Any luck haggling over prices at Best Buy?

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

]
Anyway, in response to why the comment about "third world country" was offensive- you have to be pretty dense to not understand why that comment was offensive and ignorant. Let's start with- is there a negative connotation assigned to either haggling or third-world countries? If so, where has it come from and is it justified? "Civilized" countries have committed some terrible human atrocities, even within the last 60 or so years. Just ask the Japanese, Black, Native American, or any woman.

Last time I checked, for starters I don't recall any 1st World Countries committing Genocide in the last 60 years. 62+ perhaps, ordinarily I wouldn't be a d*ck about it but you're getting your panties in a bunch over a joke.

As for Native Americans, I've got some choice words about that, to claim that you want to have your own government and your own area where noone else is allowed to live, then end up with problems in said areas and want extra money in order to fix it that's where I have the problem, our ancestors did some pretty crappy things to Native Americans, no disputing that, but the free handouts to help them out because of it have to end somewhere.

I fail to see where the Japanese have been victims of atrocities in the last 60 years. Care to fill the rest of the class in? If you're talking about the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki {which again happened more than 60 years ago.} you might want to re-check what happened to Pearl Harbor before that happened.

But back to the point at hand.

If you are an underpaid overworked sales representative and you're told by your manager that said store that you can't hand out discounts to any joe-average that walks in and the price that's on the item is the price you sell it for {unless you want written or verbal warnings} then if joe-average comes in asking for discounts {which you can't give without jumping through hoops yourself} it'll serve to do nothing but annoy the associate.

Not to mention the fact that in many of these cases the discount that said customers are asking for is the only discount that the employee would get themselves so the bonus for working at said company is null and void, I certainly wouldn't want to work at a place where I only get a 10% discount on the purchases that I make at the store and I had customer after customer come in and ask for 10% off {for doing what exactly? not being a retard and slobbering on the electronics? fat chance} would you?

Logan

[mgonzo2u]

Don't work retail then.

That is also an American choice.

[Blinkman987]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

I fail to see where the Japanese have been victims of atrocities in the last 60 years. Care to fill the rest of the class in? If you're talking about the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki {which again happened more than 60 years ago.} you might want to re-check what happened to Pearl Harbor before that happened.

Maybe you should educate yourself on what relocation is, or are you too busy ironing your screaming bald eagle shirt to let people know that AMERICA IS NUMBER 1!

What do they even teach people in school these days? With an education like that, no wonder so many college graduates turn to retail management. *sigh*

[Blu Haze]

Just buy it for the price were not in mexico

[dk3dknight]

Wow ive never had them reduce a price before,
I thought there laser fixing for a ps2 was too high,
the manager told me well sorry then...

Hmm guess I just talked to the wrong people...
oh and too those people in retail, if you stalk me
physically in a store I will put things back that is
creepy I will not buy more things if you follow me
it makes people nervous when people are staring
and hovering over like vultures, or pretending to
hide behind a object but staring at you like your
a piece of meat.

Also do not try to change a customers mind after
he starts to pay for said item, that is unnerving.

A CC employee tried to talk me out of buying Oblivion,
for what seemed like personal reasons.

Oh and if a customer walks up to and asks for help finding
something pointing to the general area of the overal section
is not funny...

Listening into private conversations is also rude, and I do
not mean accidentally, I mean sneaking behind someone
to listen in on there conversation its very disturbing, I
noticed a few people try to use that to catch the customer
off gaurd.. but I just find it creepy and may turn around and
ask you why your sneaking up behind me.

Ive only had one successful haggle and that was at a flea
market, bought a Mongolian dagger for 4 bucks, ticket price
was 19.99.

[mgonzo2u]

Originally Posted by Blu Haze

Just buy it for the price were not in mexico

Have you ever traveled outside of the US?

The US is in the minority on how things are done in many ways.

The first one of note is Americans usually only know one language. Most of the rest of the civilized world speaks at least two languages.

They can haggle in two languages.

[mgonzo2u]

Originally Posted by dk3dknight

Ive only had one successful haggle and that was at a flea market, bought a Mongolian dagger for 4 bucks, ticket price
was 19.99.

That's kind of creepy right there.

j/k

[kalkin84]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

Maybe you should educate yourself on what relocation is, or are you too busy ironing your screaming bald eagle shirt to let people know that AMERICA IS NUMBER 1!

What do they even teach people in school these days? With an education like that, no wonder so many college graduates turn to retail management. *sigh*

Before mods lock this, you are what is known in english as a "moron," or one irrationally ingrained in his own delusions. I recommend a history class (or 10) for you, preferably taught by someone who knows what he or she is talking about, but i guess you don't have much experience there. Why don't you go ask the japanese for a start?

I seem to recall jadedeath confining his comments to the last 60 years; what have we done to the japanese in the last 60 years? Well, wrote their constitution, rebuilt their country, and allowed them to grow in to the second largest economy on the planet (btw, we're #1 still, FYI). ya, shame on us, sorry Tojo. The only thing here that is "disgustingly offensive" is your soft cry-baby bleeding heart. Try thinking with your head, it is much better suited to the work. As the Chopper would say, " HARDEN THE **** UP!" Haggling is a third world practice. Why? because it occurs most commonly IN THE THIRD WORLD!

Back to the original topic: Haggling over prices.

Good luck. At full list prices TV's typically have between 20-35% profit (most is when a new model is released). "Video" equipment (DVD, BD, etc) is typically less, usually 15-25%. So, when your local big box store has a sale of $400 off a $2000 list TV, or 20%, the store is not making enough money on the TV already to justify its existance but then you want MORE off? ...LOL. Good luck. It is managerial suicide to take further discount. That said, there are a fair few managers out there (more at CC than BB) that are willing to put their job on the line like that. One side of the coin is that you as a consumer need to do the best for yourself as you can. The other side is that the manager/salesmonkey you're talking to is probably under immense pressure not to let you walk, and by discounting items to make the sale he may very well be losing his job too; you could say you cost someone his job to save yourself $200... feel good? (Note: i do not subscribe to that latter philosophy)

The stores make their money on wires (40%-60%) and speakers (50%-60%) and will usually be willing to discount those to close a deal. As an aside, it boggles my mind why BB devotes 4-8 pages of their weekly add to low margin (and generally low quality) TVs and 1 page or less to high profit audio gear. Any nicer home theater store staff will insist that the audio portion of your system makes up 2/3 of your total viewing experience... so why the hell are pairing a $3000 TV up with a $400 excuse for a sound system? The path to home theater zen (and a successful business) is paved with speakers, processors and amplifiers, not TVs. But i digress...

Know the margins on what you're looking at, you will be able to get very good deals on this stuff. For example, your ~$150 2m M*nster HDMI cable (better picture/sound through advertising!)... it cost the store $60. you can wag that little tid bit in front of the guy if you he offers you only $10 off or some such. What's worse in my opinion is that the lesser quality no-name/store-brand cables are typically 90% profit or better... no joke. One trick that they've tried on me is to offer to throw in my "high-quality" wires only to then hand me a belkin or some other aweful <$10 piece of string. Do not be surprised or offended however if your salesman won't budge on that BD player you want, or the TV that is already on sale.

Lastly, as has been posted previously the sales monkeys have no incentive what so ever to work on your behalf; they get paid regardless. You breaking their balls for a discount will not generally serve any purpose other than pissing off the salesman. Some places the "senior" monkeys have some limited negotiation powers, but usually you will need a manager. Make it clear that you're willing to buy now if the price is right, and be willing to walk away if it isn't. This whole thread is about taking retail to the level of car sales, but if that's what you want, then do it right.

[Blu Haze]

Originally Posted by mgonzo2u

Have you ever traveled outside of the US?

The US is in the minority on how things are done in many ways.

The first one of note is Americans usually only know one language. Most of the rest of the civilized world speaks at least two languages.

They can haggle in two languages.

Ay mate you must be sophiscated. I can speak Espanol hombre. Also English crickey. Now in Mexico where i travel 2 times a year on vacation you have to haggle because everyone marks up there items on purpase. So maybe you should get out of Australie or wherever and go to Mexico. Can i have a cup of tea?

[Blinkman987]

Originally Posted by kalkin84

Before mods lock this, you are what is known in english as a "moron," or one irrationally ingrained in his own delusions. I recommend a history class (or 10) for you, preferably taught by someone who knows what he or she is talking about, but i guess you don't have much experience there. Why don't you go ask the japanese for a start?

...

A) I'm talking about WWII Japanese-Americans. You know, how American citizens were forced from their homes and lost their civil rights because they looked different (non-white), as opposed to other nationalities represented in the Axis that were not detained in concentration/internment camps...
B) Go to school. Take notes. Learn something

The point is that no one gets to decide what is 'civilized' and what is not. History has shown that civilized societies have done some pretty uncivilized things, and to suggest that American culture is somehow superior to another culture is pretty damn ignorant. Apparently saving money and getting retailers to voluntarily vie for your spending dollars is dumb and only something a third-world country would do... whatever that means.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I've never heard of BB willing to haggle over prices unless it is a big ticket item like a TV.

As was the case with me. I found a JVC HD 70" TV on sale at Amazon. Printed out the info and walked into the nerest BB where they matched it right then and there! Saved over $2,000.00 on BB's own retail price on it.

It was quite simple. Either BB could match it and still make a sale/profit, or sit on inventory which is in high competition with Amazon's prices.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

Maybe you should educate yourself on what relocation is, or are you too busy ironing your screaming bald eagle shirt to let people know that AMERICA IS NUMBER 1!

What do they even teach people in school these days? With an education like that, no wonder so many college graduates turn to retail management. *sigh*

Hey idiot, is it ok if I call you idiot? Good.

Might want to do some checking before you start spouting off nonsense, then again if you had replied to my points instead of insinuating I was an American {when I'm not, I'll leave that up to you to figure out where I'm from in case it's not obvious}

Also might want to check the dates on what I was saying, I know knowledge hurts the uninformed and stupid, it'll likely hurt like hell when you look at it, but try.

Logan

[Blinkman987]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Hey idiot, is it ok if I call you idiot? Good.

Might want to do some checking before you start spouting off nonsense, then again if you had replied to my points instead of insinuating I was an American {when I'm not, I'll leave that up to you to figure out where I'm from in case it's not obvious}

Also might want to check the dates on what I was saying, I know knowledge hurts the uninformed and stupid, it'll likely hurt like hell when you look at it, but try.

Logan

I didn't know which to respond to first- the straw man where you shoot the margins by saying "exactly 60" instead of understanding that tons of stuff happened from 60-70 and I just pulled the estimated number from the top of my head (which was pretty damn close anyway), or the ad hominem you just posted. Let me know next time. Thanks.

[mikesoba]

Originally Posted by Xerious

haggling? what are now? a third world country??? brings to mind life of brian.

Price negotiation was very common some time back for audio and video components, same as it is for cars today in the US. Don't know why it is the practice with some products and not others. I still negotiate at Ken Cranes in California for TVs.

I got BB to drop the price 200 bucks on a high end GPS -- but it was a comparison price drop, not a haggle.

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by dk3dknight

Wow ive never had them reduce a price before,
I thought there laser fixing for a ps2 was too high,
the manager told me well sorry then...

Hmm guess I just talked to the wrong people...
oh and too those people in retail, if you stalk me
physically in a store I will put things back that is
creepy I will not buy more things if you follow me
it makes people nervous when people are staring
and hovering over like vultures, or pretending to
hide behind a object but staring at you like your
a piece of meat.

I start having fun when they are following me, I start putting all my purchases in my pockets and acting really shady. I know they can't touch me until I walk past the registers, so I keep acting HIGHLY suspicious, then I go to the register, pull everything out, and act normal and walk out the door. It's great pulling that stunt because then they all run out after you and you just use the receipt and keep asking why the guy is framing you, because you clearly paid for everything.

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

There should be an "Ask a Best Buy Employee" thread.

[jw]

Originally Posted by trey

I grew up in the middle east where this is the way off life. It stuck with me a bit when I came home, and I have found that most anywhere will be willing to give you some kinda discount. (Never gotten the liquor store to follow this rule though )

My girlfriend hates it, but the price is NOT always the price, so it's at least worht a shot!

A buddy of mine from high school served in the first gulf war and he said over there nothing has a set price. You want it cheaper, just offer low and hold out, They will most likely sell. But then again these are the same people that have picnics in the median strips of the highways(similiar to out interstates)

Could you imagine traveling I-95 and see people picnicing in the median

[Batman00]

Originally Posted by Blu Haze

Just buy it for the price were not in mexico

lmao, funniest line i have heard all day

[tqmilymi]

Thanks to those who took this post seriously. Not sure where all the third world comments came from...

[ArkGuy]

I guess if the biggest expendeture a person has beeen involved in is the purchase of a big TV, then one could conclude there's not as much haggling in the US as other countries. And for the most common sorts of purchases, that's true.

But buying or selling a house, settling a civil lawsuit, buyng any car not called a Saturn, negotiating any contract, or making any deal upstream from point of sale retail, it's the same here as in any other country with a free economy.

But historical and cultural debates aside, it's interesting to me to consider the original proposition: whether a slower economy has resulted in B&M venders being more willing to haggle. I kind of doubt it. Their model, as pointed out by many, doen't really allow most of their floor minnions any sort of discretion. If they think they need to thin their margins to move things out the door, some higher up will change the price across the board.

I've had better luck, in good economies and not so good, at independent A/V stores. They have frequently have fatter margins, since they have higher end stuff tagged at MSRP, and the guy you're talking to is either the boss or he's working about 20 feet from him. Just today I was at one who carries Integra. Well, Onkyo doesn't let those dealers sell on the internet and supposedly they're supposed to sell at MSRP to enhance the snob factor, but I just asked the guy, "well, if I wanted that model, what would it cost?" He starts getting out the calculator, looks up their cost,... hem, haw, carry the seven ... and ends up shooting me a price about 28% off sticker. And I wasn't even trying.

Bottom line, it costs nothing to ask, but you're not going to have much luck in a big box chain store. An exception might be the Best Buys with a Magnolia room/store. Different grade of stuff; more high margin, low turnover rather than the other way around in the rest of the store.