Smart Spending

By Stephen

January 23, 2009 11:40 AM | Link to this

I like using the trick where you act like you really want to buy it, but you could only really afford it if they’d lower the price by a few bucks. I use the act where you look at it continuously, attempting to justify the purchase and waiting for that one reason to go ahead and hard over the plastic. They can sometimes use some “manager-only” discount to put in the system.

This works best when there are two actors playing along. I use it with my husband all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Can’t hurt to try.

I also like to shop at places where I have a friend as an employee, so I can take advantage of an employee discount. :)

By Master Shopper

January 23, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this

I was browsing at a local clothing store the other day and came across and really good looking jacket. It was 70% off the orginial price of $138.00. It was great looking jacket at a great price. However, there was a button missing. I convienced the manager to sell me the jacket with a missing button if he took another 15% off. Which he did. I got te jacket for $35.00.

Now that was worth the haggle!!

By George

January 23, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this

We were shopping for an Oriental carpet several years ago, in North Georgia where the carpet industry is centered. We looked at a carpet which we liked very much, but which didn’t suit our budget, so we left the store to look elsewhere. After visiting other retailers that day, we didn’t find anything we liked and so we returned to the original store. The merchant knew we were interested but we admitted to him the price was much higher than we expected. He asked what we wanted to spend, and he offered us that price without hesitation, saving us at least 20% off the marked price.
The important elements to successful haggling include the willingness to walk away if you don’t like the price, once the merchant knows you’re interested in the item. As well, you need to show confidence that you’ll take your business elsewhere if you have to. Be sure the merchant knows you’re ready to do business if the price is right.

By dean

January 23, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this

SEARS. I went into Sears last year armed with Wal-Mart’s price for an identical Sharp HDTV. They met the price then knocked off 10% more, and kicked in a couple of other goodies that I can’t remember. Everybody was happy!

By Larry

January 23, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this

If you’re a salesman, you’re a salesman. You know your facts and figures beforehand. It also helps to know the ‘low price guarantee’ (how much they’ll take off a competitors price), or whatever they call it. They’ve got a bottom line, just like everybody else. It doesn’t take an elaborate ruse or a delicate con…just the right person to punch the right keys at checkout. Oh, and don’t be afraid to walk away. You can always come back, or find a different store.

By Patrick

January 23, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

HH Gregg is a very reasonable store. My friend bought his HDTV there and I purchased my fridge from HH Gregg. In both (separate) instances, we were able to negotiate with the sales person. Each time, a manager was needed to approve the sale, but it was not a problem. In both cases, I think the manager was able to knock it down close to another 10% off the advertised sale price. Just be careful that they don’t sell you on other things that you didn’t intend to purchase like warranties, TV stands, cables, etc.

By nana

January 23, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

We might need some of these tips very shortly. Our big screen tv, a Toshiba, that’s really not that old 6-7 years we think. started having blue and red shadows on the screen this week. Seems like it should have lasted longer than it has and according to research we’ve done this is somewhat of a common problem with a fix of about $350.00. Can’t see spending that so we’ll be looking to buy perhaps a flat screen. Don’t know much about them though and it looks like you have to hire someone to mount on your wall or spend another couple hundred $$ for a decent tv stand. Will more than likely opt for the tv stand as there is a lot of other equipment we have attached to tv, u-verse box, dvd, surround sound etc. Anybody know anything about flat screens?

By lks

January 23, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this

My fridge died one day. With 2 kids and $400 worth of meat in the freezer I had no time to look and find the best deal. I went to my local Lowe’s with $500 in my pocket. you cannot find anything on the floor that would hold food for a family of 4 under $700. There is a back room with out-of-stock items. I went home with a Whirlpool Conquest gold double-door stainless steel, delivered for $500. It is about how much you have and how long you are willing to stand around until someone helps you make the deal.

By Run Heap Run

January 23, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

I’ve never done it but my mom always haggles successfully when she buys furniture, televisions, or appliances.

I’m glad I live in the burbs, I recently got my big screen tv repaired for only $125 - and they came out and picked it up and brought it back to me for that price.

Nana, look for the flat screen wall mounts on ebay. I paid $40 delivered for mine. Your husband or son could mount it, or pay a neighbor kid a few bucks to do it for you.

By Trent

January 23, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this

We just did this at Best Buy last week. We had found online a particular TV that was $1895 that included shipping. This was from a reputable online store but I wasn’t crazy about the “add-on” warrentee offered and wanted to deal locally. The sticker price in store was $2399. After much haggling over price, we walked out of the store with the telivision for $1865. We got the 4-year warrentee for $299 instead of the regular price of $499. Also, we got them to throw in a HDMI Monstor cable for $39 instead of the list price of $69. And we got $100 off any television stand of our choice. So haggling can be done at these stores if you want the deal enough.

By Paul

January 23, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

A few+ years ago, a big box home improvement store (we’ll call it H) advertised how they match and beat the competitor’s prices by 10%. Well, L (another big box home improvement store) opened up right across the street from H. Well, I went to check out their grills and saw one I liked. I went across the street to H to see what price they had it at. They were just $2 cheaper. I asked the sales guy if he would give me 10% off and he said no. I told him I could go across the street and get the same grill for the same price and they would give me an extra 10% off. He said he wouldn’t and that they (H) had the lowest prices. Well, I went across the street to L, they matched the price and gave me my 10% off. I wanted to buy the grill at H, but money matters and if they didn’t want to do what I considered commonsense to keep my business, oh well.

By nana

January 23, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this

Run Heap Run not sure which burbs you live in but who fixed your big screen for $125.00 that’d be the way we’d rather go if it was around that price. Thanks for the e-bay info I’m sure hubby could do it.

By Bookdoctor

January 23, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this

I talked the car dealer down $5000 on our last car.

By Fred

January 23, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this

Google the store for PROMO codes before you purchase. The search engine will direct you to varies sites that offer discount coupons or promo codes.The sites are usually named Dealtaker, Coupon King, Retail me not and alike. Some of the discounts can be used on line or some may be printed to carry with you. It’s trial and error. I found one for Lowe’s that offered 10% off any purchase. I found one for CVS that gave me $25.00 for any new prescription. It takes some effort but money is money.

By Cash talks

January 23, 2009 3:04 PM | Link to this

If you are dealing with a vendor that likes cash, this is the best haggling tool you will ever have. We collect antiques and this works well in getting the best price. No one likes checks and not many take credit cards. When you go to a yard sale, don’t take checks - take cash. One, a check is not money until cashed and why would you want your signature & account number out there. Cash is king. My motto is, when the stock market goes down, retail must go down. That $200 sweater at Saks is not worth it if your investments and yields are worth less. These days, always buy wholesale or on sale b/c there are some great deals out there to be had. If you have money, now is the time to buy and at a better price.

By southern hope

January 23, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this

I admire all of you.

I am, sadly, the kind of person who wishes they could pay more for products than the seller wants. it’s nuts but I am the world’s worst person at getting anything off-price.

By John Hinkley

January 23, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

I recently used the Dave Ramsey cash-in-hand tactic with some success. The TV was $1395, I went in with 12 $100 bills and told the clerk, then the department supervisor that $1200, including tax, was all I was going to pay, but would buy today if they could make it work. They did.

By Cynic

January 23, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Nana: Here’s the quick and dirty.

Plasmas have darker blacks, richer colors and more contrast and cost a little less. However, they have highly reflective screens(reflecting all room glare), use more power and are subject to screen burn(images that remain on-screen afterwards). LCD’s are brighter, have improved contrast and picture response (full 1080p and 120Hz), use less power and have matte finished screens for low reflectivity. Sony has completely discontinued its plasma line for LCD, so that might infer the industry’s direction in the future. You don’t need full 1080p HD for a screen under say, 40 inches, so go with the best picture for the money. Over 40 inches, I recommend full 1080p resolution. All the screen response speed (the 120Hz power threshold referred to above) does is elinimate some blurring on high speed, action viewing. You will pay the highest prices for full 1080p and 120Hz sets when you can save money by forfieting one or the other by going with a smaller set(and less than 1080p resolution),or putting up with some(often barely noticeable) blurring on a slower(and cheaper) set.

By Cynic

January 23, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

Oh, and plasma sets don’t last as long as LCD’s.