Haggling - Do You Do It.

Twoandahalfmen

With 33% of the population to polite to haggle and get a bargain because they are too polite or embarrassed, I want to know do you do it. The worst that could happen is you get a NO.

There's more room for discounts if you try!!!!

juan.kerr

Yes, my propsective employer offered me 50k, I managed to haggle him down to 45k. I fely very proud of myself until I realised what I had done.

Does any large retailers actually allow haggling?

Davy

Deleted User wrote: »

Does any large retailers actually allow haggling?

Appliance places like power city, Harvey Norman can do slight discounts on some items. Not sure if DID will though

Sofiztikated

Pick and choose your battles.

If the person you're dealing with OS standing solely behind a counter, no.
If its a sales person on the floor, yes.

Kat1170

DID did, don't know if they still do.

mikemac1

Power City do

If you're spending a few hundred on a TV it's strange if you don't haggle!

You did with the staff on the floor, by the time you're with the young person on the till it's too late

If you know any farmers bring them with you, they'd haggle over a can of WD-40!

cmssjone

If I'm spending big money (>1000) then I would try somewhere else if I didn't get something off. Last Xmas bought a laptop from Harvey Norman, price 1100 (which was the cheapest I could find) which I haggled down to 1050. Tried to get it for 1000 but no joy. I also managed to get a 35 euro laptop sleeve thrown in for free so I was quite happy. The guy was quite receptive to the haggling but made it quite clear what his bottom line was. I think it tells them on the computer system how low they can go.

circadian

Used to work in a chain retailer years ago. It eventually began to grate when people would say "ah sure ye can do better than that. I'll give ye (whatever lower amount) for it."
No. I can't. Then there's the few with the brass neck asking you to use your staff discount. The auditor/management would love that.

However, been in Asia for a while and generally can't be arsed haggling. Generally offer a price, if they give me a crazy response I walk away. You get your price more often than not.

Orbion

If you are able to haggle a price down in a shop, they are clearly over charging you in the first place as they have accounted for this in the cost price. I would never shop in a place where one customer goes to the counter with the same item as you but pays a cheaper price, bar damaged items.

P. Breathnach

Yes, I haggle, and I usually succeed. That's not because every retailer is willing to haggle (or give junior staff authority to cut prices). It's because I recognise the situations where there is scope to negotiate a deal. I note what circadian says about it grating on some staff. I like to think that I can read situations and know where bargaining is on. My success rate supports my belief.

Sometimes the game is more interesting to me than the amount of money I save.

There is no excuse for haggling aggressively, acting as if sellers are somehow out to "do" you. They are not. They are simply trying to make a living. If they can clear €100 on an item, they might be very happy; if they can clear €50, they might not be desperately unhappy.

Central to my haggling technique is good humour: a smile, a bit of banter, a sense that we are both playing a game; never a sense of getting one over on the vendor. When the deal is done, we part on good terms, and I am confident that if I approached the same seller a week later I would be greeted with a smile.

galwayjohn89

I had one muppet try to haggle on a prepaid mastercard. Peoples stupidity will never cease to amaze me.

ABajaninCork

Where appropriate, I always try to haggle! Go in with cash, as cash is always king!

Procrastastudy

cmssjone wrote: »

If I'm spending big money (>1000) then I would try somewhere else if I didn't get something off. Last Xmas bought a laptop from Harvey Norman, price 1100 (which was the cheapest I could find) which I haggled down to 1050. Tried to get it for 1000 but no joy. I also managed to get a 35 euro laptop sleeve thrown in for free so I was quite happy. The guy was quite receptive to the haggling but made it quite clear what his bottom line was. I think it tells them on the computer system how low they can go.

Same laptop online probably would have been about €800

100200 shih

I love to haggle, I got €700 of a 2nd hand car for the other half a couple of months ago, like the other poster said , its a bit of banter !!!

SilverScreen

Shops and businesses up and down the country are closing and certainly not being helped by cheapskates haggling and looking for discounts. I worked in retail for a number of years and at one stage nearly every 3rd customer was looking for a discount of some sort. I was under strict instruction by management not to give discounts unless there was a certain case for it and rightly so.

I know times are tough and everything and people are trying to make ends meet, but people should be more aware about businesses struggling to provide employment for people.

campo

Zero1986 wrote: »

Shops and businesses up and down the country are closing and certainly not being helped by cheapskates haggling and looking for discounts. I worked in retail for a number of years and at one stage nearly every 3rd customer was looking for a discount of some sort. I was under strict instruction by management not to give discounts unless there was a certain case for it and rightly so.

I know times are tough and everything and people are trying to make ends meet, but people should be more aware about businesses struggling to provide employment for people.

Would shops prefer to sell at a discount or not sell at all ,

I probably have saved 200e this year from haggling but as others said you need to choose your battles , pointless doing it in centra but a furniture store work away

mikemac1

Zero1986 wrote: »

Shops and businesses up and down the country are closing and certainly not being helped by cheapskates haggling and looking for discounts. I worked in retail for a number of years and at one stage nearly every 3rd customer was looking for a discount of some sort. I was under strict instruction by management not to give discounts unless there was a certain case for it and rightly so.

I know times are tough and everything and people are trying to make ends meet, but people should be more aware about businesses struggling to provide employment for people.

Your shops haggled with suppliers, haggled over rents, asked the bank manager for better terms, negotiated salaries for their senior staff and asked the council to have their rates reviewed.
I could keep going

Everyone can haggle, from a corporation to a small business and a person out shopping on a Saturday

SilverScreen

mikemac1 wrote: »

Your shops haggled with suppliers, haggled over rents, asked the bank manager for better terms, negotiated salaries for their senior staff and asked the council to have their rates reviewed.
I could keep going

Everyone can haggle, from a corporation to a small business and a person out shopping on a Saturday

I can understand it's different when negotiating bigger deals like that as the asking price is usually only a starting price anyway. But when you get middle-aged women coming in and haggling over a friggin kettle it just gets ridiculous. They can well afford it.

The worst I've seen was a lad offering me €30 for an electrical item that was priced a few euro dearer (there was very little markup on it so a discount was out of the question). When he realised he wasn't getting his bargain he took a brand new crisp €50 note out of his wallet and gave it to me, and I could also see that he had a few more in his wallet as well.

galwayjohn89

100200 shih wrote: »

I love to haggle, I got €700 of a 2nd hand car for the other half a couple of months ago, like the other poster said , its a bit of banter !!!

I'd pretty much always haggle on buying second hand goods especially cars. 99% of them are purposely over priced to allow for haggle room. I have never bought a car for full price and when selling I always over price and then have a price in my head which I would accept. Always get far more then the lowest I would accept.

Owryan

Tend to pick n choose when to haggle. When I was buying a new tv, dryer, stereo n fridge, rather than trying to get the price down I got a free sound system , it wasnt expensive or anything but it sweetened the deal esp as it was a cash sale.

Likewise I tend to do a big buy in of coal/logs n the like. Usually I try get a bag or 2 thrown in.

Was willing to spend 2 grand in homebase in Carlow last year but they wouldnt budge on free delivery no matter what I tried, ended up walking away . Over 2 grand and they wanted an extra €39.

Orbion

Owryan wrote: »

Tend to pick n choose when to haggle. When I was buying a new tv, dryer, stereo n fridge, rather than trying to get the price down I got a free sound system , it wasnt expensive or anything but it sweetened the deal esp as it was a cash sale.

Likewise I tend to do a big buy in of coal/logs n the like. Usually I try get a bag or 2 thrown in.

Was willing to spend 2 grand in homebase in Carlow last year but they wouldnt budge on free delivery no matter what I tried, ended up walking away . Over 2 grand and they wanted an extra €39.

I find that attitude a bit poor tbh. Regardless of how much you are spending, staff have to give the same service to all customers while sticking to company policy. I find it a bit pathetic to try and "bully" or blackmail a shop and still try to take the moral highground. To top it all off you just wasted your time and theirs....

Orbion

I also find it strange that people would never think of haggling at a shop like Tescos even though their margin on goods is huge and would like to know why you dont go to the checkout and just offer to pay less than the total.

ABajaninCork

Orbion wrote: »

I find that attitude a bit poor tbh. Regardless of how much you are spending, staff have to give the same service to all customers while sticking to company policy. I find it a bit pathetic to try and "bully" or blackmail a shop and still try to take the moral highground. To top it all off you just wasted your time and theirs....

So do you buy a car (for example) at the quoted price then? If you're buying 'big ticket' items, you just pay the price? Just curious as I find your reasoning somewhat strange.

Owryan

Orbion wrote: »

I find that attitude a bit poor tbh. Regardless of how much you are spending, staff have to give the same service to all customers while sticking to company policy. I find it a bit pathetic to try and "bully" or blackmail a shop and still try to take the moral highground. To top it all off you just wasted your time and theirs....

People are free to think what they like but as far a I m concerned its about getting the best deal possible. I wouldnt think I wasted my time as I wont be going near them again. I use the same fuel merchants because he was generous to me and now I buy all my fuel, kerosene and that off him , maybe 2 grand over a year.

I ll be shopping for 2 laptops, a desktop and other bits in a few weeks so there ll be more haggling then .

P. Breathnach

Owryan wrote: »

...
Was willing to spend 2 grand in homebase in Carlow last year but they wouldnt budge on free delivery no matter what I tried, ended up walking away . Over 2 grand and they wanted an extra €39.

There are a number of possibilities here, including the one you fixed on: that Homebase are completely inflexible.

It might be that you were dealing with a staff member who did not have authority to make a deal with you, perhaps a part-timer or junior.

It might be that they are not allowed offer free delivery because of contractual arrangements with people who provide the delivery service, and you were simply looking for the wrong thing: you might have got as much value in another way, like asking them to include something like a couple of pots of paint to sweeten the deal.

Or you might have got up somebody's nose.

Orbion

ABajaninCork wrote: »

So do you buy a car (for example) at the quoted price then? If you're buying 'big ticket' items, you just pay the price? Just curious as I find your reasoning somewhat strange.

I shop around for the best price that I can find in my budget and then if I am happy to pay that and I need it, I get it. I dont see why after all that I then have the right to expect to get it for less for no reason. Some people feel they are entitled to get something for nothing so if they want to waste everyones time being greedy, its up to them.

mikemac1

Orbion wrote: »

I also find it strange that people would never think of haggling at a shop like Tescos even though their margin on goods is huge and would like to know why you dont go to the checkout and just offer to pay less than the total.

Shop assistants in Tesco have no power to haggle.

Sales staff in an electrical store do.
It might not be money off, could be a TV stand that was on display or a set of good headphones thrown in to improve the deal

Duggys Housemate

No I don't. With the exception of car purchasing. Nearly all my big purchases are online anyway and I don't haggle for food, beer or toiliteries. Call me crazy.

cmssjone

Procrastastudy wrote: »

Same laptop online probably would have been about €800

I'd been keeping my eyes on that particular model for a few weeks and even checked out the British sites. To my surprise HN was the same price or better than most of the online retailers. It was a little cheaper in the UK but the cost of delivery wiped out any savings.

Orbion

So if you go into an electrical store, you ignore all the marked prices and decide the price yourself? Where do you draw the line - over €20, over €50, over €100?? Where does this sense of entitlement come from?

mikemac1

It's just business Orbion, nobody gets offended.
The electrical store has sales staff, that's their job.


If/when you get married Orbion you'll be haggling like a mad thing with your hotel.
That's the managers job too, they expect you to do it

MitchKoobski

Tried it a few times, succeeded mostly. Tried it in DID for a new TV and it worked. Wanted €550 and I only had €500 on me. Got a bit of a chat going about films and HD and so on and said I found it online for €500 but can't afford the delivery. He then revealed it was the last one they had in the shop if I was looking for it. Told him I had the €500 in my pocket if he'd let me take it today. Job done.

Used to work in Homebase and we had a furniture display mat. Scottish manager would do his best offer for you no problem, but don't try and aggressively haggle him.
Manager: "It says €400, but I can give it to you for €360 if you take it today."
Chancer: "Ah sure that thing is only worth €300."
Manager: "No, its brand new stock and we got too many in so I'm clearing some room. €360 is the best I can do but you'll have to take it today."
Chancer: "I'll give you €300. You'll have to take it."
Manager: "I think you'll find that I don't. I'm doing you a favour here. €360"
Chancer: "Ah thats robbery that is! I saw it in Woodies for €390 with a free cutlery set."
Manager: "Thats news to me. See that sticker that says 'Exclusive to Homebase'? Yeah, feck off and don't bull**** me."

ABajaninCork

Orbion wrote: »

I shop around for the best price that I can find in my budget and then if I am happy to pay that and I need it, I get it. I dont see why after all that I then have the right to expect to get it for less for no reason. Some people feel they are entitled to get something for nothing so if they want to waste everyones time being greedy, its up to them.

I shop for the best price too (doesn't everybody?). But there's nothing to stop me haggling for a better price if the item demands. In the end, it's the seller's right to say 'No'. Nobody's time is wasted, and I might still get the item for a good price or go elsewhere if I can get a better price. You might have money to waste. I most certainly do not.

Does that make me greedy?

SilverScreen

mikemac1 wrote: »

Shop assistants in Tesco have no power to haggle.

Sales staff in an electrical store do.
It might not be money off, could be a TV stand that was on display or a set of good headphones thrown in to improve the deal

The markup on electrical goods is usually tiny so getting a reduction on even an expensive TV is even pushing it. They're already priced at the minimum to sell. When they do throw in something free it's usually something they've got free off their suppliers.

campo

Orbion wrote: »

So if you go into an electrical store, you ignore all the marked prices and decide the price yourself? Where do you draw the line - over €20, over €50, over €100?? Where does this sense of entitlement come from?

The sense of entitlement for me is that it is my money and if shop wants it then haggle for it if not I will go to another shop that will.

Where does the store sense of entitlement for my money come from

Orbion

campo wrote: »

The sense of entitlement for me is that it is my money and if shop wants it then haggle for it if not I will go to another shop that will.

Where does the store sense of entitlement for my money come from

Like I said before, if a store offers a good quality product at a fair price, yes they are entitled to get that money for it. I think that a company that strays outside this by giving you one price and a customer after you another price for the same exact item is pretty much a joke. I dont know how consumer law even backs this up this system where the price depends on which member of staff you talk to.

SilverScreen

campo wrote: »

The sense of entitlement for me is that it is my money and if shop wants it then haggle for it if not I will go to another shop that will.

Where does the store sense of entitlement for my money come from

The shop sets the prices for a reason. To cover the cost of the products, to cover electricity and heat, to cover wages, to cover rent etc. They're entitled to receive the full asking price or accept or reject other offers if they wish. Depending on how much demand there is for the product, if you can't pay the full asking price then they will sell it to someone else who will.

pleasant Co.

A fair price to you, what you're willing to pay, isn't necessarily a fair price for me. If i want to see if i can get the price down to what i want to pay (and the shop still makes a profit they're happy with) then you shouldn't care as you were happy with the price you paid.

stimpson

Sorry but a shop isn't entitled to anything. Either they are competitive or they're not. I went out today to buy a cooker. Local gas shop wanted 789 for a particular cooker. I told him Power City have it for 699. They couldn't he says. Apparently he's not making €45 on it. I then told him I could get it up north for £539 ~€625. He starts telling me that Hotpoint won't cover the warranty as the chasis is different. I point out that not only is the model number the same, but the warranty sticker has both UK and Ireland phone numbers.

I think a lot of retailers had it too easy for too long. Ripoff Ireland is alive and well.

galwayjohn89

stimpson wrote: »

Sorry but a shop isn't entitled to anything. Either they are competitive or they're not. I went out today to buy a cooker. Local gas shop wanted 789 for a particular cooker. I told him Power City have it for 699. They couldn't he says. Apparently he's not making €45 on it. I then told him I could get it up north for £539 ~€625. He starts telling me that Hotpoint won't cover the warranty as the chasis is different. I point out that not only is the model number the same, but the warranty sticker has both UK and Ireland phone numbers.

I think a lot of retailers had it too easy for too long. Ripoff Ireland is alive and well.

I'm guessing you don't understand bulk buying or the huge difference in price of doing business in the UK v Ireland.

Orbion

stimpson wrote: »

Sorry but a shop isn't entitled to anything. Either they are competitive or they're not. I went out today to buy a cooker. Local gas shop wanted 789 for a particular cooker. I told him Power City have it for 699. They couldn't he says. Apparently he's not making €45 on it. I then told him I could get it up north for £539 ~€625. He starts telling me that Hotpoint won't cover the warranty as the chasis is different. I point out that not only is the model number the same, but the warranty sticker has both UK and Ireland phone numbers.

I think a lot of retailers had it too easy for too long. Ripoff Ireland is alive and well.

What was your expectation of this whole conversation? That a local shop can match bigger shops for price. There could be completely different cost prices for this item for both stores depending on buying power. Obviously, you had shopped around for the best price and found the cheapest was up north, so why didnt you go up there and buy it. Why compare two different stores and label one a rip off and still go in to this store and tell this guy what he should be selling his stock at.

stimpson

The local shop is part of a chain I'm sure they can get bulk discounts. I didn't expect him to match the sterling price, but he could have made an attempt. Instead he tried to insult my intelligence.

And I didn't tell him what price to sell his stock at. I just told him what I could get it for and gave him a chance to make a sale.

pleasant Co.

Orbion wrote: »

Why compare two different stores and label one a rip off and still go in to this store and tell this guy what he should be selling his stock at.

At a guess, the person didn't appreciate being lied to by the rip off store about the warranty/chassis. I don't see where the poster told the seller how much they should be charging, what i do read is the poster telling the seller what their competitors charge for the same item, giving them a chance to make a sale.

Maybe its a different perspective in our interpretation of the post due to my being a consumer and you being a retailer?

Edit: didn't see the poster's response til now, replying from a phone is slow

Orbion

pleasant Co. wrote: »

At a guess, the person didn't appreciate being lied to by the rip off store about the warranty/chassis. I don't see where the poster told the seller how much they should be charging, what i do read is the poster telling the seller what they're competitors charge for the same item, giving them a chance to make a sale.

Maybe its a different perspective in our interpretation of the post due to my being a consumer and you being a retailer?

Edit: didn't see the poster's response til now, replying from a phone is slow

I work in retail but obviosly I am a consumer too so I can see both sides of this. I can see how people want the best price by shopping around as thats what I do myself. With so many gimmicks and sales, its almost impossible to match every shop for every price. Maybe the competitor is selling an item as a loss leader or a cost + vat item, so if you cant match them you are then labelled with the rip off tag. Maybe I am more retail wired so I cant get this concept being fair or reasonable.

goz83

I haggle when there is room to haggle. I see the following as haggling opportunities:

* Shopping in a market.
* Buying from a private seller, especially when buying a car.
* Buying more than one of the same item, depending on price.
* When spending several hundred euro and there is a €50 discreptency, get it knocked off.

noodler

stimpson wrote: »

Ripoff Ireland is alive and well.

Oh no!

The thread had been going so well!

stimpson

noodler wrote: »

Oh no!

The thread had been going so well!

LOL. If you're happy to pay 25% over the odds more power to you.

stimpson

Went looking at other cookers this weekend. Decided on a Cannon one:

Armagh Electrical: £599 = €694
Power City €899.95
Local shop......€949

35% more expensive....

I should point out too that Armagh Electrical do free delivery to Dublin. Power City want an extra €30. It's anyone's guess what the friendly local shop want.

scudzilla

i did email Direct Holidays and offer them 600Euro for 2 return flights to Zakynthos, they're selling them for 820/pair.

I explained that i thought 600Euro was a fair price but they were having none of it

deeaunty

In places like power city I always ask what their best price is......they've always knocked money off.