tips for haggling

[EmperorNero]

in my economics class, we're running a student business: selling t-shirts and or sweatshirts. we're halfway there..we still need to design the t-shirts and need to buy them and then sell.

well, I'm responsible for calling one of the vendors up and try to haggle with them.

if this helps, here are the questions I should ask:

1) how much for a gross (144 I think) of long sleeve tees?

2) how much for a gross of sweatshirts?

3) how much for 72 long sleeve t-shirts and 72 sweatshirts?

4) do you have a discount point? such as when buying 100+ shirts, the price for each would be $5 instead of the original $6

5) we're going to have 3 colors front and back...how much extra will that cost?

6) do you charge extra for more than 1 size?

we did a survey, ppl generally want long sleeves, have it school related, and the two sizs that are most popular are large and Xlarge. there's also a pretty good number of ppl willing to buy sweatshirts.

so can I have any tips for haggling? and should I ask any other questions?

 

[EmperorNero]

aww come on, I'm sure at least one of you guys tried to price match staples or something.

 

[piku]

People still haggle?




But my sheep are of the utmost quality!

 

[kranky]

Instead of haggling, you need to call different vendors for quotes. For the quantities you want, you don't have much leverage. I'd start with people who are local and play on their sympathies because it's a school fund-raising effort. They'll be more receptive to discounting, but don't ignore places on the web you might find. I just think that for 12 dozen shirts you won't be in a position to haggle.

The vendors will probably want to know if you want embroidered or silkscreened, how large the area is that you want printed, if you will be providing camera-ready artwork, and the quality of shirts you want.

Other things that will affect your price are: number of colors to print, size of print area, and of course printing one side vs. both sides. Probably the shirts are all the same price, but they might charge an extra buck or two for XL.

HTH.

 

[purplehayes]

Although it's not really haggling, make sure you call more than one vendor. Prices can be all over the map. Make sure that you tell each vendor that you'll get back with them after you get some more quotes. They may tell you right there to let them know if you get a better offer, that they will match it.

At least it works that way in the printing business. Nobody's first price is their best price.

PH

 

[EmperorNero]

thanks for the tips, but I forgot to mention that we do have several vendors and each person is assigned to each...so I would get a quote, bring it to school tomorrow and then we'll compare it to other quotes.

and you guys just pointed a flaw we should have noticed: only one person should do all of the quoting so we'll know beforehand and can try to pricematch it.

 

[denali]

All of the people asking for quotes need to ask/supply the same information otherwise it will be hard to make valid comparisons.

 

[ultravox]

Ask to see a sample of the work and the tees....there could be a reason why one is drastically lower priced than the other.

 

[EmperorNero]

ok..done.

they are selling 90% cotton and 10% polyester sweatshirt with 3 colored designs front and back (no arms) for $19.50 each. sizes: small through xlarge

6 ounce long sleeve 3 colored design front and back (no down the arms) for $11.75 - the shirts are 100% cotton. sizes: small through xlarge

alternatives:

- 5oz long sleeve - same price (they stated that they are selling the 6oz at the same price and said I should go with the 6oz...however, I think they are f@ucking with me so I would be swayed to go with their 6oz)

- for a one color design down the arm for long sleeve tees or sweatshirt, that would be $.40 more for each.

- for 4 colors front and back, that would be $.80 more per shirt

- a 50 cotton/50 polyester sweatshirt is $18.25 or less (price matched)

- for xxlarge, it would cost $2.50 more for both tees and sweatshirts.

just based on these prices alone, do you think I'm getting a good deal?