Haggling. Do you? Do Customers do it to you?

[Ashley_Price]

So what do you feel about haggling, both as a customer and as a business owner?

When you're in shops do you try and haggle? What's your success rate? What the biggest discount you've got?

As a business owner do you get this from customers? How do you feel about it? Are you open to giving a discount or is the "shelf price" the price the customer pays?

I remember a story about my grandfather who used to haggle like mad. He would go into say a gents clothing store (at the time most were still independent), pick up five shirts and say "How much off if I buy all these?" Then he'd pick up 10 ties and ask the same question. He would slowly go round the store picking 3 of this, 5 of that, 10 of the other, and each time ask the salesman what discount he could get. Then, when he got all the items, he'd add "And how much off for cash?" Apparently 99% of the time it worked, he'd get a "double" discount!

I have to admit I've not inherited that gene but I can see the advantages to it. Generally though, I look for somewhere that will have the cheapest price and just have that (although sometimes I will still pay full if it's a independent store - but I'm not silly with money).

However, I'm also "Green-orientated" so things like books, etc., I usually buy second hand from a charity shop, this does three things:

1/ I've got the book for a fraction of the price
2/ The charity gets some money
3/ It's greener - I've saved an "extra copy" being printed (okay, that's only very small, but you don't know how many books I buy a year )

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

I don't do a lot of haggling myself. If it's a big quantity I may try, but other than that not.

The business is getting a lot of customers haggling. If it's a big order then generally we'll offer the discount before they asked, and we always offer the best discount first time, so there's nowhere further to go.

It amazes me that some people will haggle on the small orders. By the time the supplier is paid, the card processing, the VAT, there's not a lot left, and the price on display is the best in that circumstance.

 

[Ashley_Price]

It amazes me that some people will haggle on the small orders. By the time the supplier is paid, the card processing, the VAT, there's not a lot left, and the price on display is the best in that circumstance.

I think in this situation it is best to be honest with the customer - if they're still going to argue (sorry, "haggle") then they are probably not the sort of customer you want.

We occasionally get asked for a discount when we get a big typing contract, but I explain that this is a "service" not a product; the more typing we get the more outgoings we have - paying our typists for the extra hours. Once this is explained most people are happy and still use us.

 

[adventurelife]

Try running a business in Marrakech where haggling only comes second to breathing.

All business people should be good at negotiating, I know I never buy anything of reasonable value without doing so.

Many of my clients also negotiate, which I do not mind in the slightest, it is up to the team or me to demonstrate that they are getting value for the price we are asking.

If I have 2 clients on a Saturday looking for a discount it may be that they are barking up the wrong tree, but 50 clients on a Tuesday may well be barking in the correct place

Peter

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

We get quite a lot of customers haggle the price you get used to it after a while ,and it then becomes something you start to do yourself

 

[SmilePrint]

'Aggle, you want me to ' Aggle, go on then...
picture the Monty Python team.

To haggle or not to haggle?

Always haggle.

I never used to, but after years where everyone haggled with me, I started to also.

The only downside is my wife never wants to go shopping with me!

I love to toy with sales assistants who have no idea what to do when faced with customers asking for money off, or something included for free.

What have you got to loose? But more important what do you gain? You learn the game, which you can then apply in your business.

This results in customers always feeling happy with the price when the deal is done.

And that is a very valuable result for any business.

B

 

[An Oasis]

Haggle ohhh yes. In my field the markups are seriously frightening...300-400% I could not be in business paying those prices. It's also one of the reasons that we have to import.

 

[SFD]

If I am buying a product then I may haggle on larger orders or if I know I can get it cheaper elsewhere.

Why buying professional services then I never haggle as I want someone to want to work for me and do their best for me rather than them think, well he's only paying 75%, I'm only going to give 75% effort.

 

[silklink]

Ironic, but I was helping my wife in her gift shop over the busy bank holiday weekend. A chap came in and bought a few things and enquired about his discount. My wife asked me to ring up the sales and take off 10%. I asked her afterwards why he got discount and she said, 'because he insists he is entitled to it'.

On the positive side, he is a regular customer. Give and take I guess

If you don't ask you don't get in this world.

 

[maria102]

I nearly always get people haggling if they buy a few things, and I don't mind obliging either. if I offer a discretionary discount, it nearly always gets me repeat business and encourages people to be regulars.

 

[KateCB]

We have cusomers who haggle - sometimes they get a discount purely for their cheek, other times its a case of sorry - I can't, we are already doing xxxx...and they pay up happily. Larger orders are offered a discount on quantity anyway, so these 'trade' people don't bother - they know they are paying around 60% less than retail anyway.

Its the 'I want bespoke designed belt, I want it in 7 colour embroidery, I want teeny tiny detail that is still legible wihin a 45mm area, I want it hand finished, I want it in a presentation box and I want it gift wrapped and I want it tomorrow - and what discount can I have?' that annoy me - no discount Pal, but there is an express charge, a digitising charge to go on TOP of the goods price!

BTW, my husband haggles everywhere - Burtons staff runa mile when they see him arrive, as do Saville Row Suitiers......he will not buy multiples if there isn't a good discount - he did it with me when we went shopping for a new wardrobe in Coast.....the poor girl nearly fainted when he asked what discount he would receive if he bought everything we had tried/looked at - she ended up calling head office, giving the totals, describing the goods - we got 25% though!

 

[Eleanor]

I do not haggle. Ever.

I make it clear that I will not accept haggling.

I think it's a matter of respect. If there is something I want or need, I pay the same as everyone else. If I feel I'm being conned (i.e. being charged more than rrp) I go elsewhere.

When I am asked to make a bespoke gown out of silk and chantilly lace, I write up an accurate costing and give an accurate quote. There is no haggling room and I make this very clear.

I was haggled with once. I terminated the contract immediately and made it clear I wouldn't be working with/for that client again.

 

[davidshaw89]

I do not haggle. Ever.

I make it clear that I will not accept haggling.

I think it's a matter of respect. If there is something I want or need, I pay the same as everyone else. If I feel I'm being conned (i.e. being charged more than rrp) I go elsewhere.

When I am asked to make a bespoke gown out of silk and chantilly lace, I write up an accurate costing and give an accurate quote. There is no haggling room and I make this very clear.

I was haggled with once. I terminated the contract immediately and made it clear I wouldn't be working with/for that client again.

If you don't have enough room to haggle, you don't have a big enough profit margin. What would you do if your suppliers prices shot up overnight? you would probably make a loss on any existing quotes you'd given.

I would seriously consider your margins and increase in price. Especially for bespoke work where there is an expectation of paying more for better quality.

 

[Write My Site]

I think this is spot on. Whenever a new client tries to get me to lower my price I always tell them this would mean effectively giving away my time for free, so the only way I can do the work cheaper is to do it faster and therefore not as thoroughly. Nine times out of ten they agree to pay the asking price, and for the 10% that don't, it's the kind of business I don't need.

Why buying professional services then I never haggle as I want someone to want to work for me and do their best for me rather than them think, well he's only paying 75%, I'm only going to give 75% effort.

 

[Esk247]

i only haggle over things like cars..but within reason..if i see a car for £9,995 i'll get it at £9,000. Same with computers, i'll see one for £500 and get it for £475...tiny saving, but its a saving and the shop haven't done too badly out of it because i'll take there business cards with me too.

i wouldn't haggle over a bag of chips or a magazine.

 

[areyousecure?]

nothing wrong with haggling - or more simply put asking if thats the best price that they can do. i do it and have no problem idf someone asks me - the answers always no anyway!!!

 

[lockie]

Whereever possible i try to dodge the money off route, negotitate, and would rather throw in extras.i also want full payment up front for the work if throwing in extras.This way sure i give away less than a discount would cost but improve cashflow in return.The customer also feels happy as they have gained something of a higher monetary value than i have actually lost.

It depends how you see it. Negotitation is to gain something, compromise is to give something away.

I have used this tactic myself on big purchases.

 

[Christiane]

I don't mind haggling if the customer spends a bit. A customer wants 100 of an item but it only comes to £20 and they wanted a discount. Another one asked if I did wholesale, then goes on to buy £10 worth of stuff!!

However I am dealign with a query for which I quoted t

 

[billyboy120]

I always try to haggle if I'm ordering a reasonable quantity, mainly because I will pass that discount onto my customers and offer them a better price.

I don't mind people haggling with me on a fair sized order, and generally am happy to offer something, as I'm often in that situation myself.

What I hate with a passion (here comes my rant!) is when people come to me with a quote from elsewhere for a cheaper version of what I supply and expect it for the same price :S

 

[UKSBD]

Not so much haggling, but I had my car insurance renewal come through
yesterday, one of those auto renewal where if you don't do anything it
automaticaly renews.

Price if I had just left it £310.00 which included breakdown cover,
gauranteed car hire and legal cover.

Price after removing car hire, breakdown cover and saying it was still too
expensive £150.00

 

[groovyjon]

I saw a sign in a shop once that said "please let us know if you wish to haggle so we can raise our prices".

 

[OutsourcedPeople]

Haggling can make or break your business!

I always haggle with suppliers, more haggling more profits = more successful/profitable business.

 

[PHR]

I'm from the school of "if you don't ask you don't get".
Whats the worst that can happen? They say no. And if they say yes, it's because they can afford to do so.
I love haggling and being in sales I get haggled all the time. I encourage it!

 

[maria102]

I love haggling and being in sales I get haggled all the time. I encourage it!

Me too! I had an irish lady in last week and as she had made a special trip to the shop, she made quite a lot of purchases...so we haggled, haggled some more, met in the middle, then she blessed herself and handed over her debit card.... great fun!

 

[SillyJokes]

I'm haggling constantly with my suppliers.

My customers haggle with me, but to keep it in check we have clear points at which discounts may be applied.

Some people will ask for a discount on really small orders but with our rules in place we can explain the spend required to achieve a discount.

I'll also haggle with shops and in particular market stalls.

 

[davidshaw89]

Not so much haggling, but I had my car insurance renewal come through
yesterday, one of those auto renewal where if you don't do anything it
automaticaly renews.

Price if I had just left it £310.00 which included breakdown cover,
gauranteed car hire and legal cover.

Price after removing car hire, breakdown cover and saying it was still too
expensive £150.00

How many years no claims do you need for that?

I have just renewed mine. Last year (first year) was circa £2000pa.

This year I was quoted £1100 but managed to get it down to £1000. Some other insurers offer higher voluntary excess, but for only £50 less a year, its not worth the risk.

There are certain things it is ok to haggle. But when you are already getting a fantastic deal, there has to be a limit - other businesses need to make a profit as well.

 

[UKSBD]

How many years no claims do you need for that?

I have just renewed mine. Last year (first year) was circa £2000pa.

5 years no claim, the car is only a 1.3 diesel Vauxhal Corsa though, and
I'm an over 40 year old sensible driver

Couldn't see the point in having the breakdown cover and hire car cover
when the car's less than 2 years old.

I realised when looking at the old policy that I was paying £80 for
breakdown cover and also had free breakdown cover with the car too

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

I abhor haggling. In some countries it is expected and is part of the culture, but not, I think, in the UK.
I would say offer the best price you can and have a fixed discount rate for multiple purchases, so everyone is treated the same. People who say 'what discount for trade?' or 'for cash' when they are spending a few pounds get firmly told the price is unchangeable. They almost invariably buy anyway.

Barrie

 

[websnail]

I only haggle when I know that I'm looking for bulk orders and know I'm going to be coming back. When it comes to customers doing it to me the same rules apply... I've had people try it on with 2 units but as a rule I tend to offer discounts before customers ask on orders of 3 or more, even if it's just on postage.

In a similar vein a company has come incredibly close to losing my business because they wouldn't send me sets of four samples of o'rings that can't cost more than 2p a unit. Granted people might be taking the mickey but I'm ordering 1,500+ of the things so it's hardly a rip off. Rather a myopic approach to business unfortunately

 

[Business Advice Centre]

"I have to admit I've not inherited that gene but I can see the advantages to it."

It's not a gene, it's a state of mind. You have to know what your want to pay for something or receive in payment for something at the start and negotiate your position. I walked away from a deal 12 months ago because the price wasn't what I wanted. It took the guy 12 months, but he came back.

 

[waveuponwave]

I feel very uncomfortable about haggling, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it as long as there's a reason (quantity, a defect, end of a line) and not just trying your luck.

My version of haggling is doing a lot of research on what the fair price for something is, getting plenty of quotes, then asking my preferred supplier if they can match the cheapest quote. I don't want to deny anyone their profit, but I don't want to pay over the odds either.

 

[projectsdesignwear]

YOu have to haggle in business,it's the only way sadly