Haglers

[Mattlock]

Anyone got any advice on customers who try and hagle for a discount when paying cash. I seem to be getting more and more that think paying cash entitles them to a discount. I usually explain it's still got to go through the books so won't make any difference which seems to fall on deaf ears.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Anyone got any advice on customers who try and hagle for a discount when paying cash. I seem to be getting more and more that think paying cash entitles them to a discount. I usually explain it's still got to go through the books so won't make any difference which seems to fall on deaf ears.

Offer a token discount if you want the sale, say no if you don't.
Daytime TV has taught everyone that even high street and retail park chains can give discounts if they need to so independents are fair game.

 

[arcon5]

Offer them a discount of 1% of which you would would pay for CC processing?

 

[An Oasis]

Anyone got any advice on customers who try and hagle for a discount when paying cash. I seem to be getting more and more that think paying cash entitles them to a discount. I usually explain it's still got to go through the books so won't make any difference which seems to fall on deaf ears.

They want to avoid VAT and split the difference...can you blame them? 20% on top of pre taxed earning is a disgrace.

 

[WirralPrinters]

Anyone got any advice on customers who try and hagle for a discount when paying cash. I seem to be getting more and more that think paying cash entitles them to a discount. I usually explain it's still got to go through the books so won't make any difference which seems to fall on deaf ears.

I do it myself all the time (haggle that is)

If you offer good prices already, then stand your ground, or offer a discount on a second purchase???

If you make a profit though, then maybe you could let it go a bit cheaper. Just don't let everyone know that you have given it away a bit cheaper

If it's that often - raise your current prices a little to compensate for it

 

[movietub]

If it happens enough to bother you there must be a reason. Are there cheaper places than you nearby? Does you're shop look like the kind of place that is strict on prices/policy or relaxed?

As said, if you have the margin to give a small discount then you are often wise to do so. I figured out a while back that the sort of braindead moron that thinks cash = cheaper is exactly the sort of person that also thinks he's 'a special customer, a geezer dealer' when he gets his discount. And as such, these people tend to become frequent (if annoying) yet profitable customers.

That said, I too get annoyed sometimes and will tell people to go away if they are too annoying/have BO/can't control their kids.

 

[WirralPrinters]

That said, I too get annoyed sometimes and will tell people to go away if they are too annoying/have BO/can't control their kids.

WOW! What kind of shop do you own?

Sounds like a cashgenerators/cashconvertors kind of shop LOL

 

[movietub]

WOW! What kind of shop do you own?

Sounds like a cashgenerators/cashconvertors kind of shop LOL

Aquatic Centre! For some reason people that can't afford soap can afford £500 aquariums, which they ruin almost immediatly.

Most customers are not like that of course! But all aquatic shops seem to attract crazy or smelly people. We still take their money, but we wash it as soon as they leave

 

[WirralPrinters]

Aquatic Centre! For some reason people that can't afford soap can afford £500 aquariums, which they ruin almost immediatly.

Most customers are not like that of course! But all aquatic shops seem to attract crazy or smelly people. We still take their money, but we wash it as soon as they leave

Laughed My F** A** Off (LMFAO) after reading your reply

 

[Mattlock]

cheers again for replies ,food for thought there
-Wash their money LOL

 

[CKG]

Nothing wrong with giving a deal for a bit cash for the old back pocket.

It's how a tradesman earns his good living.

Though if you're selling stock you've had to front up I can see how the method of payment makes no odds.

Unless you got the stock at a special end of line 'cash' price.

 

[estwig]

Hagglers are brilliant, what they are saying is, yes I want to buy from you, all my objections have been overcome, I just want something a little special to seal the deal.

Smile and take the money.

 

[movietub]

Nothing wrong with giving a deal for a bit cash for the old back pocket.

It's how a tradesman earns his good living.

Though if you're selling stock you've had to front up I can see how the method of payment makes no odds.

Unless you got the stock at a special end of line 'cash' price.

This is the heart of the issue really. If you're out on the road, one man band, then many of us can be swayed by a cash in hand offer. There is no record of any of it. But in a shop, it just ain't possible most of the time. Even the most basic shops often use full EPOS with stock control, so the owner only makes their job harder if they don't scan the items out as normal. And once they do, the EPOS includes it in whatever totals are used to do the accounts.

Our system controls shop and web sales, and also includes it's own accounting software. I can figure out how to bypass it all of course, but it really wouldn't be worth the effort - I'd be messing up my own system just to make a few quid.

The thing that really annoys me is our clients on the d&b side of the business asking for a reduced price. As if they would ever accept a reduced quality installation.

There is also the issue of rudeness to consider here. If you ask for a discount, what you are effectively saying is that whoever priced the product in the first place, may as well not have bothered. They may have gone through a trade price list, checked qty discounts, price checked competitors, adjusted the ideal price to meet their minimum markup and then rounded up/down to .95p, but clearly a bloke who just strolled in has a much clearer idea about fair pricing :|

 

[chris.quinn89]

are you serious? there is always a discount to be given. It may be a cash discount off setting VAT or it may be a cash discount off setting commercial tax... it may be a discount with regards to a damaged item. Or maybe its a very small discount in comparison between a CC purchase and a cash purchase. What every means you justify the discount the only thing that sways you either way is you ego. Businesses with your attitude make me laugh because there is always someone willing to do a deal. Do you want me to pay on credit card/debit card on a £300 item or do you want cash? Then play ball.....

 

[movietub]

are you serious? there is always a discount to be given. It may be a cash discount off setting VAT or it may be a cash discount off setting commercial tax... it may be a discount with regards to a damaged item. Or maybe its a very small discount in comparison between a CC purchase and a cash purchase. What every means you justify the discount the only thing that sways you either way is you ego. Businesses with your attitude make me laugh because there is always someone willing to do a deal. Do you want me to pay on credit card/debit card on a £300 item or do you want cash? Then play ball.....

Well debit card would make no odds, it's as cheap as cash. And I would personally love it if all my customers paid card - going to the bank and dealing with cash in general is a hassle.

Much of what you say I agree with though. But I would say that there are many good reasons to say no to discount that have nothing to do with ego.

 

[Cobi]

Remember, do not get angry with the customer, you want them to buy even though what they are doing is wrong.
If your company is a proffesional one you will not offer a discount to any random person as far as cash is concerned, maybe make a new deal up on the spot like buy now and get your next purchase half price to keep them interested, we are not on a turkish beach seller so dont allow yourself to be haggled

 

[chris.quinn89]

accepting a debit card still costs more than cash (not valuing your time) although very little.

but i dont think you would disagree that cash is a more preferred method of payment for most small to medium businesses. If not for the taxation reasons that at least for cash flow reasons.

The point the OP made was he thought haggling was not fair which I must say I disagree with, I will always haggle on any purchase that I believe there is room for manurer.

Nobody in their right mind wouldn't haggle for a reasonable price. Maybe I'm wrong but that is my opinion. I sell items to make a profit if someone wants to haggle then it is fair game, I'm in business and so are they.

 

[chris.quinn89]

Remember, do not get angry with the customer, you want them to buy even though what they are doing is wrong.
If your company is a proffesional one you will not offer a discount to any random person as far as cash is concerned, maybe make a new deal up on the spot like buy now and get your next purchase half price to keep them interested, we are not on a turkish beach seller so dont allow yourself to be haggled

Agreed but you don't loose a sale because you are not willing to offer a small discount....

 

[Cobi]

Agreed but you don't loose a sale because you are not willing to offer a small discount....

what I way saying was, a person will haggle for a suitable price and do whatever they can to get it, you can loose that sale simply because they are clearly not willing to pay it or as you say, they may be testing you to see how much they can get it down from

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

accepting a debit card still costs more than cash (not valuing your time) although very little.

but i dont think you would disagree that cash is a more preferred method of payment for most small to medium businesses. If not for the taxation reasons that at least for cash flow reasons.

The point the OP made was he thought haggling was not fair which I must say I disagree with, I will always haggle on any purchase that I believe there is room for manurer.

Nobody in their right mind wouldn't haggle for a reasonable price. Maybe I'm wrong but that is my opinion. I sell items to make a profit if someone wants to haggle then it is fair game, I'm in business and so are they.

Not always true, you realise banks charge to pay cash in over the counter?

Also you seem a little confused about what the term 'cash flow' means.

 

[chris.quinn89]

by all means loose a sale if there is no profit in it but if i customer offered me even a miniscule profit i would accept it if the cash was in their hand. better to make a small sale than nothing... maybe Im wrong...

 

[chris.quinn89]

Not always true, you realise banks charge to pay cash in over the counter?

Also you seem a little confused about what the term 'cash flow' means.

correct me if im wrong but if a supplier accepts cash then cash is good

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

correct me if im wrong but if a supplier accepts cash then cash is good

I have no idea if you are right or wrong, I don't know what you are trying to say.

 

[chris.quinn89]

how long does it take for you card merchant to deposit your transactions into your account?

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

how long does it take for you card merchant to deposit your transactions into your account?

A couple of hours.

 

[movietub]

Not always true, you realise banks charge to pay cash in over the counter?

Also you seem a little confused about what the term 'cash flow' means.

I think a major difference in opinion here comes from the size of the shop/business. A lot of smaller shops can swap bank accounts every couple of years and never see a charge for cash, likewise smaller businesses do need cash to maintain their cash-flow. Debit/credit may only take a couple of days longer but I guess if a corner shop takes £1k per day then they need a spare 2k before they can stop worrying about cards.

To be brutally honest, I always look down on people that ask for a discount 'out of cheek' just to see if they can save a tiny bit. Clearly we want to be competitive, so we have already made our prices as low as we wanted too. If they can't afford it, just don't buy it! If we gave everyone a discounted price the business wouldn't work, so why give anyone a discount?

The only time a discount makes sense to me is if someone buys in unusual qty (generally a sale is the same amount of work regardless of whether we sell 10 items, or 150 items of the same), or if we have inconvenienced them in some way and offer a discount as an apology.

The crazy thing is that people are being told to try for discount in chain stores and super markets now! These businesses generally only make money out of every 10th customer anyway, TESCO's is every 20th customer I believe. Are people seriously holding up queues and upsetting the checkout staff on the high street to save a quid???

I have some great advice for hagglers: Earn more or buy less

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I think a major difference in opinion here comes from the size of the shop/business. A lot of smaller shops can swap bank accounts every couple of years and never see a charge for cash, likewise smaller businesses do need cash to maintain their cash-flow. Debit/credit may only take a couple of days longer but I guess if a corner shop takes £1k per day then they need a spare 2k before they can stop worrying about cards.

To be brutally honest, I always look down on people that ask for a discount 'out of cheek' just to see if they can save a tiny bit. Clearly we want to be competitive, so we have already made our prices as low as we wanted too. If they can't afford it, just don't buy it! If we gave everyone a discounted price the business wouldn't work, so why give anyone a discount?

The only time a discount makes sense to me is if someone buys in unusual qty (generally a sale is the same amount of work regardless of whether we sell 10 items, or 150 items of the same), or if we have inconvenienced them in some way and offer a discount as an apology.

The crazy thing is that people are being told to try for discount in chain stores and super markets now! These businesses generally only make money out of every 10th customer anyway, TESCO's is every 20th customer I believe. Are people seriously holding up queues and upsetting the checkout staff on the high street to save a quid???

I have some great advice for hagglers: Earn more or buy less

I don't find it particularly distressing when people ask for discount. Sometimes they get it sometimes not, you can always politely decline.

 

[chris.quinn89]

trading post who do you bank with?

 

[chris.quinn89]

a merchant that pays out within hours is worth sharing

 

[chris.quinn89]

I don't find it particularly distressing when people ask for discount. Sometimes they get it sometimes not, you can always politely decline.

Agreed no one asks for a discount in a PLC or LTD but a smaller independent is always worth haggling with, they normally have better goods and larger profit margins.

 

[chris.quinn89]

sorry mend to reply to movietub

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Agreed no one asks for a discount in a PLC or LTD but a smaller independent is always worth haggling with, they normally have better goods and larger profit margins.

Yes they do.
Currys, Dreams, Furniture Village etc will all give discounts.

I doubt your better goods, larger profit margin theory stacks up.

 

[chris.quinn89]

discussing is getting a little thin. I'm sure plenty understand the argument I'm making. It is always worth haggling - you lose nothing. Independents aren't chains as "the trading post" would have you believe.

 

[movietub]

I don't find it particularly distressing when people ask for discount. Sometimes they get it sometimes not, you can always politely decline.

I never said it was distressing for me. And for sure, I've dealt with it for years and can politely decline, or quite often offer a token gesture - nothing wrong with keeping a customer coming back, I'm no fool!

My point was that I question the logic of the people that ask for a discount, for no other reason than they want to pay less then we had already advertised. Like I said, if all customers paid even 5% below the desired price then a lot of businesses would fail completely.

It depends very much on the where you are shopping of course. Generally our place is quite busy, there may be others waiting, I know we are the cheapest for at least 50 miles. So I have to wonder what makes the odd customer keep others waiting to ask for more money off... I can only judge by my own attitude to shopping of course, and in that situation, I wouldn't bring up talk of discounts. Do these people ask for discount everywhere they shop? That's a bit like driving everywhere 10 mph below the speed limit. It's not bad, just annoying.

 

[An Oasis]

...The crazy thing is that people are being told to try for discount in chain stores and super markets now! These businesses generally only make money out of every 10th customer anyway, TESCO's is every 20th customer I believe. Are people seriously holding up queues and upsetting the checkout staff on the high street to save a quid???...

Eh? Are you sure those stats are correct?

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

discussing is getting a little thin. I'm sure plenty understand the argument I'm making. It is always worth haggling - you lose nothing. Independents aren't chains as "the trading post" would have you believe.

Is English your first language? You don't seem to understand how to read my posts.
Correct independents are not chains, the clue is in the word 'independent. Chains will give discounts, and people do ask - you said that they do not. You were incorrect.

 

[leemason]

Martin Lewis was pushing this a while back and I think this has had an effect: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/how-to-haggle-successfully. My wife tried it at a few large chains and it certainly had the desired effect!

I think I'd do it if it where a large chain but personally I wouldn't try too hard with a small retailer but that's probably just because I know how hard it can be to run a small business, especially in retail.

However in B2B you always get haggling. It usually takes the form of "We only have the budget for..." or "We're only a small business and can't afford much", etc, etc.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I never said it was distressing for me. And for sure, I've dealt with it for years and can politely decline, or quite often offer a token gesture - nothing wrong with keeping a customer coming back, I'm no fool!

My point was that I question the logic of the people that ask for a discount, for no other reason than they want to pay less then we had already advertised. Like I said, if all customers paid even 5% below the desired price then a lot of businesses would fail completely.

It depends very much on the where you are shopping of course. Generally our place is quite busy, there may be others waiting, I know we are the cheapest for at least 50 miles. So I have to wonder what makes the odd customer keep others waiting to ask for more money off... I can only judge by my own attitude to shopping of course, and in that situation, I wouldn't bring up talk of discounts. Do these people ask for discount everywhere they shop? That's a bit like driving everywhere 10 mph below the speed limit. It's not bad, just annoying.

I wasn't suggesting that it gives you sleepless nights cutie, just that it obviously bothers you where it doesn't bother me, as I say it's easy to say no. I suppose in the position you are, selling lower value items I may find it more irritating. As it is despite knowing that my prices are excellent I appreciate that a new fitted kitchen is a big spend for a lot of people and whilst I don't often give discounts I don't think it is unreasonable when people ask.

When they wave scruffy old notes at me as if I'm a street performer or worse still say 'I'll take it off your hands' that is entirely different, that's very annoying and I generally decline their custom entirely.

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

Haggling is endemic in some cultures - notably Arab ones - but until recently not in UK. I hate haggling, always giving the lowest price possible as a matter of course. I usually find asking a haggler a question such as: 'Are you enticing me to break the law?' shuts them up, and they invariably buy the goods anyway at the original price.

Barrie

 

If your not up for a good haggle ,then you probably should not be in business and for gods sake don't play poker.

Only people I know who won't haggle is the law.

But always smile when doing it and never make it personal.

Stupid things like saying its not professional ,only come from the anal retentive.

Its surely the heart of business.?

Earl