Haggling on price - is it the done thing?

[Sachakins]

The mindset I use is that you have a right to haggle if you wish, but also the seller has a right to refuse, and you must accept that courteously too.
It pays to do your research first though.


Recently pick up some sheet goods off market place. 3 off 4x2 for £60.
I offered £110 if I was buy 6. Seller refused, as he claimed he was losing on it at £60, and no rush to sell as running down his business to retire in a year.
Sounds like he was just spinning a yarn. (Turns out he wasn't though)
But I'd done my research, and knew best price was £55 per sheet plus delivery
So I was happy with the £60 and I could collect next day., and it was still in original suppliers carton, unopened so as good as new.

 

[Bingy man]

Yeah know the value of what your buying and ditto for selling . Imagine buying a nearly new but used (6months old) table saw for £500 but the same saw brand new in the box was £560 delivered to your door - pointless but if the saw was still in the box never been used for £450 delivered then you save £110 - absolute bargain ..

 

[Sideways]

A discount is a form of sales "promotion".
I once read a great summary of the aim of sales promo :
"
Buy more !
Buy me !
Buy now !
"
I've noted my own response to promotions over the years.
5% off I totally ignore
10% off might, just, tip me into buying something now if I'd already decided I needed it.
20% off is the minimum that will induce me to buy more of, or this thing rather than that thing.

And for anything that sells new with a warranty, these are rarely transferrable in a secondhand sale. I value a warranty on tools, machinery, most everything apart from raw materials at 20% of the retail price. This includes expensive stuff as 20% will generally cover the cost of one or two parts if you find you have to repair it.

All these views on value are subjective to each of us. Mine tend to mean I see "fair" prices for secondhand goods in the range of 30% to 60% of the current street price, depending on condition between "good used", to "as new". I often get a smile from those "aspirational" souls who expect far more £ as a seller than they would be willing to pay as a buyer

 

[Spectric]

I will only be tempted by a sale if it is a good discount on something I want and it cost at least £100 from a reputable seller. The smaller items with a fiver off is not getting my interest as I would just buy if and when needed. The sales that I find most annoying are when you have already made a purchase on something like flue pipe and they then want to sell you more, why ? The job is done and you don't need any more so why the bombarding of offers.

 

[Sachakins]

I never look at any percentage discount offers. Just the total amount cash I have part with.

 

[Blackswanwood]

It feels like for a lot of things the promotional sale/discounted price now is the real one and the “normal” price is just there to make it feel like a bargain.

 

[Sachakins]

It feels like for a lot of things the promotional sale/discounted price now is the real one and the “normal” price is just there to make it feel like a bargain.

So true.

 

[Chris152]

I tend to hold out for the price I want or very near for a week or two. After that, I give up caring and just want rid, so long as I get a price that's not ridiculously low.* I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

*This will not apply to any future 'For Sale' listings I post on here.