getting things cheaper by asking

[jodi]

My recent trip to the auto mechanic got me thinking...what can you get cheaper by asking? I think we have all heard by now of getting your cable/dish bill slashed by having the nerve to call and ask - but what else might we not be thinking of?

I just got over $50 off my mechanic bill by calling around to get prices, then asking the shop to match the lowest.
I also just did a secret shop for a certain store that has a "price match" policy. I had to tell them that I saw something for a lower price, and they are supposed to match it. I picked up a $20 item and was going to tell them I saw it for $15, but DH decided to pipe in and said he saw it for $10 - and they matched it without hesitation! So I gues you never know until you ask. I would have never thought to ask at this particular place for a price reduction, so it makes me wonder what other stores will do it.

Anyone else want to share some ideas?

[safari]

Usually with pricematching they ask to see an ad or they call the other store and check the price. Many stores also have a policy of not matching internet retailers.

[disneysteve]

We learned that mattress prices were negotiable, which we never realized. When we bought our last mattress, we walked in with the store's ad and asked to see some of the models listed. We didn't like them and ended up looking at others. When we found one we liked, we said that it was a lot more than we were looking to spend. He asked what we wanted to spend. I showed him the ad and said it was those prices that made us come in. He ended up coming down a few hundred dollars on the price of the better mattress that we actually liked. Sorry, it's been a few years and I don't recall the specific numbers, but I know we saved hundreds just by asking.

As for car repairs, since you mention that, our agency's policy is you get a free loaner when the car is in for major service. When I have the car in for minor service, I always ask if they'll cover the loaner and they almost always do, which saves me about $35 each time.

[Ima saver]

I am going to have a garage sale when it gets cooler. I wonder if i will have a lot of people asking me to take lower prices. I do not like to barter. I wonder if i should put a sign up that says that??

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I am going to have a garage sale when it gets cooler. I wonder if i will have a lot of people asking me to take lower prices. I do not like to barter. I wonder if i should put a sign up that says that??

I wouldn't. Bartering is part of the process. If you are firm on all your prices, you will sell far less stuff.

[kealina]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I wouldn't. Bartering is part of the process. If you are firm on all your prices, you will sell far less stuff.

i have to agree with steve, ima... we always barter at yard sales... and when selling, we build a little flexibility into the price... we bargained at every yard sale we went to this morning and the only one where we ended up paying full price was a very cheap fundraising sale... plus, it makes people happy to feel like they got a deal and they will be more likely to buy more stuff...

as for the original question we got a fair amount of stuff thrown in by our wedding reception venue just for the asking...

[Sivart5]

In my town the normal real estate commision rate is 6%, but I negotiated a lower commision of 5% on a property I recently sold, as well as the one I currently have listed. This has and will save me hundreds of dollars at the closing.

[Ima saver]

We have had several spec houses listed for sale. On two of them, I sold them myself so i asked if I could pay only half the commission. Both agents agreed. However, they had just been listed, so it didn't really cost them any money in ads.

[TinyFish]

When I got my fridge and stove at Best Buy I told the guy I was 'shopping for the best price', he knocked an extra ten percent off. Heh heh. I already had so many deals going on that fridge and stove! First it was on sale, then there was discounts with this savings card thingy, then if you signed up for a CC you got more off, then they threw in free delivery. By the time they were done I felt like they were paying me to take it! Of course, at checkout I had to REMIND them of the promised 10% extra! LOL

Sometimes you just have to say 'what is your best price on this?'. They either look at you blankly and read the number off the label, or they make you a deal!

-E!

[Snoopy2645]

Well when I have had garage sales at my moms house & btw these are rich people who come to these she lives on the lake & the houses their are out of sight so you know most of the people coming have money. Well they want you to go cheaper on everything like we arent cheap enough already I usually sale stuff that is new in pakage that I got free somehow some way with coupons or online or whatever. They want the stuff for FREE!!

I mean last time we had one in the spring someone wanted to give me $1 & I had a $3 sticker on this item it was new in package & retails for $15 they wanted it for a dollar I said NO WAY usually we have found though when we tell them no they will go up in price.




I used to come down on everything well did that once had one lady wanted to give .50 for all my new stuff I kept saying yes then she got in her big new SUV maybe an escalade that ticked me off so bad after that I said I was never bartering again & what do you no if you say no they will usually pay the price I have marked!!!

[Ima saver]

i am going to price my things fairly at my next garage sale. I don't like to barter either, i want to price at the price I think is a good deal. If they don't want to pay it, i would rather not sell it to them.
I had a piano that belonged to my mother. Theu guy kept trying to dicker, so i refused to sell it to him even at the price I was asking. I did not have a good feeling about the guy and did not want my mother's piano going to his house. That is the way I feel about my "stuff"

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

i am going to price my things fairly at my next garage sale. I don't like to barter either, i want to price at the price I think is a good deal. If they don't want to pay it, i would rather not sell it to them.

In that case, I would print up several signs for each table or display area you will have saying "All prices are firm as marked. No lower offers will be accepted" or something to that effect. Also be sure to have a price tag on every item.

I wish you luck, though I don't think I have ever been to a yard sale or flea market where the seller wouldn't negotiate prices. I guess it depends what is typical in your area.

[vsjhoc]

I had a 7-day subscription to the local (major city) paper. I decided I wanted to get Sunday delivery only because I really wasn't reading the daily paper. I called the subscription dept. to cancel and explained that it was a waste of paper for me to throw the paper out every day. Instantly they offered me a lower 7-day rate. I refused, saying I didn't care how much it cost, I was still going to end up dragging it from the front door to the back every day. They never would have offered that rate without the fear that they were going to lose a subscriber.

[Snoopy2645]

Well I went to a sale once & I usually dont offer lower prices this lady insisted she would take less just make an offer so I picked up about 4 dress for my daughters & my total was $5 I think & I only had $4 on me but had change in my car so I said will you take $4 for these she acted upset never again have I asked someone to come down in price I either pay the sticker price & if I think its too much I dont buy it!!!

[justbee]

When my husband and I built our home we needed kitchen cabinets. By getting a written quote from Lowes on the price, we went to Home Depot and discovered they have an A, B and C price list on them and they automatically went to their C price list to beat Lowe's price.

Also on the purchase of a big screen TV, we liked one at Sears but went to Rex for comparison. They didn't carry the same model but beat Sears price on a comparable one.

Those were two situations where I was suprised to find that the price could be negotiable.

[TinyFish]

Well, with yard sales, I think there is a tradition of bargaining. That's part of the fun for a lot of people. Of course, ultimately the seller can say no.

However, I think if people trying to bargain is going to offend you, you might want to consider classified ads, ebay, or craigslist, etc for selling your items. Though even in those cases you may get a little bargaining.

Generally, people have yard sales to get rid of things they no longer need/use/have room for, so the money is secondary to the decluttering. Let's face it, most people don't yard sale stuff they would normally keep. It probably isn't a great venue for selling cherished possessions or things with very high value.

If something has great emotional family significance, but you still must get rid of it for some reason, you might want to consider looking for a charity to donate it to where you know it will be appreciated. Maybe an old-folks home would love and cherish an old-fashioned piano for sing alongs?

Anyone here ever watch 'Clean Sweep'? It is worth it just for the cute carpenter and that funny Australian organizer! I notice that people fight and argue trying to keep 'x' during the purge portion. Then, when the yard sale comes around, the often end up giving it away with a smile when they see how much someone wants it. Main lesson learned from that show: when choosing heirlooms, try to avoid furniture unless you are certain it will fit into your house and lifestyle.

Just my two cents.

-TinyFish