Haggling With Big Box Retailers

Lbadwolfpart2 on 08/01/2016 - 07:45
Last edited 08/01/2016 - 09:02 by 1 other user

Keen to hear your haggling experiences in stores like JB Hi-Fi, TGG, Harvey Norman etc. Have you ever haggled at another big box retailer, like Bunnings or Masters?

I normally just ask "what's the best price you can do". Noticed JB Hi-Fi in VIC are willing to negotiate and friendlier than in NSW, where they don't do much at all. The opposite is true for TGG: the three times I've asked "what's the best price you can do" in VIC, I've been laughed at, yelled at, and walked away from! They're much friendlier in NSW. Different store policy maybe?

Would love to hear your stories!
Anyone haggle at other places that are unexpected like Kmart, Target, Freedom Furniture…?

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  berger on 08/01/2016 - 08:08

  i generally give them a figure that i think is reasonable. if they can do it, or get close id be happy.

  i haggle just about anywhere, got nothing to lose. except Woolies, Target & similar stores.

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  Lord Fart Bucket on 08/01/2016 - 08:31

  Do your homework, know what you want before you go in the shop and know the max you're willing to spend. Know the policies of the store. For instance, not everyone knows that Myer will pricematch (if not below cost price), same with Target.

  I will ask the sales person if they match/beat a price i have seen elsewhere. They normally ask what the price is, produce a screendump/print so they know you have done your homework. If the answer is "No" I ask what price they can do… if i am not happy, i'll walk out.

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    InfraRed on 08/01/2016 - 09:47

    I've asked to price match at Target and was rejected

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      the-mal on 08/01/2016 - 10:19

      +1

      Sometimes the staff aren't aware of their own corporate policies. If it's your first time price matching in a store it helps to have their Price Match policy on a printout or on your phone so you can show them.

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        badwolfpart2 on 08/01/2016 - 10:37

        that's a really good idea. I always worry I sound rude when I quote their own policy back to them, but it would be better if they just saw a screenshot/link on the phone.

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  loulou1 on 08/01/2016 - 08:35

  +2

  I generally would not haggle in target unless the item I want is a display one and the last one left. I would not pay full price for a display model and would just plainly ask 'oh, is it cheaper because it is the display one?', in my experience, 100% of the time I have been given a discount due to this.For other places like jb hi fi, I have always done my homework first and know the cheapest it is being offered elsewhere (including online only retailers) and aim for that. I have never paid more than the cheapest available price, in most cases I have paid less. My preference is always to also take advantage of any other special offers such as cash backs or bonus items or whatever. For example, if JB has the item I want for the cheapest price, but the good guys had a bonus item promo, my preference is to go to the good guys, get the item cheaper than the advertised price at JB and get my bonus item,.
  Some people are just great at haggling, others are not. My mother in law is terrible. She walks in to any store without having done her homework, asks 'what is your best price for seniors?' And gets excited at a $10 discount.

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    badwolfpart2 on 08/01/2016 - 10:42

    Wow you sound like you're great at haggling! I can haggle ok if the person I'm talking to is responsive, but sometimes you catch someone on a bad day. Any tips for how you've dealt with that?

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      loulou1 on 08/01/2016 - 11:06

      +1

      walk away. i dont deal with confrontation or awkward situations well, so i just leave.

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    Helldog on 08/01/2016 - 14:26

    I did a similar thing buying a webcam from Officeworks. The last one in the shop of the model I wanted was a display unit. Wasn't in a box so I asked for about $15 off. Ended up getting it for about $35. Just looked online and they are now selling it for $79!

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    WT on 09/01/2016 - 11:20

    My mrs whole side of the family is terrible at negotiating. Its amazingly so bad that i cant stand it.

    Having said that my mum is bad but thinks she is good. I learnt from dad, he is (profanity) ruthless. Well he was, hes a lot more relaxed about it now.

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      loulou1 on 09/01/2016 - 14:20

      my Dad is amazing at haggling. He is a very stubborn man though. He would never be rude, but he doesn't take kindly to people saying that he must take up the offer on the spot or it is no longer valid. He will always do the right thing and come back to the salesperson who helped him if he decides to go ahead with the purchase unless they do this.
      My dad is European, is your Dad?

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  JimB on 08/01/2016 - 11:20

  Kmart, Target, Masters, Bunnings, i.e. Woolies or Westfarmers I don't bother with the exception of Officeworks price matching.

  For small items I generally don't bother with price matching, I'll just go to the store that offers the discount, otherwise there's no incentive for the other store to the discount, unless the other store is too far.

  To the OP, I'm in VIC but I haven't had much luck with haggling at JB, but have had better luck haggling and getting a better price at TGG or HN. Plus JB charge a surcharge for AMEX and in general, I don't like the service at JB.

  I actually like my local HN, all my details are stored there and they are helpful when I lost my receipt. In terms of advice, I generally know what I want anyway so service is more important than advice.

  In terms of haggling, it's a hit and miss depending on what product, how much stock they have and what stock they want to sell to reach their bonus.

  In the past, I've bought a few TVs from TGG (4 x 65 inch for family members) for a great price at the time, another family member wanted another one but my local TGG ran out of stock. JB offered to price match it on the condition I go home and get the receipt from the TGG, a bit annoying but you gotta do what you gotta do.

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    doofus on 09/01/2016 - 00:03

    Why is it annoying for a competitor to see evidence of a cheaper price before matching it? Do you expect them to just take your word for it?

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  cloudy on 08/01/2016 - 11:24

  Don't bother with bunnings, I tried their price beat guarantee with a officeworks item on the office works item, and they refused. Saying its the same parent and they would never sell it for cheaper unless, it's clearance, in which case they don't beat.

  After 30 mins of in principle arguing, showing the mobile website does not say clearance and it is lower price, the manager cave in.

  But it's a pain to be in bunnings.

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    [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 12:24

    Was the product number the same for bunnings and office works?
    Post the URL please

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    Lord Fart Bucket on 08/01/2016 - 19:56

    Bunnings may be bad… Masters is a bitch.
    Wanted to buy a lamp, was in their store in Hoxton Park, used my phone to look up the product with location services on, price shown was $10. Price on the shelf was $15. Went to the cash register, came up as $15. I showed their website, the website (even WITH location services on) was Chullora. Damn location pricing.
    They wouldn't budge. Neither did I. Bought a lamp somewhere else.

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  Helldog on 08/01/2016 - 14:30

  Back in the day I got Dick Smith to price match Harvey Norman on a digital camera just because Dick Smith was closer. Generally I will ask the sales person "what's your best price". It costs nothing to ask.

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  southern22 on 08/01/2016 - 14:34

  +4

  I worked at a Good Guys as a salesperson for 7 years and have some tips if you want to get the best price from staff.

  Be nice, if you come in with an attitude and act like a smartass because you have found a better price it will always work against you. Many times I could have discounted more but the customer was a jerk so I didn't. Happy respectful customers always got the better price.
  If a salesperson asks you what the best price you have gotten elsewhere, just tell them and don't play games. You might think you are being smart but it's annoying and wastes time.
  Don't continually go back and forth between competitors trying to get them to drop prices further. Salespeople want to close the sale and wasting their time just prevents them selling to another customer which means less sales for them.
  The Good Guys sales staff work on commission. Find out the day the sales staff target ends. There is usually someone close to hitting their target and they will do absolutely everything they can if it means getting commission. 3pm on a Sunday afternoon can be a great time to shop.
  Find out what day the store owner or store manager is off. Staff can get away with bigger discounts when the bosses aren't there.

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    cloudy on 08/01/2016 - 18:09

    +1

    Thanks for the advice. But I remember the last time I went to the GG I find it's the staff who wastes my time, I'd go in telling them the best price Ive seen and if they can beat it, instead of saying no and letting me go, they continue to try to sell me the product at a higher price.

    I personally find that pretty silly and a little insulting, so being a smartass can sometimes be personally satisfying if not useless, coz it works both ways.

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      southern22 on 09/01/2016 - 08:10

      That is a fair comment. Unfortunately I would admit that at least half the sales staff are idiots and would sell their own grandmother for $1. So there are staff members that waste your time. The hard thing is finding the good sales staff. There are some in most stores but finding them isn't easy.
      Working in retail sales is a real eye opener. The main rule is ignore what salespeople tell you, research everything yourself.

      There are so many tricks that are used and so many selfish reasons salespeople push a particular product. Fake sales, fake discounts, it's all fake.

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  sharkyoz on 09/01/2016 - 08:25

  I have got decent discounts by combining purchases. I bought a laptop, and haggled it down to an acceptable level, then enquired whether I could get it cheaper by buying a top of the line ipod classic. I then paid in cash for a further discount, and after I returned the ipod a week later for a refund I paid diddly squat for my laptop. So I say haggle, haggle, haggle.