How much do you haggle?

I love a good haggle. I always do research online and go in armed with the facts. A simple "What's your best price on that?" can work wonders. I got €180 off a Telly at Christmas because it was cheaper in Richer Sounds. The same place gave me a bundle deal on a fridge freezer and tumble dryer last year saving €200. All for just asking for a discount.

I bought a new house about 10 years ago and went around with a clipboard and I didn't buy any big ticket items without at least 10% off. Only the carpet people gave me a hard time. They ended up taking 12.5% off and free delivery. You don't need to be a dick about it and I've had salesmen get short with me, but that's their problem. If I can save a few bob elsewhere I will, but they get a chance to make a sale. Some profit is better than no profit.

I'm currently playing 2 brokers off against each other for car insurance. I'm €150 up on my renewal already.

Bongalongherb wrote: »

I'll haggle till the end of time, and as I proceed to exit without my discount, I'll get to the exit and if nothing is said, I will walk back and take the best offer.

I like your style, dude.

Zed Bank wrote: »

Do people actually haggle in shops? Really? Only time I would ever dream of it if I was buying something off donedeal or a friend.

You would be surprised how often. I blame those morning/afternoon talk shows where a savy chick gives advice to people and tells everyone how you're expected to haggle everywhere :rolleyes:
Maybe in car dealers and some electronics stores, but not in high street stores. Head office(usually in the UK)set the prices you would get fired for giving a discount for no good reason

Wish I had access to cries of retail. Some of the things i've seen....

umop.episdn wrote: »

Don't haggle in a big chainstore, but do in a small independent retailer? ...that's the person you shouldn't be for future reference

I don't condone it, but:
independent stores are usually more flexible and the owner is usually there and willing to get/keep customers.
A big chain has an office somewhere determining prices, they track every penny and are usually very inflexible. Every discount needs a reason.

I'd rather avoid it at all costs.

****ing hate it. If I dont think something is worth what the seller is asking then, I dont bother.

Bought a new car recently, asked the guy if there was a negotiation on the price. He said No, I said grand went and thought about it, decided it was worth the price and bought it for that.

What is the point in it, if I want to sell something I give the price I want for it and thats what I expect to get.

umop.episdn wrote: »

Independent stores work on the tightest of margins & have to eke out a living. People don't haggle in Harvey Norman for prices, but buy there. When things go wrong who do they turn to for advice?, the local retailers who have the knowledge & experience.
The Harvey Norman business model will only work for as long as it's creditors allow, hopefully the smaller stores will benefit from this in the medium to long term

Depends on the store whether they make much of a profit or not.
But at least there is more likely to be a decision maker there and he/she is more willing to try to make a sale and a happy customer

Go in to topshop and there's nobody who can make that decision. They're all in head office in the UK and they don't need to please jane smith and her 30 euro purchase.
The manager and some staff can discounts but they need to select a reason from a pre-defined list of reasons on the til - e.g. Faulty merchandise, store credit etc. Then their superior(Area manager) will review all of them and the manager will need to give a reason for each discount

lertsnim wrote: »

I will never do it. If a shop is not willing to display a price I deem to be good then elsewhere I will go.

Harvey Norman actively encouraged it. How about selling at your "low" price instead of displaying an inflated figure designed to make it look like you are getting a deal. Thieving dickheads.

Most retail prices, especially electronic stores have built in wiggle room. It's a highly effective strategy.

If the customer doesn't ask, they get a higher margin. Win.

If the customer does ask, and gets something off, they feel good, and the store gets repeat business. Win.

So you're really doing yourself a disservice by refusing to haggle, as that 'low' price, in most cases can get that bit lower.

Haggled on the price of our take-away tonight. Told him that I rang him instead of placing the order on just-eat, so he wouldn't have to pay them their 10% commission, and could he do any better for me. Two free cans of coke was my answer. Better than a kick in the bollox, right?

I had a special deathstare for people who attempted this when I worked in Dunnes. There is no student discount or staff discount because that is the type of company they are so the very thought of that ethos mixed with centrally controlled prices resulting in no-actual-reason discounts was hysterical.

Or the person 'bulk buying' a few packets of socks of which hundreds of units are shifted per week. Don't be that person.