Some great points were brought up in my earlier post about Haggling: Who does it?
To be clear, I don’t haggle every time I shop, but I also don’t think it’s shameful to just ask.
I only do it if I don’t think the product is worth the price, but more often than not, I just walk away until I find something better.
In general, big box store or independent, I only haggle if:
- The box has been opened and pawed through
- It is a clearly used item (even if only used once)
- If I am buying a lot of items and would like a few samples thrown in
- There is a slight flaw or defect in the product
Other than in the case of the above points (sometimes I don’t even quibble about anything), I tend to always pay the full retail price.
Sometimes I don’t even have to ask for the discount!
Some sales clerks want to make the sale, and want to have you walk out of here having spent some money in the store.
So, they’ll offer a discount or a deal if they see you hesitating over something.
Some, have nerves of steel even if they work on commission, and will refuse to offer any sort of discount, but as you are about to really walk out of the store empty-handed, they’ll run after you with a discount.
Case in point: Buying a cobalt blue sweater
When I was at Bluberry downtown on Ste-Catherine Street (west of Alexis Nihon), I found the perfect cobalt blue sweater… except even in the size Large, the sleeves were about an inch too short, it seemed, and I do like my sleeves a bit long, so I can tuck my hands in.
When I mentioned it with regret, and was about to put it back on the shelf and walk out, she (unsolicited) offered me a whopping 30% (I think) discount on the sweater if I bought the cobalt top along with it (that was a bit too tight in the bust).
I immediately jumped at the offer and purchased both.
Independent vs. Big Box Retailers
There was a lot of great points brought up about haggling at independent stores or at big box retailers.
I don’t discriminate between either. If the product at either store is not exactly what I wanted, and I am willing to delay the purchase and walk away, I’d give it a shot and see if I could get even a 10% discount to sweeten the deal.
Case in point: Buying a keyboard at an independent computer store
I bought a keyboard recently (review coming soon), and the box was opened. The keyboard looked fine, didn’t seem to be missing anything, but it still had a large “OPEN BOX” sticker on it.
So I asked if there was a discount on open box items, and she told me: 5%.
I took it.
Note: I generally don’t like buying opened electronics, because people can sometimes screw up the setup procedure on the item and cause more trouble in the end, or do something sneaky, like swap out items without someone noticing.
But this keyboard was still in the original plastic wrapping!
My bottom line is: It doesn’t hurt to ask (nicely)
No store or independent seller is under ANY PRESSURE or obligation to give me a discount whatsoever.
Heck, some have said “NO” and I still bought their goods anyway. I am only asking and it doesn’t hurt to do so.
And if I really want the item, come hell or high water, I am going to pay the price asked.
If not, it’s just another way for me to re-assess my wants versus my needs, and to stop adding to what I already own.
P.S. My January 2010 budget review will be coming up soon. Probably when I am back in Montreal.
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
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When we bought our mattress, we went to a mattress store, and determined that things were too expensive, and we would look around at some other places. We were then told they would price match if we found a model that was cheaper somewhere else.
But he really didn't want us to leave, so he haggled with US by dropping the price as much as he could (it was already on sale), and said he could give us a mattress that was in our size for that model because it had been delivered incorrectly (the size above had been ordered, but our mattress was dropped off), and thus was a returned item – though still in all original packaging.
We still got the 60 day "sleep well" policy on it, but we got the mattress set for 200 or 300 less than we would have paid at full price (It ended up being around $450, I think).
You have to be careful buying things that are slightly damaged when they won't give you a discount because sometimes it makes it harder for you to return it should you change your mind. I once bought a hardcover book that had a tear in the dust cover but the manager wouldn't give me a discount because "the book itself wasn't damaged" So I bought it, no discount and the next day decided I didn't need it, after the shopping thrill wore off, and the cashier wasn't about to give me a refund! Luckily, the same dude who didn't give me a discount was there and approved it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have received a refund! How cruel.
Ps. Isn't your story about getting 30% off the blue sweater a little bit like Spaving? 😉
Thanks for the tip! I definitely got burned by that this week. *sigh*
Oh and it is a bit of Spaving. I told ya, I am a SHOPAHOLIC being restrained by my SAVER side.. lol.. sometimes she bursts out and says: eff y’all I’m taking those tops
I'm totally a shopaholic. Need to get through the cravings without buying !
Seems to me like a 30% discount on an item that doesn't fit you well if you buy another item that doesn' t fit you well isn't really a good deal in the end.
That’s true, but they both fit. It was just a slight issue because I wore a different bra that day (and I knew it), and the sweater could be stretched slightly.
In the end, they weren’t deal breakers for a garment on me. It wasn’t like they were sleeves up to my elbows.. although that would have been a different style I’d have been just as interested in. I’d have worn a long-sleeved shirt underneath for something different.
The point is I wanted the items, but not for the 100% retail price. 30% off was a sweet enough deal for me to buy the two.
One time I was in H&M and the cashier gave me a 30% discount because I was cute! Unfortunately for him he waited until after I had paid to ask for my number, to which I said no. But I got a discount!!! I'm sure he will ask another unsuspecting shopper for the number first before giving out a discount…lol!
I'm not much of a haggler, myself. I'm a pretty timid person and I won't speak up unless there's an obvious defect in what I'm buying.
Yesterday, I haggled a bit at Express, though. They asked me to sign up for a charge card, telling me it was the only way to save 15% off of clearance items (the items were already marked down AND an additional 40% off). I asked the girl if I would still get the discount even if I was declined (I have awful credit.) and she said she could "do a little something…".
So I applied, was declined (no surprise there) and she gave me an additional 10% off of all my items.
Many employees get commission (or at the very least, a pat on the back) if they process a charge card, even if it gets declined. From what I've seen at both Express and Kohl's, you seem to be able to get a discount either way.
That’s a good tip about an additional 10% off if you apply for a charge card…