When I first started to haggle I would get the same knots in my stomach as I would when I asked a girl out or told her that I liked her. I was scared--scared that the salesman or manager might think less of me, scared they would say know, scared they would be offended. Why was I scared?
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Nicole, thanks for the response. I appreciate hearing from the other side of the negotiation.
Obviously, coming off as an ass doesn't help the situation, that's why "Be Likable" is one of the pointers. I also know for a fact that many of the big box retailers are now allowing store clerks to take discounts off without approval of the manager (I work for a retail corporation as well).
In the best buy example, all the guy would have had to do is tell me no, he couldn't do any better and I would have stopped asking, but he kept saying, well let's see if I can do better. He knew we meant business, he knew we were ready to walk out the door with a few G's in merchandise, and he knew that we were price matching him against competitors.
The bottom line is that it shouldn't be frowned upon to haggle. In fact we are one of the only cultures in the world where it is. Most cultures look at you like you're an idiot if you don't haggle. I've never had anyone look at me like an idiot, and I've only had one person tell me flat out..."No, we don't deal." Obviously no one likes an ass. There are ways to respectfully do this, and ways to disrespectfully do this. I always take the high road.
Although I by no means think that you shouldn't do it, just please don't come off as an ass to the poor sales people, or the manager. Yes, you can get a better deal, and maybe the $50 off a $500 purchase is worth it to you, but you do eventually become obnoxious to the person you are haggling with if you push the point.
I love the example at Sherwin Williams, and it never hurts to *ask*, especially in case there are promotions or coupons going on or you are buying a number of things, but at some point the people you are haggling with are going to get fed up with you. I was shopping the other day and they happened to have a discount for AAA members (which I am not), and they had no problem scanning an extra coupon for me, and it made my day.
However, you should be aware that by the third time you've asked for a discount, the manager and the sales people are probably pretty much fed up with you.
If you couldn't care less what strangers think about you, go for it, all out. But personally, currently being a sales manager at a major retailer, if I'm at another store, asking once is really enough. Knowing how it annoying it gets on the other side of the counter, even if I am saving an extra 5%, its not really worth it to me. Because at that point, trust me, they want the sale, but they want you to go away nearly as much.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?