High Street haggling

rodgers73
rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
edited July 2013 in The cake stop
Seems like we're always being encouraged to haggle in shops by people like Martin Lewis etc. I'd never tried it before now but I managed to get a new watch knocked down from £130 to £114 today at a local branch of Goldsmiths.

It made me wonder what joy others are having with this sort of thing? Got any good deals by trying your negotiating skills?
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Comments

  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    Just go in, look at something high quality and say that you can't quite afford it. It's worked for me quite a few times - got discounts of up to 10%.
  • vitesse169
    vitesse169 Posts: 422
    Last month the dishwasher went bang - off to Currys for a new one. Asked for free delivery as the guy couldn't cut the price, and got it.... saved £25 there...
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    Try and haggle at the checkout at the supermarket. The look of terror on the till girl's face is classic.
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    Apparently Brits lose billions due to not tryin to get the best price.
    I've saved quite a bit on cars, jewellery, hollidays and much more.
    Living MY dream.
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    Nah - always, always always ask - if you don't ask you don't get. Always be very polite, cheeky and do it with a smile as well. If they say no then have a laugh about it, if they say yes then be very grateful.

    Having an Army ID card always gets you a discount as well :)
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,218
    Can't remember the exact amounts but got about £150 knocked off a 42" TV when they first started becoming popular. Went into Currys just before they closed, ummed and arghed a bit looked like I was going to walk away and they just dropped the price much lower than I'd hoped. They must make a killing off all the people who pay the ticket price without question.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Try that in a French bike shop, and you'll leave in a wheelchair.........
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    Try that in a French bike shop, and you'll leave in a wheelchair.........

    I wouldn't buy from the French :)
    Living MY dream.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    i haggle for stuff i want in most places, sometimes works, sometimes doesn't ..
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    VTech wrote:
    Try that in a French bike shop, and you'll leave in a wheelchair.........

    I wouldn't buy from the French :)

    Come on now, Vtech, I'm sure you've quaffed some champagne in your time.......!
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    VTech wrote:
    Try that in a French bike shop, and you'll leave in a wheelchair.........

    I wouldn't buy from the French :)

    Come on now, Vtech, I'm sure you've quaffed some champagne in your time.......!

    It was an off the cuff answer :mrgreen:
    My first recollection of france was visiting when I was around 14, we went over on the ferry and as we drove off and out of the port we only went a short distance when the car we were traveling in was spat on by some locals, it was a political time but to me it was savagery and since then ive always felt upset when the french have targeted various british businesses to make their point, like hauliers etc and it makes me sick. Im sure its a psychological thing only.

    There is only 1 french thing that I really would like but I doubt ill ever have one.
    Living MY dream.
  • andy_f
    andy_f Posts: 474
    VTech wrote:
    VTech wrote:
    Try that in a French bike shop, and you'll leave in a wheelchair.........

    I wouldn't buy from the French :)

    Come on now, Vtech, I'm sure you've quaffed some champagne in your time.......!

    It was an off the cuff answer :mrgreen:
    My first recollection of france was visiting when I was around 14, we went over on the ferry and as we drove off and out of the port we only went a short distance when the car we were traveling in was spat on by some locals, it was a political time but to me it was savagery and since then ive always felt upset when the french have targeted various british businesses to make their point, like hauliers etc and it makes me sick. Im sure its a psychological thing only.

    There is only 1 french thing that I really would like but I doubt ill ever have one.


    Audrey Tautou?
    "Let your life rule your job, not your job rule your life"

    Born to ride, forced to work.
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    She is very pretty but.... The only French thing I would really like is;

    http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron.html
    Living MY dream.
  • andy_f
    andy_f Posts: 474
    VTech wrote:
    She is very pretty but.... The only French thing I would really like is;

    http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron.html

    I would have to stick with Audrey, the Veyron would get stuck on the speed bumps in the works car park.
    "Let your life rule your job, not your job rule your life"

    Born to ride, forced to work.
  • Gizmo_
    Gizmo_ Posts: 558
    ANDY F wrote:
    VTech wrote:
    She is very pretty but.... The only French thing I would really like is;

    http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron.html

    I would have to stick with Audrey, the Veyron would get stuck on the speed bumps in the works car park.
    And the Veyron's German.
    Scott Sportster P45 2008 | Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra 2012
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    A Veyron?? Are you all 15 year old boys??
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    rodgers73 wrote:
    A Veyron?? Are you all 15 year old boys??

    For liking the worlds fastest car? If so, then yeah! Stop being so boring.
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    Gizmo_ wrote:
    ANDY F wrote:
    VTech wrote:
    She is very pretty but.... The only French thing I would really like is;

    http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron.html

    I would have to stick with Audrey, the Veyron would get stuck on the speed bumps in the works car park.
    And the Veyron's German.

    Bugatti are a French company.
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    rodgers73 wrote:
    A Veyron?? Are you all 15 year old boys??

    For liking the worlds fastest car? If so, then yeah! Stop being so boring.


    Haha! Yeah, you're right. I'm going to put a poster of it on my wall, next to my one of the A-Team.
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    Go for it.

    So what people like fast cars?
  • rodgers73
    rodgers73 Posts: 2,626
    Go for it.

    So what people like fast cars?


    oh, the coolest ones.
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    I can't help but marvel over the engineering of the car, it's not the best looking IMO, I prefer the look of the Zonda but having driven one I couldn't see one as a daily driver some how.

    Citroen DS3 is a great car IMO though, as is the RS4 but I would never buy one of those.
    A great car is one you feel happy driving, something you really wanted then were able to get or one where you appreciate the work its taken to get it.
    Living MY dream.
  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    Bugatti are a French company.

    Ettore Bugatti was French, but the company that now bears his name is a part of the Volkswagen group.

    Back to the topic . . . I used to do this sort of thing a lot, but now I tend to only do it for the big ticket items. And since I hardly ever buy big ticket items, that's not often.
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    I haggled when I bought my flat if that helps?
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
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  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    Giraffoto wrote:
    Bugatti are a French company.

    Ettore Bugatti was French, but the company that now bears his name is a part of the Volkswagen group.

    Back to the topic . . . I used to do this sort of thing a lot, but now I tend to only do it for the big ticket items. And since I hardly ever buy big ticket items, that's not often.

    By your logic Jaguar are now American because Ford owns them. They are British designed, so are British. Same as Land Rover. Bugatti is a French company regardless of who owns them.
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    I thought I was back on the 'what car do you drive' thread for a minute!
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,321
    I haggled and got £200 off my wife's engagement ring 8)

    She was in the shop with me at the time but hey ho, a bargain's a bargain
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • VTech
    VTech Posts: 4,736
    seanoconn wrote:
    I haggled and got £200 off my wife's engagement ring 8)

    She was in the shop with me at the time but hey ho, a bargain's a bargain

    That's Genius, shows you care, but will also try and save so that she can have more :)
    Living MY dream.
  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,321
    VTech wrote:
    seanoconn wrote:
    I haggled and got £200 off my wife's engagement ring 8)

    She was in the shop with me at the time but hey ho, a bargain's a bargain

    That's Genius, shows you care, but will also try and save so that she can have more :)
    And now she wants an eternity ring! I'm sure my mum hasn't got one of those. Just because her mum's got more rings than Del Boy, doesn't mean she's getting one!
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי