Comments on: Lessons From a Pro: How to Get a Better Deal on Big Purchases

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:30:30 +0000

The end of the month is also a great time to negotiate prices as sales staff are looking to boost their monthly quotas.
Sally´s last post ..Theme for the New Year

By: Claire from DC

Claire from DC — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:59:04 +0000

I got 10% off a desk at Pottery Barn – just by asking the manager. Most important thing is to ask when no one else is around. Also, keep in mind that any “damaged” items are almost always negotiable (think of the as-is section an IKEA).

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:23:18 +0000

If it's an online purchase, I order something small and inexpensive. They usually send you a coupon for a percentage off. Use that for the big purchase. Meredith´s last blog post..Storing Your Electronics

By: Favorite Finds Of The Week | Serene Journey

Favorite Finds Of The Week | Serene Journey — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:32:25 +0000

[...] Lessons From a Pro: How to Get a Better Deal on Big Purchases – Small Notebook “Bargaining was something I always avoided. I didn’t want to offend anyone. The idea of haggling seemed as terrible as the word sounded. Paying the asking price was more comfortable than talking about money, so that is what I always did.” [...]

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:48:46 +0000

Walking away is always a good option. When my fiancé was buying a car last year, thousands was shaved off the price by simply “waking away”. Carla´s last blog post..Eco Fashion: What is it?

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:59:52 +0000

We built a house last year and I stepped out of my comfort zone to negotiate a price on almost every big item purchase in our home. I saved us thousands and thousands of dollars and still got most of the stuff I wanted in the build. If nothing else, ask “can you give me 10%” on this? The answer will likely be yes, especially in this economy. Discounts like that make a big impact in the long run!

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:09:41 +0000

I used to be quite intimidated by haggling or bargaining, but over the years, I have gotten much more confident. I now actually prefer situations where I can have some say in the price, and look for opportunities to ask, rather than just accepting the stated price. I find that as long as I am reasonable and polite, I am rarely turned down, and if I am, I just say thank you and walk away graciously. No big deal. I love that I have learned that you can always ask for a discount, anywhere, even when you think the prices are set. Grocery stores, phone or internet services, even big retail stores if you would like to purchase something out of package or with a minor flaw. We have definitely saved a lot of money this way! Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home´s last blog post..Living with PCOS: Some Q&A

By: Mara

Mara — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:33:36 +0000

Wonderful post! I have discovered that this works in some surprising places... one of my credit cards lowered my interest rate just because I asked. (The funny thing is that I was kind of joking at the time: the rep on the phone asked, "is there anything else we can do for you today?", I replied, "Not unless you can lower my rate, hehe"... and he switched me to a department that does that!) Ever since then, I've realized that there are advantages out there that you can't get if you don't ask for them! Similarly, I've gotten a lot better at speaking up about bad experiences with products or services. I'm pretty shy and I've worked in customer service forever, so I have always had a hard time with "being difficult". But politely letting a manager or store rep know that something you bought didn't work, or that you've been waiting forever for an appetizer, or whatever, will help recoup whatever you've lost, AND let *them* know that there may be a problem. Mara´s last blog post..Paper Hoarder

By: momstheword

momstheword — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:47:26 +0000

Oh my goodness.....this is just such a hard thing for me. I don't even like yard sales when they don't price it but say "make me an offer." I know I just need to get over it and get brave! momstheword´s last blog post..THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - FEBRUARY 23rd EDITION

By: SavvyChristine

SavvyChristine — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:08:30 +0000

I'm not big on negotiating normally, but we're planning a wedding, and I've definitely gotten better at asking for a lower price. You have to! I think the trick is to remember your budget and have a few lines up your sleeve. For example, I try to remember, "How can we get this down to a more affordable price for us?" or "what can we do to lower the price?" I don't like asking yes or no questions since they can say no too easily. One more thing: do your research to feel confident. I got a lot better at negotiating when I read some personal finance books and blogs and learned some jargon. In the same way, I did research on wedding vendors and learned what they all had in common and what the price points would normally get me. SavvyChristine´s last blog post..Weekend Warrior: Combating To-do List Stress