling and was surprised by how many openly said that they try to avoid doing business with Asian customers (mostly tradesman) as they won't agree on the final price. Massive generalisation I know but they just didn't want the hassle.
I have quite a lot of Asian customers, and yea, they always try to haggle and will frequently try to persuade you to do cash work to avoid VAT
As long as you know the rules (Always quote initially rather more than you actually want-obvious really) the game can be quite fun. I have often been invited in for a meal after the work has been done.
The only people I actively avoid are people who live in caravans (!) and If I am turning up to a council type house and see anything remotely horsey I will just drive on by!