Haggling in a department store?

[aristocatz]

My DH & I just purchased our very first bedroom set. We got a great sale price at Macy's & I'm very happy with my purchase.

I just called my parents to tell them the exciting news (we had been saving for a while) & my dad asked if we haggled for a better price- I didn't think this was done at a department store. My DH & I are just not the types to negotiate prices (unless we are buying a car or at a tag sale where negotiating is common practice). & my dad is the type who tries to negotiate everything, even taking it to the extreme at times.

I was just curious, can you really haggle for a lower price for big ticket items in a department store like Macy's?? On things that are on sale already?

 

[MrsDuck]

My DH & I just purchased our very first bedroom set. We got a great sale price at Macy's & I'm very happy with my purchase.

I just called my parents to tell them the exciting news (we had been saving for a while) & my dad asked if we haggled for a better price- I didn't think this was done at a department store. My DH & I are just not the types to negotiate prices (unless we are buying a car or at a tag sale where negotiating is common practice). & my dad is the type who tries to negotiate everything, even taking it to the extreme at times.

I was just curious, can you really haggle for a lower price for big ticket items in a department store like Macy's?? On things that are on sale already?

I've never once known of anyone or heard of anyone (sucessfully) haggling at a department store.

 

[aristocatz]

I've never once known of anyone or heard of anyone (sucessfully) haggling at a department store.

Hello fellow Swan bride

OK, that's what I thought. My dad tends to go overboard sometimes.....

 

[avgeek81]

I work in a retail store and I have had people try to haggle with no luck. If something is damaged we will sometimes give 10% off but that is all. Apparently Best Buy will change prices sometimes if you ask. I had someone ask if this was the best price we could give on a tv. I said yeah that's the price. She said ok I will go to Best Buy they will work with me. I just thought whatever and went on my way.

Then my mom went to best buy to buy a tv. She also got a stand and cables, a cleaning kit and a router. They already had a deal when you bought the cables/cleaning kit with the tv but she asked if they could do anything with the stand and they gave her $40 off. I don't know if its their policy or she just got lucky.

 

[pryncess527]

I used to work in jewelry and that is an area where you can haggle a bit, but I'd never think to try it with furniture.

 

[aristocatz]

I work in a retail store and I have had people try to haggle with no luck. If something is damaged we will sometimes give 10% off but that is all. Apparently Best Buy will change prices sometimes if you ask. I had someone ask if this was the best price we could give on a tv. I said yeah that's the price. She said ok I will go to Best Buy they will work with me. I just thought whatever and went on my way.

Then my mom went to best buy to buy a tv. She also got a stand and cables, a cleaning kit and a router. They already had a deal when you bought the cables/cleaning kit with the tv but she asked if they could do anything with the stand and they gave her $40 off. I don't know if its their policy or she just got lucky.

I would feel really weird doing something like that. Especially since, in our case, our furniture set was already on sale. My dad was trying to tell me that the guy at Macy's works on commission & I should have offered $100-$200 less since I was buying multiple items. Like I said though, he tends to go a bit overboard (which is one reason why I never shop with him!!)

 

[Hrhpd]

My DH & I just purchased our very first bedroom set. We got a great sale price at Macy's & I'm very happy with my purchase.

I just called my parents to tell them the exciting news (we had been saving for a while) & my dad asked if we haggled for a better price- I didn't think this was done at a department store. My DH & I are just not the types to negotiate prices (unless we are buying a car or at a tag sale where negotiating is common practice). & my dad is the type who tries to negotiate everything, even taking it to the extreme at times.

I was just curious, can you really haggle for a lower price for big ticket items in a department store like Macy's?? On things that are on sale already?

I once haggled in a dept store to get them to honor their advertisement to match + percentage off any other lower price. The ad said "no ifs, ands or buts." There was no stipulation on any of the signs that anything was not included.

I found a great price on line for the same item and brought it in. They said that they wouldn't match internet prices. I argued that that was a "but" and the signs all over the store said "No ifs, ands or buts." And none of the signs said anything about internet prices not being valid.

Took awhile, but I calmly stood my ground and I got my internet price + the percentage off. (It was substantial so worth my standing around asking for the manager.)

Not exactly the same thing since it was an advertisement, but you can haggle the price down sometimes.

 

[mfd25wife]

I have negotiated on furniture at furniture stores. They actually have it marked up 200-300% per a friend who sells it. I've negotiated for us several times, and I've negotiated for two bedroom suits I was purchasing for two wish children who were sisters.

 

[mfd25wife]

I have negotiated on furniture. They actually have it marked up 200-300% per a friend who sells it. I've negotiated for us several times, and I've negotiated for two bedroom suits I was purchasing for two wish children who were sisters.

Oh and we even got a discount on a non discounted "faux fireplace" at Big Lots. Several were on sale but not the one we wanted so we asked for the same discount. It worked.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I worked in retail for over 10 years (thank God I got outta that) and the ONLY way to haggle is to find a discrepancy in tagged merchandise. For instance, if there is a sale posted that isn't available anymore... Then, you have a possibility...but otherwise, you just can't haggle "store policy."

 

[ilovepcot]

Only time I ever got lucky haggling was at Belk Department Store. There was an ad in the Sunday newspaper about *all* their in stock china being on sale at 50% off that one day. I had some of the "Lenox Holiday" pattern but had always planned to add to it. I knew they had some of this in stock and headed there fast as I could. No, no, NO!!! Store manager explained (like speaking to a small child) that Lenox was NOT on sale at 50% off...all their other china was. He smiled, then turned to walk away. I had anticipated this and pulled the ad out of my purse. I asked him to read what the ad said. He moaned and asked how much of it I wanted at 50% off. I bought a ton!

 

[aristocatz]

Only time I ever got lucky haggling was at Belk Department Store. There was an ad in the Sunday newspaper about *all* their in stock china being on sale at 50% off that one day. I had some of the "Lenox Holiday" pattern but had always planned to add to it. I knew they had some of this in stock and headed there fast as I could. No, no, NO!!! Store manager explained (like speaking to a small child) that Lenox was NOT on sale at 50% off...all their other china was. He smiled, then turned to walk away. I had anticipated this and pulled the ad out of my purse. I asked him to read what the ad said. He moaned and asked how much of it I wanted at 50% off. I bought a ton!

OK, that I can understand-they had a misleading ad. I would be comfortable doing that. I do feel that a store should honor their ads, regardless of if they made an error. I just wouldn't feel comfortable haggling on furniture that was already on sale, no errors in their ad.

 

[eliza61]

One of the reasons it so hard at department stores is that the sales person rarely is the person who sets the price. Not like an individual store where the owner can make instant decisions.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I've heard of people successfully haggling if they can find some sort of flaw. I am not one to try it, I am too shy or something.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

When I worked in retail our managers could offer 10-15% off or free shipping if it helped make a sale, so I do ask on big ticket items.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My DH & I just purchased our very first bedroom set. We got a great sale price at Macy's & I'm very happy with my purchase.

I just called my parents to tell them the exciting news (we had been saving for a while) & my dad asked if we haggled for a better price- I didn't think this was done at a department store. My DH & I are just not the types to negotiate prices (unless we are buying a car or at a tag sale where negotiating is common practice). & my dad is the type who tries to negotiate everything, even taking it to the extreme at times.

I was just curious, can you really haggle for a lower price for big ticket items in a department store like Macy's?? On things that are on sale already?

Sometimes we have to ask for a manager. But we've always been successful haggling on big ticket items with the only exception being something that's already marked way down such as close outs.

 

[declansdad]

I worked in retail for over 10 years (thank God I got outta that) and the ONLY way to haggle is to find a discrepancy in tagged merchandise. For instance, if there is a sale posted that isn't available anymore... Then, you have a possibility...but otherwise, you just can't haggle "store policy."

That would depend on the store; not all retail stores are the same.

 

[yoopermom]

Independently owned furniture stores, yes; chain stores, no.

I had an elderly friend who had just downsized walk into a local mom and pop store and literally bought all new everything and they gave her 20% off the total (but she spent like 10K).

Terri

 

[aristocatz]

Independently owned furniture stores, yes; chain stores, no.

I had an elderly friend who had just downsized walk into a local mom and pop store and literally bought all new everything and they gave her 20% off the total (but she spent like 10K).

Terri

Actually, now that you mentioned independent stores, we bought our couch from a mom & pop store & the guy knocked some $$ off of the ticketed price. We didn't haggle, he just offered as we were deciding whether to buy it. We were surprised because the price was already quite reasonable.

 

[poohfriend77]

I normally would never even think about haggling in a retail store. The only time I did (sort of) was when we were couch shopping in a chain furniture store. They had a deal where you got $100 off the set if you bought the couch and loveseat. We wanted two full-size couches, so we did ask if the deal would still apply. The salesman had to check with the manager, but said they would take $50 off each couch. It didn't really feel like haggling, because we were actually substituting a more expensive purchase.

I have asked for price-matching deals (at stores that advertise that policy), but I can't imagine saying, "Is this the best you can do? How about taking 20% off and throw in a lamp?"