Haggling in Retail Stores

[Pegun]

Thanks all, I ended up buying the link at the end of this post. I walked in and talked to the manager, told him I just bought a 400 dollar surround sound system (which my dad did on my rewards card) and could easily go to fry's and get it shipped for the price best buy had it as. Also threatened to go to walmart so he gave it to me for 80 under their price, 10 more than the price match i brought in (Apparently its a 20 mile radius rule which was his original argument). Anyway, TV has awesome picture and I'm quite happy with getting away with a toshiba for <600

http://shop2.frys.com/product/...YvIouwm2J9LuVIg2NEk9ng**.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[KeithTalent]

The only real time I have success is when I am buying multiple items, then I can typically get them to knock off some cash and/or add in some additional items.

For example, when I purchased my HDTV, I ended up buying a receiver, digital box, and a monitor (for a friend), plus of course all of the cables I needed. So they ended up taking off $200 from the TV, giving me the monitor for only $50 (listed at $300) and threw in all of the overpriced Monster cables for free. They also gave me 2 additional years of full warranty for free and free delivery (typically $50).

All you really need to do is hum and haw, do a lot of exhaling when they give you prices, and just always seem like you are on the fence. They will eventually try to make you some sort of deal.

KT

 

[aphex]

Having worked at Circuit City, your only really chance to haggle is if your buying multiple products with an extended warranty. Typically the margins are so thin these days that the only thing they have room to budge on is the warranty (or at least willing to budge on), and even so, its fairly rare that most B&M retail stores will budge with their prices. I recall we were able to work out a deal with a gentlemen buying 3 HDTV's with Warranty on each, we were able to slash the warranty prices in half.

That being said, your more likely to be successful haggling at a store that has commissioned sales people as opposed to hourly (CC/BB employees get nothing from your sale, while I believe Sears is still commission based). If you do try to haggle at BB/CC, your best bet is to get a Manager to help you with the sale (rather than a normal associate), as most associates have no power to change the price. Also, bring competitors coupons. While you might not be able to haggle about price, you sure as heck can try to get them to match a competitors coupon. My friend got a BB in NYC to accept a CC coupon on top of a price match on a Samsung LN52A650 LCD. He had to talk with them for a bit, but they eventually did it (with manager's approval)

It never hurts to ask, but I wouldn't get your hopes up at CC/BB.

 

[JackBurton]

I'm planning on getting a new HDTV this fall and let me tell you, there will be some haggling. It really depends on how much it costs. Generally, the more expensive it is, the more room you have to haggle. That being said, I'll be haggling quite a bit. I'm planning on buying it from BB Magnolia, and if they can give me a good price, I'll buy my TV, receiver, and Blu-ray player from them.

 

[FeuerFrei]

I haggled once for a receiver at Circuit City, though I wasn't really intending to.
I'd been to Best Buy previously and saw a $280 Yamaha receiver that suited my needs, but decided to do more shopping first. I got to talking with the Circuit City sales guy, asking questions because I'd never shopped for receivers before. I pointed out an Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver that CC was selling for $300 and asked how Onkyo compared with Yamaha, in general. The sales guy claimed they were about the same, so I told him that since they were the same, I would go with the $280 Yamaha at Best Buy instead and thanked him for his help. He then mentioned that he might be able to knock the price down some for me, and asked me to wait while he walked off to talk to a manager. Upshot was I got $20 off the Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver just for stating my willingness to buy elsewhere. Of course the sales guy walked into it by claiming that Onkyo and Yamaha were equal.

*Guess I should have mentioned that Circuit City didn't sell Yamaha.

 

[mshan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03...business/23haggle.html

Margins on items themselves might be razor thin, so you might have better luck getting them to throw in a multi-year extended warranty for free on advertised on sale price.

 

[spidey07]

I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

The markup isn't as high as you think on most electronics. The accessories, yes, but with most electronic items themselves (with the exception of car audio and some home theater speakers), no.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: spidey07
I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

The markup isn't as high as you think on most electronics. The accessories, yes, but with most electronic items themselves (with the exception of car audio and some home theater speakers), no.

Then why does Best Buy/Circuit City cost $500-$1000 more than Amazon for the same TV?(Samsung A650/750 for example)?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: spidey07
I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

The markup isn't as high as you think on most electronics. The accessories, yes, but with most electronic items themselves (with the exception of car audio and some home theater speakers), no.

Then why does Best Buy/Circuit City cost $500-$1000 more than Amazon for the same TV?(Samsung A650/750 for example)?

It isn't markup in that sense. "cost" is MUCH higher for stores like BB, so to sell at the same price as Amazon would actually lose them money.

The "cost" price in the system is actually reflective of Item Cost + Overhead = Cost in system

Apples and Oranges.

 

[Ballatician]

A family member had good experience at CC. I went with him to look at TV's at Fry's, BB, and CC. The CC guy ended up giving us $100 lower than the price from Fry's and when we bought the warranty added in this premium ~$300 stand for free.

 

[Viper GTS]

If you treat it as a pricematch your odds are decent.

BestBuy gave me no trouble at all when I bought my 61" DLP two years ago, pricematched to fry's (~$500 below their advertised sale price). When I bought my PS3 BestBuy pricematched to WalMart's $100 GC deal. And just 2 months ago I got BestBuy to knock nearly 27% off the cost of my new HDMI receiver (which put it below the advertised price of the next lower model in Yamaha's lineup) based simply on me saying "Video Only can do $385, can you match it?" They didn't even call to verify. The receiver in question.

With a little work you should be able to find a price to use as leverage. Random haggling is unlikely to be as successful, you need to demonstrate that you've done your research & you're ready to buy at a specific price.

Viper GTS

 

[skriefal]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
When I bought my PS3 BestBuy pricematched to WalMart's $100 GC deal.

Most stores have price-match policies that state that they will not match gift certificates, 'free with purchase' items, or other similar special offers that do not directly affect the price of the item. You might find a cashier who doesn't understand the policies, but that certainly shouldn't be expected.

 

[krotchy]

I haggled just fine at Best Buy, but Circuit City doesn't work out unless you opt for their Firedog garbage. Literally when I asked the guy about the price, he just kept saying, his manager will only haggle if I get installation. Since for whatever reason the TV was cheapest at CC anyways, I bought it, but I bought nothing else like cables or a mount since he wouldn't haggle, and I made sure he knew I wasn't buying anything else because he was being a pain.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: skriefal

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
When I bought my PS3 BestBuy pricematched to WalMart's $100 GC deal.

Most stores have price-match policies that state that they will not match gift certificates, 'free with purchase' items, or other similar special offers that do not directly affect the price of the item. You might find a cashier who doesn't understand the policies, but that certainly shouldn't be expected.

Who cares about what store policy is? Everything is negotiable. I used to have a personal policy that if it costs over 100 bucks I'm haggling. That's what the sales people are there for.

It's real simple - I want to buy this, this is the price I'm willing to pay. If they don't work with you then go somewhere else. The sales person can either refuse your request, offer something else, or agree. It really isn't difficult.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: spidey07
I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

The markup isn't as high as you think on most electronics. The accessories, yes, but with most electronic items themselves (with the exception of car audio and some home theater speakers), no.

Then why does Best Buy/Circuit City cost $500-$1000 more than Amazon for the same TV?(Samsung A650/750 for example)?

bb, cc: rent, storefront, storage, employees, advertising fees, etc.
amazon: storage and server space.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: spidey07
I always haggle for electronics as the markup is high. Use an online price and just say "I can't buy this from you guys with this price out there, you're gonna have to knock xxx bucks off.

Sears is also really good at getting you a deal.

The markup isn't as high as you think on most electronics. The accessories, yes, but with most electronic items themselves (with the exception of car audio and some home theater speakers), no.

Then why does Best Buy/Circuit City cost $500-$1000 more than Amazon for the same TV?(Samsung A650/750 for example)?

bb, cc: rent, storefront, storage, employees, advertising fees, etc.
amazon: storage and server space.

I am assuming when you say storage, you mean hdd space right? Amazon doesn't have TVs sitting in warehouses. Most, if not all, items are dropped shipped. All supplies are tied into the chain, when you place an order, they use amazon box

 

[Falloutboy]

on openbox and closeouts you have some leeway, otherwise not really.

 

[Pegun]

Thanks all, I ended up buying the link at the end of this post. I walked in and talked to the manager, told him I just bought a 400 dollar surround sound system (which my dad did on my rewards card) and could easily go to fry's and get it shipped for the price best buy had it as. Also threatened to go to walmart so he gave it to me for 80 under their price, 10 more than the price match i brought in (Apparently its a 20 mile radius rule which was his original argument). Anyway, TV has awesome picture and I'm quite happy with getting away with a toshiba for <600

http://shop2.frys.com/product/...YvIouwm2J9LuVIg2NEk9ng**.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[olds]

Good Guys used to"haggle". They called it a price match though.
I'd tell them what I wanted to pay and if they could sell it for that, they'd make up a fake price match with another retailer like Circuit City.

 

[JE78]

I read some where that people have had success price matching newegg at Bust Buy.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I got $500+ off my Kuro 5080 earlier this year.

It was right before BB offered their $1999 deal on the TV, and with 4 yr extended warranty and tax I walked out with it at a tad under $2300. At the time the retail on it was $2700+$400 BB warranty+tax, all said and done I was quite happy even after seeing the TV was $1999. I might have been able to get for less if I had gotten it at $1999 price, but even so I still am quite happy about it.