Can you negotiate on furniture these days?

[KAYLI'S DAD]

We are in the market for some new furniture with cash of course and would prefer leather. Does anyone know if you can negotiate with the big stores like ashley furniture and so on if your paying cash?

 

[Marshay]

We are in the market for some new furniture with cash of course and would prefer leather. Does anyone know if you can negotiate with the big stores like ashley furniture and so on if your paying cash?

I always negotiate for furniture and pay via credit card too!

Just last month, we just bought a cheap sofa (i.e, ~$300) from Ashley and paid with credit card and got $25 manager gift card. The salesperson wouldn't discount the sofa at all -- said she couldn't even take 5% off, but I pressed her to ask her manager.

I just told the manager I was ready to buy "then and there" if he could discount the sofa a bit more. The manager offered up the $25 gift card and I took the deal!

To me it is psychological...I hate to pay "sticker price"...I want to feel like I got a deal. Salesperson still got full commission on the full sale price since gift card was used as a method of payment. Manager was probably just happy to make a sale and get me out of the store!

So IMHO it was a win-win-win!

Good luck -- always ask, all they can do is say no.

 

[brymolmom]

Now it's been several years (10-ish), but when we bought our family room set the sticker price was about $3000 and some change. We spoke with a sales guy who encouraged us to come in on Saturday when there was a HUGE sale. We rearranged our schedule to be there and I was extremely upset not to even see a sale price at ALL on the sticker. I told him he wasted our time and he said 'let me know what you want to pay' and I told him $2000. Without batting an eye - he said 'sold'. I was kicking myself for not saying $1800!

Obviously we're going to be in the market for a new set very soon. I will offer at least 25% off, depending on brand/sticker price. I might even start as low as 40% off...and negotiate from there.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Clark Howard just mentioned on the radio recently that since home sales have tanked, furniture sales are also way down. Feel free to negotiate!

 

[Pigeon]

You can always try.

We bought a leather sectional this fall. I did try to negotiate with the local store that sold the line I wanted, but they wouldn't cut any deal at all.

I then ordered it online, which made me a bit nervous, but was almost a thousand dollars less. It worked out fine.

 

[Evi]

Yes, yes and yes. But its important to educate yourself on the item your purchasing. Do you research! Does anyone else sell the same item you want? Is there price the same or lower? Is the item available online? is the price the same or lower? Has this item been around for awhile? You can always ask for a discount on an item that has been around for some time.

I recently negotiated a mattress that retails for originally around 6k down to 4,500 then contacted another vendor and they sold it to me for 3k. Not only can you talk a price down but you can get vendors to price match or give you a final and best price.

It helps if you can say I have cash on the spot and a truck to pick up the item today.

 

[Brer Shay]

YES! My mother and I have both been shopping, independently, for furniture in the last month and were able to negotiate. She is getting custom upholstered LaZBoy chairs and negotiated a $70 less per chair price. DH and I are updating DS room and needed a new mattress and a dresser for him. I took cash and a truck and got the retail $999/sale $600 mattress for $440. No luck on the dresser yet, but I'm working on it.

 

[cnj]

I negotiate everything. I think I embarrass my husband sometimes. 80% of the time they will negotiate. You have to be willing to hear the word "no," and decide ahead of time what you are going to do. I usually take my business elsewhere, unless it is something I cannot live without.

Also, with big stores, you can negotiate more on floor samples finding flaws, etc. The managers don't normally care because they are not attached to the stuff. Small businesses, you negotiate opposite. Let them know that you love their store or the piece but be super nice and tell them what you can afford.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

definitely yes at Ashley--at least get free delivery. We have shopped multiple times there for fairly small purchases and always left paying less than what was originally asked and not paying for delivery.