NYT: Feel free to haggle down the price of your next HDTV
- March 24th, 2008
- 4 Comments
The economy isn’t doing so hot and Manchester United seems to be marching toward its second consecutive title. We’re all doomed, in other words. But hey, did you know that you can get $20 off a pair of speakers on Sixth Avenue?
The Times has a piece today exploring the issue of haggling in the year 2008. It seems the terrible economy, coupled with the Internet, gives consumers the ability to walk into a Best Buy or Circuit City or local boutique and negotiate the price of any number of items. This happy fellow convinced an electronics store in New York to knock more than $1,000 of the price of a 46-inch Sony TV. You lucky devil!
Apparently certain big name chains have given store managers and everyday sales associates the power to negotiate prices. It’s more or less this: walk into a store with a price in mind that you say you found on the Internet, ask for that price and threaten to walk out the door if you don’t get it.
Haggling stories, anyone? (Sales associates especially. I’m sure y’all are thrilled now that the Times has inspired people to argue with you over the price of a toaster.) I’d probably get all nervous and haggle the price upward like a complete dunce, that’s for sure.
Even at Megastores, Hagglers Find No Price Is Set in Stone [New York Times]
Chet (Who am I?)
5 months ago
Oh, I can see this leading down a very ugly path…
If you’re buying something of quality, there is generally some margin dollars in that product, and you can very often negotiate a better price, especially if you’re purchasing a package that includes accessories, etc.
However, if you’re buying the cheapest item you can find, don’t expect any further discounting. Those super-cheap items that you saw in Sunday’s ad are nearly always being sold below cost to begin with, and are just offered to drive traffic into retail stores. You’re not going to talk anyone down on a $29 DVD player or a $499 laptop.
Keep your expectations in check, and conduct yourself like a professional. I think that’s the best advice you can get when asking for a discount. Happy bargain hunting!
Mike (Who am I?)
5 months ago
J & R is always good with bargaining. Especially, if you’re buying a few things. I never try the big stores. Just do your research on the product and have a good poker face.
Michael (Who am I?)
5 months ago
I wish I knew this when I purchased that home theater in a box a month or so ago, I dropped nearly $300 on it and if I could get a few bucks off of it I think it would have been a much easier purchase.
Bryan (Who am I?)
4 months ago
I am one of the retail employees mentioned in the article. Although the idea of haggling is nothing new, it is definitely getting worse. It seems like every week I get two or three more customers asking “What’s the best you can do?”
I understand wanting to pay the lowest price, and I’m not opposed to asking a retailer to match the price of the competition. But when did it become acceptable to expect a business to change the price of an item just because you would be willing to spend your money? Every day I run into customers demanding that I take money off the TV, laptop, or digital camera that the customer is looking at. Or expect me to throw in one or more items for free. Have people forgotten that companies like Best Buy, HH Gregg, and Circuit City are trying to make money? That’s why prices are set at the level they are.
I understand that the economy is down and money is tight. Feel free to shop around and find the lowest price possible. If you find a lower price, ask me if I’m willing to match it. 9 times out of 10, I will. Those times I can’t match it completely, I’ll get close or find a substitute. But don’t demand that I lower a price just because you don’t want to pay that much. If you can’t afford it, save your money till you can.
Where does it stop? Are these same people asking for lower prices on apples at the grocery store? How about gas prices? Maybe call the post office and demand a lower price on stamps? Maybe call the New York Times and tell them your only willing to pay 35 cents for their paper.
Call me naive if you want. I know this is not a new practice or one that will disappear anytime soon. I’m just wondering when it crosses the line of smart shopping and becomes rude and abusive.