Need help making a deal, or is it possible to haggle with the sales folks at Circuit City?

[SaltBoy]

I have some VERY, VERY good news everybody: my wife has finally given me permission to buy myself the one and only Samsung HLN437W DLP Projection TV!! I know some of you hate the word "w00t!", but this calls for a "w00t." w00t!

<-- Also does the happy monkey dance over and over and over!

This week, Best Buy and Circuit City are selling this wonderful piece of machinery.

Here are the deals: Best Buy is offering $2700 no financing (10% off) or $3000 no interest financing for 2 years. Circuit City is offering $3000 w/free $300 gift card. The problem is, I have no idea what the financing is at Circuit City. So first question for those in the know: What financing options are available at CC?

I DO know that CC provides a 110% price match policy, where they will give 110% of the difference between the price of their TV and the price of their competitors. In essence, the TV at Circuit City could be $3000 - (110% of $300 price difference) = $2670.

However, I got into a rather interesting conversation with some of the sales dweebs at CC. They were dweebs in the truest sense, having a VERY unprofessional appearance and not really knowing much about the product, let alone home theater in general -- unlike the surprisingly helpful folks at BB. But I digress.

Anyway, they seemed rather unwilling to give me the gift card on top of the price match difference. On top of that, they weren't even sure they could do the price match, because Best Buy does NOT have the actual price of the TV advertised on their flyer. Best Buy DOES show on the front page "all TV's over $399 10% off or 2 years free financing," however.

So, what can I squeeze out of the Circuit City guys? They're paid by commission, and if I don't get what I want, I'll just tell them I'm going to Best Buy to make the purchase. Sounds like the best (no pun intended) idea, anyway.

In a perfect world, I would get the TV for $2670 (Through 110% price match policy). On top of that, I would get the $300 gift card that Circuit City originally advertised. I would also get the best financing option available at CC.

Of course, that perfect world scenario most likely wouldn't happen. I would, HOWEVER, be willing to give up the financing or the gift card.

Am I dreaming, or is it possible?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Ask to speak directly with the manager. Those "dweebs" have no control over haggling or large price matches anyway. Stupid chain of command in retail.

 

[yllus]

Here are the deals: Best Buy is offering $2700 no financing (10% off) or $3000 no interest financing for 2 years. Circuit City is offering $3000 w/free $300 gift card ... Am I dreaming, or is it possible?

Honestly in that situation getting a pricematch to begin with is doubtful, CC is likely to claim that the prices are already in line. I'd take the 110% price match to $2670 and say hell with the GC. The root problem is there's probably some margin built into that $300 you're taking off by PM that giving you a $300 GC would not affect.

Financing...nobody at the CC store is likely to be able to do anything for you. Ditto at Best Buy. They'll have a couple of possible options for you, such as "pay before 90 days are up and there's no interest" or "pay within 1 year is up and there's no interest if you pay us $30 up front". They can't work out anything special though - it's just not possible with their current sales system. I could be wrong since it's been 10 months since I was in retail and this was in Canada, but I doubt it. Good luck!

 

[StageLeft]

Goodjob!

 

[Rufio]

i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Goodjob!

It's a good thing when your wife is just about as big of a geek as you are!

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: Rufio
i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

Can anybody confirm that? If that's the case, I don't have much to stand on.

 

[RagingBITCH]

CC switched to non-commission about a year ago

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
CC switched to non-commission about a year ago

I guess that helps explain why the sales folks weren't all that impressive.

 

[CPA]

CC is straight wage, no commission. It was part of their company strategy to better compete with BB.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Rufio
i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

Can anybody confirm that? If that's the case, I don't have much to stand on.

I am a so called 'dweeb' as mentioned above and i can confirm that we are not on commission. If you buy some accessories and an extended warranty they might be able to work with the price a little, but if your just buying the tv your going to be paying the price on the tag.

EDIT: Fergot to mention about the financing. I work in Technology (Computers/Cell Phones/Cameras) so our financing may be a little different that Entertainment (TV/Audio), but the way it typically works in our department is no interest for 12 months (on all purchases over $299). Minimum payments are required, either 4% or $20 whichever is greater, and you do have to pay it off in 12 months or you owe the backed interest.

Also, sorry to hear your local CC has some idiot employees. We have a few at our store, but by far most of the associates at my store are very knowledgeable about the products they sell.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Rufio
i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

Can anybody confirm that? If that's the case, I don't have much to stand on.

I am a so called 'dweeb' as mentioned above and i can confirm that we are not on commission. If you buy some accessories and an extended warranty they might be able to work with the price a little, but if your just buying the tv your going to be paying the price on the tag.

I believe you don't count as a dweeb. Trust me, the guys that I worked with really shocked me with their unprofessional incompetence.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Rufio
i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

Can anybody confirm that? If that's the case, I don't have much to stand on.

I am a so called 'dweeb' as mentioned above and i can confirm that we are not on commission. If you buy some accessories and an extended warranty they might be able to work with the price a little, but if your just buying the tv your going to be paying the price on the tag.

I believe you don't count as a dweeb. Trust me, the guys that I worked with really shocked me with their unprofessional incompetence.

Check my update above about financing.... I think usually its 12 months standard on purchases over $299, but i have seen some specials at 18-months and 24-months for home entertainment.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Rufio
i don't think CC is on commission anymore....
so they wont' care.

Can anybody confirm that? If that's the case, I don't have much to stand on.

I am a so called 'dweeb' as mentioned above and i can confirm that we are not on commission. If you buy some accessories and an extended warranty they might be able to work with the price a little, but if your just buying the tv your going to be paying the price on the tag.

Agreed. I helped a co-worker buy a $1500 HDTV towards the end of the month. The sales person fortunately was very honest and upfront. They were in the middle of a "competition" on which sales associate could sell the most accessories and extended warranties. He just needed a few more extended warranties to be #1 in sales. He slashed 15% off the TV price if my co-worker purchased an extended warranty and overpriced cables. I eBay'd the cables (for the same price paid) and the extended warranty is nice to have on a big ticket item.

Also the 110% price match works best if you:
1) Buy the TV at CC, DO NOT mention the PM policy at all.
2) Within 30 days (or is it 14?) bring a receipt or sales ad from the competitor and request the 110% PM. It's best if you PM AFTER the sale not before or during.

Good luck!

 

[Rufio]

yes rossman hit it on the head.

PM AFTERWARDS.

they will screw u on a pm during the purchase.

Also, if u have any home theater stores aroud your place, or big screen tv stores, go to them. see waht u can haggle out of them.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Also the 110% price match works best if you:
1) Buy the TV at CC, DO NOT mention the PM policy at all.
2) Within 30 days (or is it 14?) bring a receipt or sales ad from the competitor and request the 110% PM. It's best if you PM AFTER the sale not before or during.

Good luck!

Well, the sales that I'm looking for end this week. So, ummm... could I:

1. Buy the TV at CC tonight at the regular $3000, which would give me the gift card + 12 month free interest financing
2. Return tomorrow with the Best Buy ad, stating that they have the TV at $2700 or $3000 24 months free interest financing
3. Get the price match or financing match, or WHATEVER... Hmmmm?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Also the 110% price match works best if you:
1) Buy the TV at CC, DO NOT mention the PM policy at all.
2) Within 30 days (or is it 14?) bring a receipt or sales ad from the competitor and request the 110% PM. It's best if you PM AFTER the sale not before or during.

Good luck!

Well, the sales that I'm looking for end this week. So, ummm... could I:

1. Buy the TV at CC tonight at the regular $3000, which would give me the gift card + 12 month free interest financing
2. Return tomorrow with the Best Buy ad, stating that they have the TV at $2700 or $3000 24 months free interest financing
3. Get the price match or financing match, or WHATEVER... Hmmmm?

If you DO NOT plan on haggling on price (other than the PM) then yes do it this way.

I doubt you can get CC to match BB in terms of financing but it may be possible to get a refund of $330 ($300 difference plus 10%).

As always YMMV.

 

[MustISO]

Nice TV!

Does Sears carry this TV. They've been known to really haggle on some purchases. I got my 51" from Best Buy and just asked them for 10% off. The manager said sure and I got 24 month financing. If you don't want the extended warranty, get it anyway. It's a good bargaining point and it can be returned. I've known people who were able to get them to lower the price of the extended warranty.

Maybe someone can confirm this, last time I bought something from CC, I got the extended warranty. The information packet said that it could be returned as long as it was never used. Nothing about pro-rated or only part of the amount that was paid for it. Sounded like you could keep it up until the time period was up and then return it for a refund.

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: MustISO
Maybe someone can confirm this, last time I bought something from CC, I got the extended warranty. The information packet said that it could be returned as long as it was never used. Nothing about pro-rated or only part of the amount that was paid for it. Sounded like you could keep it up until the time period was up and then return it for a refund.

That would be nice. With the couch that we recently purchased at Bassett Furniture, we got an extended warranty that had a similar "don't use it? Return it" policy.

 

[KK]

Hey saltboy, you wanna save another $500+ on your tv. Check this Fatwallet thread out. I tried one of the programs and it worked fine.

KK

 

[AEnigmaWI]

hrm.. I worked at CC for 4 years, and my roomate is a sales manager there.... in entertainment.. =)

I am glad some of the misnomers got ironed out higher up. There is 18 month no-interest financing available if you ask. It has to be keyed by a manager, and is not available with standard employee security licenses. The best way to get a good deal at circuit city is to deal directly with the sales manager. He / She is budgeted for sales volume every month, and should be very willing to help you. Most Circuit managers I have worked with know enough about their product area to be fairly helpful.

That being said, $3000 for that TV isn't exactly a stellar price. I paid $3000 for a Samsung HLN507W at Circuit, and I got a Samsung Hi Def Directv Box for $250 (it was a promo at the time). I bought the extended warranty as well. Normally, I would not spend money on a warranty, but the samsung tv's have a fairly interesting track record as far as the color wheel starting to grind, or the lamp failing prematurley. Sure you have a manufacturer warranty, but the circuit warranty covers the lamp (which is probably btw $250 and $400 depending how you get it) and labor etc.. I don't know if you've tried getting warranty service from Samsung, but in my experience it isn't exactly easy. As far as the pricing goes, it was a pretty competitive price and I had to play some nasty cards. Plus, it was near the end of the month before Xmas, when there is higher sales volume. In higher volume months, warranty sales percentages become more important, as there is often a lot of volume that goes out empty. The prospect if not making all that much on the TV, but selling an expensive warranty may have influenced my ability to get a reduced price.

If you get a manager, just be straightforward with them. Say hey, I am going to buy this TV either here or at BB. BB is offering me 3000 bucks with no interest financing, but theirs is longer. I need to pay less to deal with your shorter financing to justify buying it here. If I don't get a better deal here, I'll just go there and buy it. It's then up to the manager to get you a deal that is better than BB. Most will. Occasionally, a circuit box will have stricter price matching policies than another. In that case, you might try a different store if there is more than one in your area. If you are going to try for a PM after the fact, make sure you have a printed AD. After the fact PM is pretty difficult without a print ad. Circuit does have an extremely lax return policy on TV's, however, and they will PM in lieu of risking a return in most cases.

 

[BlamoHammer]

One thing you have to remember is that if you ask them to lower he price, there is a very good chance that they would then be selling the TV for less than cost--not going to get very far on that approach. Usually you get your choice of the promotion of the pricematch, not both, and that is why they said no to the GC as well. If you really want a non-commissioned sales store to haggle with you, you have to be buying warranties or accessories, otherwise all you are asking them to do is lose money and any good manager is going to give you the shelf price and a hearty, "Take it or leave it."

If you are in fact planning on buying add-ons to your TV, then you have a leg to stand on. Tell the BB manager that CC is willing to give you the TV for $2700 plus the $300 GC. Ask him what he can do to match that. If he can't do anything, thank him for his time, drive to CC and buy the TV for $2700. Do NOT buy it anyways witout him ooking you up or it just confirms that he called your bluff and you look loike a jackass. If you really have no conscience, buy the TV and let them add every single attachment to it--cables, warranty, surge protection, etc--and then let him make you a deal. Just make sure that they take the discount off of the TV (which wont be a problem otherwise there is no point in selling you the stuff). Then within 30 days you can return the attachments and keep your low priced TV.

 

[Kelemvor]

Normally the only deals you can haggle at those stores is in regards to the extended warranty or accessories. Sometimes you can get them to throw in the warranty by having them deduct the price of it from the TV itself and still charge you for the warranty. Same thing can sometimes go for accessories such as cables and such.

But it's all up to the individual manager you deal with so don't go in expecting anything.. But be thankful if you do get a deal.