Haggling - Is Anyone Trying It?

Haggling has always been there. Individually as a shopper, i dont really feel the affects of this recession yet. So recession or not, i still try to haggle. Dont think big name stores like BB or FS their prices are set. Especially in FS where those guys are on commission, haggling works best there.
But i try to be reasonable with my haggling too. Im usually calm and try to be friendly with the sale guy first. I dont stomp in and go, "i want that TV for 699," and its listed as $999. Maybe 100 off or free shipping or though me in something for free. Most of the time they are good.

hope that helps?

I haggled with FS and they were pretty receptive. If they are offering the bonus gift card, ask them straight up to deduct the amount from the price rather than give the card. They can and will do that. The other thing I haggle is the extended warranty. I never pay full price for this and I only purchase it for big items.

I've seen other people haggle at home improvement stores. I've never tried but I will haggle anything that is floor model and only one left.

sovexxed wrote: ↑but i will haggle anything that is floor model and only one left.

+1

If the price given is good or better than expected or cheaper than everywhere else, I will not haggle because its not worth the time.

If the item is a bit pricey then I might but it has to be something over $500 at least.

It all seems to depend on where you shop. These past few weeks, shopping for christmas presents has been a mixed bag in regards to price haggling.

I have found that larger big box stores such as Futureshop really havn't changed their haggling habits. I always try and get the best price, but having watched the prices of a few TV's over the past few months. I am not able to get much of a better deal now than what I was back in September. Obviously there are sales which drop the price - but trying top get anything off that - aside from the usually $100 off the $300 monster cable, or 1/2 off the useless extended warranty - is useless.

Smaller stores, mostly private shops that obviously don't see the enormous amount of consumers that big box stores do (consequently having higher markups) see to be FAR more receptive to "haggling" and offers. Shopping at a few stores in Vancouver this past week, mainly for larger gift purchases such as a flat iron (straighter) from a Salon and a few other "larger" ticket items. The smaller/private shops, while still having their Christmas sales, for the most part were still willing to knock the price down, or add in extra things at deep discounts or for free. I purchased the one flat iron, from just a tad over $200, on sale for $149 - Final price wound up at $118 and a free storage/travel bag normal $29.99.

I have numerous examples, but for the most part it seems as though many stores are willing to make the sale, despite the profit margins.
The fact that there is a bit of money crunch has also made me a bit more forward when haggling. They know as well as me, chances are a store nearby carries the same thing, or something similiar so they either have to convince me the product is worth the price over the other - or be willing to take the money I am offering, because of the lessened chance that it may not get sold at all.
Now mind you, one store clerk laughed at me when I asked what kind of pricing they could do me on a product, and made them an offer. She found it silly that I would contest what the sticker said - so apparently haggling is not for everyone.

Hope that helps.

I work in retail, and I had a customer try to haggle with me, I declined and this other customer laughs and says "this isn't a garage sale" to me after the original one left.

Most people who ask for a discount know if they don't ask, they won't get it at all, and will usually accept the original price anyway. usually people who have decided to buy something, will try to haggle or ask for a discount because, why not? it's not like I'm going to kick them out, and if I do cave and give them a bit off, then they get it for cheaper.

I think it depends a lot on where you're shopping. You're not going to go to Wal-Mart and haggle for $5 body wash for instance but when you go out to places like Future shop and you're buying a home theatre system for instance you know those guys have the margins to do that.
Anytime I go to small mom and pop stores I definitely try my luck and one thing I've started doing that I haven't done in the past is the price matching thing. I didn't want to drive around but just found the price online for something I was buying and had the store I was at match the price.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/show ... p?t=670768

Referencing that post i made, i tried yesterday and it didnt go so well which sucked because it not like i was asking for an arm or a leg. It seemed pretty reasonable considering the amount of money i was going to spend.

i work in a department store and some customers haggle all the time when they're buying clothing. it is slightly annoying but it's also entertaining to see what they say to try and get you to sell it to them for cheaper. does it work? i can honestly say that yes, at times when you can make a legitimate claim and you did nothing to upset me, then it could work. but for heavens sake, if you're buying a $10 shirt that's been marked down from $80, don't ask me for a further discount.

tomthegreat wrote: ↑I work in retail, and I had a customer try to haggle with me, I declined and this other customer laughs and says "this isn't a garage sale" to me after the original one left.

Most people who ask for a discount know if they don't ask, they won't get it at all, and will usually accept the original price anyway. usually people who have decided to buy something, will try to haggle or ask for a discount because, why not? it's not like I'm going to kick them out, and if I do cave and give them a bit off, then they get it for cheaper.

flexwong wrote: ↑i work in a department store and some customers haggle all the time when they're buying clothing. it is slightly annoying but it's also entertaining to see what they say to try and get you to sell it to them for cheaper. does it work? i can honestly say that yes, at times when you can make a legitimate claim and you did nothing to upset me, then it could work. but for heavens sake, if you're buying a $10 shirt that's been marked down from $80, don't ask me for a further discount.

Where do u guys work? let me try on u

I personally tend not to haggle, simply because when I'm buying something 99% of the time it's on sale, I have a coupon or I've done enough research to know that I'm not going to get it cheaper anywhere else.

That being said, I work for a wholesaler (to retail stores) and when asked I honestly always look to see if there is something I can do.

darkmagician wrote: ↑Where do u guys work? let me try on u

I work at the source, I understand when someone haggles on a display item, and I usually won't budge unless there is damage or missing pieces.

darkmagician wrote: ↑Where do u guys work? let me try on u

canada's oldest company. but be warned, it's Christmas, the store is busy and im not gonna stand there for 10 minutes listening to you tell me why you should get the shirt for cheaper. either take it or leave it.

I won't say always but the majority of the time when shopping for electronics, I will haggle. Some notes and observations

- Gone when gone and Clearance items at FS/BB end with .95 or .97
- Shopping at the end of the fiscal month/year (Their weeks run Sunday - Saturday) will result in better showings, also Saturday evening after 6pm seems to work well for me, as the closing manager is trying to boost whatever numbers they need to hit budget/targets, etc..
- If you don't ask you won't get (as mentioned by people above)
- Knowing the approximate gross margin on a product class really helps, and yes they will go below cost, on things.
- I bought the new aluminum macbook the $1799 one for $1440 on the Friday that they received them, they discounted it to include the warranty however if they "package" (P1) the warranty and the item together they don't get full credit for selling the warranty, so I asked them what's to stop me from returning the warranty somewhere else and they said go ahead as long as it isn't in their store.
- Be confident when asking for a deal, and if they hesitate and refuse ask them to ask their supervisor/sales manager/MOD.
-I would say at least 80% of the time when shopping at the end of the month for bigger ticket items I have been able to walk out with a price I am happy with.

darkmagician wrote: ↑Where do u guys work? let me try on u

Heheheh !!
+1 !

Smaller stores will get you more success, especially if you can get the owner. They know exactly how much the item cost and they see $$$ signs walking out the door if you can't get a satisfactory price.

Surprisingly, I have found Home Depot to be flexible on price in regards to big ticket items. I got a great deal on hardwood flooring and my buddy got a nice discount when he ordered 5 windows.

Electronic stores on Yonge St used to be great for deals, not sure about that anymore as there are less of them, so maybe competition isn't what it was there.

flexwong wrote: ↑canada's oldest company. but be warned, it's Christmas, the store is busy and im not gonna stand there for 10 minutes listening to you tell me why you should get the shirt for cheaper. either take it or leave it.

hahah good stuff

i don't haggle on clothing items when shopping. i don't base my wardrobe on which stores i can get deals on. i buy at banana republic when it's on sale, and i don't buy clothes when it's regular priced.

i haggle at other stores when i know i'm going to buy an item regardless. i have nothing to lose because i'm buying it anyway. i always haggle with open-box or damaged items.

comicbookguy wrote: ↑i don't haggle on clothing items when shopping. i don't base my wardrobe on which stores i can get deals on. i buy at banana republic when it's on sale, and i don't buy clothes when it's regular priced.

When I was in vegas I was buying some things at BR, and the clerk was from vancouver and we were talking, and he gave me a seniors discount, and just said that if I return it, tell the people that my grandparents bought it for me. I didn't ask for any discount, but I still got one, the items were regular priced anyways.