Any hints on negotiating furniture prices?

[Codewiz]

I am looking to buy a bedroom set. My wife and I have been to all the normal places. Rhodes, Havertys, Rooms to Go, RoomStore.

Havertys had one set we liked. All together it would cost $3600 pre tax. At two different locations, salesmen said they do not offer discounts eventhough we were buying a bunch of items.

Went to a local store called Infinger. Really nice place and we found a GREAT bedroom set. Solid wood, great finish. The front of the drawers were about 2-3 inches of solid wood. Just amazing pieces. Total Cost $3800 pre tax. They also said they don't offer discounts even though we were buying quite a few pieces.

How the heck do we negotiate with them? I refuse to pay the cost they are asking because I know furniture has a HUGE markup. Both places knew I was interested enough to buy. They let me just walk out the door.

Any hints on how to approach buying furniture?

 

[Toasthead]

umm if they have told you they dont make deals I think yer outta luck

 

[kranky]

They knew you were a buyer and they let you walk. People don't buy $3800 of furniture every day, so it's not like they were going to make it up on the next person through the door.

I guess they really don't negotiate!

What other things can you work on besides the price? Free delivery and setup? 3% discount for cash (instead of using a credit card)?

 

[dullard]

As long as it isn't the self-assembled MDF stuff, almost any company will reduce furniture prices. When I last bought a bedroom set, I found a great one that was their weekly ad special for $2000 (down from $3500, not much markup left). Then I found a mattress set that was quite nice ($1000, so there was a big markup). I got the salesman quite interested in selling me the mattress. Then I mentioned that I also wanted a bedroom set. His ears picked up more.

He was all set to write up the ticket and I said I'd buy both if he threw in a nightstand (~$300) and shipping for free. He grumbled under his breath, went to the back room for a few minutes, and came back saying the nightstand is ok but not the shipping ($30 measly bucks on a $3000 purchase). I said no deal. He grumbled some more and said his boss always said to split the difference.

Net result: free nightstand and $15 off shipping, a $315 value. That is 10% off a $3000 purchase. Maybe I could have done better. But I was happy, especially since that was off their advertized sale price.

And paying by check/CC was a lot better than 0% financing for negotiations. It costs them a fortune to pay a bank to do that 0% financing. That certainly helps the negotiations.

 

[woowoo]

Go to a small store and offer cash
Cash talks!!!

 

[miketheidiot]

bring a gun.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Craigslist...