I ask for a better price at garage sales and flea markets, but never in a store. One furniture sales person told me to come back when I finish looking around and they would make me a better deal. I told them "I am not bargaining for furniture, I do for a car because I have to, I will not be back" and I walked out.

Thanks for your input, stargazzer. I don't even like asking for a better price at garage sales because I figure people ask for what they think something is worth and I don't want to insult anyone! Yeah, I think I'm just not the negotiating type.

Dreedree, when I have a sale I don't bargain on the first day. I do on the second day and really do on the third. I am never insulted when people bargain. One older man came in as soon as we opened the door and walked through asking for me to go down and I said no. He said I was to high and I replied with "what's the matter can't you buy and resell at my prices". I sold almost completely out at the end of the 3 days. I was very good at knowing the value of my merchandise.

I'd be sure that my side of the deal is 'clean'. Pay cash or check, not a credit card (stores are charged a percentage of the transaction). Be easy when scheduling delivery, not difficult as in having a very narrow time to accept delivery.

If you can do that, then ask for at least free delivery, or maybe a credit of $90 for the sales tax. (And tip the delivery people $10 each, but don't mention that when you buying).

So, I would just start out saying that I like the sofa, and offer $1425 plus sales tax on that amount and free delivery. If the salesman says no, then say you have to think about it, and go away for at least a couple of days.

Also, take someone with you. Prefer just a friend who can say, "OK, you need to think about this." so you won't feel pressured to cave in.

I'd make the offer, you'd have the sofa in your home for about $1514.

The easiest way to negotiate is to say, "I really like the sofa but it's more than I'd like to spend, what is the best price you can offer me"? They usually take out a calculator and give you another price. If your a good negotiator you can then say, "that's still a little steep, how about free delivery"?
Donna

Ah! You need my DH! He will try to have them drop the price at Wal-Mart! LOL! THey just look at him like he is from Mars...

At most places (non-chain stores) they will "deal". Maybe it is more in the Agriculture field.

My dad always taught me to ask "Is this the best price you can give me?"

Thanks so much to all the replies. I think since I can't borrow iowagirl's DH, I will try my best to muster a "is this the best price you can give me?"

I have a friend who negotiates for (and gets!) everything. Dry cleaning, photo developing, merchandise, her wedding dress and services. I envy her gumption. I am not good at it.

I found a chair I wanted at a local furniture store and offered them cash at the price minus the amount Visa charges. They took it without blinking.

Try it, if that amount makes a difference that is worthwhile to you.

Sue

My tour company told me she would prefer a check because she would lose $200. on the credit card. Sooo, I think I should ask her to knock the $200. or at least half of it for paying with a check next time.

Yes, don't hesitate. I suppose it's hard the first time (I don't remember my first time!), but like anything else it gets easier with practice.

As others have said, keep it simple. "What's your best price on this?" is my standard question. I think furniture stores expect to be asked to come down in price at least some of the time. I certainly would not be insulted if someone offered me a deal.

Occasionally my bargaining has gotten more complicated. When I wanted a Broyhill Attic Heirlooms computer armoire, I checked out the price at one of those NC companies that sell online. I factored in the shipping from NC and the sales tax I'd have to pay at our local store, and came up with a dollar amount. I approached the salesman at the local store with it, and said I'd rather buy locally, but not if it meant paying a couple of hundred dollars more. He consulted with the manager and sold me the armoire for the price I named. That was the only time I've done that sort of thing (so far). :-)

I'm working up the courage to try asking for the best price. I guess the worst thing that can happen is the sales associate tells me that their price is firm.

Alisande, I'm totally impressed by your strategy for your Broyhill Attic piece. Your research paid off!

Sue va, do you know how one can calculate what the merchant pays Visa for using a charge card?

Thanks to everyone who posted!

When purchasing myself a pair of gold loop earrings, I asked clerk, if that was the best price. She said she would go check, and you betcha, she came back with a better price.

Tried that again in the same store, on a dress suit, and NOPE didn't work.

If you don't ask you'll never know. The worst that can happen is they won't come down but it's been my experience that they almost always do.

My approach is to say (using your sofa as an example) -

Would you take $1300 which would include delivery and I will pay cash right now?

Because furniture has a low turnover in stores, the markup is high relative to the store's cost....sometimes 100%.

Businesses love cash. They won't have to pay the merchant fee associated with credit cards. Plus, they can spend cash today.

What I've found when I suggest the price, they will come back with "I can't accept $1300, but I could let you have the sofa for $1400 including delivery" (or something in the middle).

I've had good luck this way and, as others have said, the worst they can do is say no OR laugh at you!!

I figure that if you don't ask the answer is no.

I am not good at it either...but when we bought my tahoe they had a moped I wanted they were also selling...we got money off the tahoe but they would not come down to a good price on the moped so they finally made me mad and I said well if you won't sell it for that then I won't buy the tahoe got up walked out (I was paying cash no fianching (SP) with them) and when I walked out they came out and said Mrs. anglen if you will buy the thaoe my boss said he will give you the moped sooo I did I left with a smile.....
I also will bargain on furniture....I will on jewerly...I need to learn appliances....stacy

dreedree

The merchant fees for credit cards have a lot of variables such as the volume of business the merchant does per card type and so on. Mastercard/Visa have different types of cards, debit, credit, business etc. and the rates vary for those. But, a good rule of thumb would be to calculate 3% of purchase price and you should be close.

Stargazzer, I can't help but feel that refusing the offer of a better deal is an odd attitude. I doubt the salesman was planning to spend the next half an hour with you haggling back and forth.
When I have decided what it is that I want to buy, I will telephone a number of suppliers and say, "I want to buy a Whatshisname Thingumajig, Model A123. I can pay cash. What's your best price?" If I already have a good price from one shop, I'll say, "I've been given a price of $XYZ. Can you better that?" As has been pointed out, the worst that can happen is they say "no". They won't be adding onto the price.

Thanks for all the replies. My husband has reservations about paying in cash vs. credit card: no bank card protection. He reminded me that we bought a computer and charged it on our Visa...lo and behold there were problems with the computer and the merchant did not fix them to our satisfaction...we were able to dispute the charge and Visa stepped in and helped us get a full refund.

It's complicated!

We once asked at Sears when a particular carpet was going to be on sale...it wasn't scheduled for over six weeks....but they gave us the sale price anyway when they knew we were going to WAIT till later to buy. Let them think you're on the fence....

Also, do your homework and KNOW what that sofa would sell for at other places.

Dreedree, I can understand your reluctance to pay cash. Using a credit card protected you on a previous major purchase.

That said, I agree with poster Redcurls in doing some research and knowing what that sofa would sell for at other places. Use the Google search engine and find the Bassett website for more info.

Visit the store again, write down the model number that is on the sofa. If a salesperson approaches you while you are doing it, do not be shy ... tell them while you like the sofa AND you prefer to buy locally you want to buy it for the lowest possible price and will shop around for it. That opens the door for them to offer it for even less than the sales price.

Basically, they have reduced the sofa 20%. You may find the link I've provided interesting in seeing what various markups really are in the furniture world.

At the very least bargain for free delivery. $120 is another 8% off sale price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Furniture Prices - Markup

Do your homework...I think if you know what it should cost, you have more leverage.....My DH gets very upset with me because I really bargain....The last car we got, I knew what it cost coming from the plant and knew just what the charges would be at the dealer...The salesman tried to give us a price and I kept saying, no, this is my price and if you can meet it, we'll buy the car...He kept insisting, he wasn't making any money and I knew exactly what he was making and I told him, we'd be fair...Finally, we left and the next day he called and DH said, I'm not the one to talk to and handed me the phone...Once again, he came up with a price and I told him no....A couple of days later, he called back and asked to talk to me and said, OK, come up and pick out your color.....Gotta be firm!

You don't just want a 'reduced price' you want to buy it at the lowest price they can give you. You have to guess what it cost the store wholesale, which includes knowing if it's imported from China or not! LOL You have to research what you would pay elsewhere for the same thing or something similar.

I'd hesitate to pay cash on a large purchase because you have no protection if it proves faulty -- or if they gouge your wall when they deliver it.

Getting a price comp is much easier on branded products. Years ago I priced a Sony video recorder online from a NYC 'wholesaler'. Then I went to a nearby store (Abt) and asked for the same price. They came very close to the online price, and I bought from them. (These days Abt sells online!)

I am interested in paying a fair price, and I want to see local retailers stay in business. I detest the whole concept of Direct Buy, which is to USE local retailers to display goods FOR D.B. 'members'.

Some years ago a friend who sold cars said the whole focus at the dealership is to 'move the product'. He made the same few hundred on any car, regardless of price. The manager needed to make *something*. The dealership had to make enough to cover their cost of financing the car from the manufacturer. As in real estate...no sale, no commission and nobody makes a dime. So, when the car salesman tells you he has to talk to his manager, he is actually arguing for you to get the car!

Some years ago we wanted to buy a specific model car in red. It was the previous year's model. Our local dealer refused to bargain on price and said he couldn't find the car in red. I went online and found three cars, one in a dealership in northern Michigan. They gave me a good price and offered a manufacturer's rebate the local dealer had failed to mention. I went back to the local dealer, offering to buy the car from them at a reduced price. They refused. We bought the car from Michigan and paid a driver to go fetch it. When we brought the car in for its first servicing the local dealer was livid. They refused to service it. I called the manufacturer, who reminded the dealer they HAD to service the product. (If they had not, there was another dealer not far away and we would have taken it there.)

I don't think it's wrong to shop and bargain if you intend to buy where you are looking. I do think it's mean to use a local retailer -- to copy down a model number and fabric number knowing you'll buy elsewhere.