Getting the best deal on almost anything
New Zealanders, for the most part, are not big hagglers.
While the price tag is an invitation to argue in many countries – sellers expect to be beaten down and a buyer who does not bargain will leave the merchant baffled – it is a different story here. Most prices are fixed and the thought of asking for a discount is enough to make many a shopper’s blood run cold. With the exception of a few big ticket items like property and vehicles, most of us routinely stump up with the advertised amount.
But with Christmas shopping likely to have left many wallets a little lighter, it might be worth honing your negotiation skills for the new year. Unsure where to start? Here are some tips to help you on your way to a lifetime of happy haggling.
Do your research
Everybody knows the dangers of heading to the supermarket when you are hungry – before you know it, that quick trip for bread and milk has become a frenzied grocery grab and you are on your way to the checkout with a trolley that will give you diabetes just by looking at it. And you forgot the milk.
If you are not in the right headspace or you have not done your research, other shopping missions are just as likely to leave you with regrets.
In the not-so-distant past, shoppers had two options for product research: Let their fingers do the walking and ring around retailers or let their feet do the walking and visit shops in person. Now you can browse store websites to compare products and prices from the comfort of the couch.
There are even price comparison sites such as PriceSpy to help you find the best deal in minutes.
Knowing exactly what you want, and what it is worth, means you are less likely to have your arm twisted into buying an item with features you don’t want or need, or paying more than you should for the product you want.
Take advantage of price match promises
Knowing the lowest advertised price for a specific item can often be the quickest route to getting it even cheaper. Every second store seems to have a price match promise and many will beat a competitor’s advertised price by 10 to 15 per cent. It is easy money in your pocket.
Talk to the right person
While you might think a junior salesperson will be easier to deal with (or manipulate, depending on your level of chicanery), they are unlikely to have the authority to negotiate.
If the person you are dealing with can’t or won’t cut you a better deal, try a phrase like: ‘‘OK, I understand you can’t help me. Can I please talk to someone who can?’’
Look, sometimes you just have to embrace your inner ‘‘Karen’’ and ask to speak to the manager – it could save you a small fortune. Let her out.
(Cash) money talks
It might not make a difference at the supermarket but for bigger ticket items, there is power in paying by cash. Whether it is the thought of a smooth transaction with no finance to arrange or simple instant gratification, offering cash upfront often rapidly erodes the seller’s resistance. Note: These days, ‘‘cash’’ is more likely to mean a payment made with a debit card or bank transfer than with oldfashioned notes and coins.
Ask for extras
Not every retailer will be willing to lower their price but some will throw in a freebie or two in lieu of a discount. Buying a car and the salesperson won’t budge on price? Ask if they will cover the on-road costs which cover registration, warrant of fitness and, for diesel vehicles, road user charges.
Keep your cool
Knowing what you want and what you are willing to pay should set you up to negotiate in a relaxed and pleasant way.
Stick to your guns and be assertive but not aggressive – you won’t win any friends (or discounts) by being confrontational or rude.
If negotiations stall, walking away is much more likely to help your cause than firing up.
Thank your salesperson and walk away without a backwards glance. Once it is obvious you are actually leaving, you might find that ‘‘best price’’ they pitched five minutes ago is no longer their bottom dollar.