How to negotiate with stores like Best Buy and Circuit City

[Tyler]

Hey guys, here's my latest blog post based on my experiences from buying a home theater system this weekend.  I hope this helps you guys save money in the future!

http://www.slybaldguys.com/serendipity/archives/190-How-to-negotiate-with-stores-like-Best-Buy-and-Circuit-City.html

[JDog]

Tyler that is an awesome post my friend. I have printed it out and and going to study it.

I wish I would have had this a few years ago when I bought my Flatscreen TV.Well done!

[Marz]

Great tips Tyler, that will come in handy for me very soon!

Thanks!

[DAT Boy]

Tyler, you are sooo right on!  My son works (soon to be past tense) at one of those stores and the mark up on some of the items is incredible!  There was a time when the family of the employee could get the same discount; it was great   Then they clamped down and said employees only and not for anyone else or they'd get fired   On things like computers, there was no discount due to the competition, but on assessories it was insane   Things like Monster cables he can get at about a 90% discount!  Same thing with small things like a camera bag for $25, the employee price might be $7   When my son refused to get me something because of fear of being fired, I used a ploy similar to yours to get a deal on a surround sound system (all in one).  I did OK, but you did fantastic!

[Tyler]

Tyler, you are sooo right on!  My son works (soon to be past tense) at one of those stores and the mark up on some of the items is incredible!  There was a time when the family of the employee could get the same discount; it was great   Then they clamped down and said employees only and not for anyone else or they'd get fired   On things like computers, there was no discount due to the competition, but on assessories it was insane   Things like Monster cables he can get at about a 90% discount!  Same thing with small things like a camera bag for $25, the employee price might be $7   When my son refused to get me something because of fear of being fired, I used a ploy similar to yours to get a deal on a surround sound system (all in one).  I did OK, but you did fantastic!

Thanks DB!  My brother used to work at one of the stores mentioned and one of my buddies is a manager at the different one.  I didn't use them in this transaction as I honestly did not know I was going to buy at the time I did, but I had done all of my research already so I knew where I stood when it appeared that the time was right.

When you start to learn the business side of things you begin to really understand how to manipulate the stores from the consumer standpoint.  It's also one of the main reasons that I believe internet shopping will really start to surpass in store shopping for various product groups as technology and logistics get even better.  I believe that one day stores will become more and more of distribution and logistic companies than stores.  You will see the store become more of a showroom and less of a warehouse with products being delivered to the door within a few hours or less of the purchase.  If a person will need an item immediately they will have to pay a premium such as they already do at convenience stores like 7-11. 

[Mikekoz13]

Great post Tyler!

[PianoMan]

Thanks for the great post Tyler. 

[PigPen]

Good stuff Tyler, I did a similar deal when I bought the dryer for our house less than a year ago. I had already bought a front load washer from the same mom and pop outfit here in town. The manager wanted to sell me the service plan, but I told him I couldn't afford it (which I really couldn't at the time). He said I tell you what, you have kids and will really benefit from this, so I'll throw it in. So he dropped the price of the dryer and threw in a service plan. I was stoked.

[jusbnme]

Good stuff bro.  Thanks for sharing.

When I first noticed this thread I thought it was going to involve a gun and a ski mask.   

[andrew]

Very schrewd Tyler ...   I thought I was pretty good at negotiating deals, but you've certainly taken this to a new level.   I like the repackaging of the service plan price as a discount to the product.

[PigPen]

This also works for car repairs. Sometimes the shop or delaership just wants the business. My boss gives us pretty good leadway on those types of things. His philosophy is, do what it takes to get the job done. But don't give away the whole damn store. So if we need to give a 10% or 15% discount, do it. Having their business with the discount is better than nothing at all.

[SlyBaldDude]

Tyler Tyler Tyler .. I have worked as a call center order taker for most of the major retailers.  It is true that some places have a really large mark up,  and that most places will price match most websites or box stores.  What I have never understood is if you find something you want and it is a lot cheaper at another retailer,  why are you calling me for a price match?  Why don't you just buy it at the cheaper retailer? 

Its almost like you are in a game,  and the victory is in getting somebody to lower their price until it agrees with what you think you should pay .. so that you can go around and tell all your friends about how you got Best Buy to lower its price on the camera.  The victory isn't in the cheaper camera,  its in having a story to tell about how you made it cheaper .. I just don't get it.  I get people calling me (orientals are the majority) price matching camera's and stuff.  They have this thing planned out.  They have researched.  They have lists.  They won't just tell you what they want to pay .. they have to work their coupons .. its just really rediculous.  Don't these people have a life?  They have made it their JOB to be victorious in a price match.  They will spend an entire DAY getting five bucks off of a camera.

They want the price match,  the free shipping,  the coupons,  and it goes on and on .. really to the point where they are taking advantage of the retailer sometimes.  One retailer I work for has a pretty tight computer setup .. it is really difficult to use a coupon for any purpose than what it was intended.  People still try .. they call back,  they lie,  they keep track of who they last lied too until they ware you down and you just give them what they want.  How is that right?  What about the people who are ticked off because the item is out of stock.  They call and say,  "I know it says it is out of stock,  but is it really out of stock?"  "No,  we just put it up that way to piss you off. We really have a lot of those cameras,  just none for you.  We don't really make money selling you stuff,  our satisfaction is derived from having as many out of stock items as we can,  but only when you are ready to press the buy button."

Over Christmas I was so turned off my all of the people who's life was ruined because they couldn't get a Wii .. its' just crazy.  Our whole society is all built around the accumulation of crap!  It all means nothing ..

/rant

[Tyler]

Tyler Tyler Tyler .. I have worked as a call center order taker for most of the major retailers.  It is true that some places have a really large mark up,  and that most places will price match most websites or box stores.  What I have never understood is if you find something you want and it is a lot cheaper at another retailer,  why are you calling me for a price match?  Why don't you just buy it at the cheaper retailer? 

To answer your question, I will tell the other half of the story that I didn't mention.

The main reason that I decided to negotiate down Best Buy and Circuit City is that I wanted to buy from them instead of Frys or Costco.  The reason being is the service and availability of products.  Frys has HORRIBLE service and they don't take American Express, which is the card I wanted to use to make the purchase.  I could have easily walked in there and purchased everything at a "lower price" than Best Buy and Circuit City, but I ended up getting a much better deal than if I would have.   Costco does not have all the items I needed, so I was going to have to go somewhere else to get them. 

Also, I did find the products cheaper online and I didn't want to have to pay shipping or wait for the products to get delivered.  Also, it's harder to return a product that you purchase online if you need to. 

I find  your rhetoric to be a bit ironic.  You rant about people and their accumulation of crap, but if it weren't for them wanting to spend money at stores that you work for, you wouldn't have a job!  Next time someone calls you and wants to negotiate (oriental or not), thank them for giving you a chance to sell them something so that you can keep your job for one more day.

[SlyBaldDude]

OMG!  I mustv been having a really bad day when I wrote about that.  It is true though that people treat retail sales people like the scum of the earth.  I guess it is a little tiring.

Here are some interesting tidbits:  When you ask for s supervisor,  you don't ever really get one.  All outfits have a group of "supervisors".  They are for taking care of "irate" customers. 

You're right about the irony .. I should get into a different line of work .. maybe start selling headblades or something ..

[nomad]

I would have to say its not about the accumulation of crap its about getting what you want for a fair price we all know the markups are crazy I was in the sales and also the reatail bussiness for awhile, the markups ARE crazy. I don't want to line someone else's pockets I want to keep as much of the money I've busted my butt to earn in MY pocket and spend it as I see fit.