Can+you+haggle+article

http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=671595 What is your opinion of haggling? Have you ever haggled? What is your best bargain story! By Barbara Messer, **ninemsn Money**, November 2008
 * Can you haggle your way to a bargain? **

Haggling for a discount is an accepted way of shopping in many countries, whether you're buying vegetables or a second hand car. With talk of an economic downturn in Australia and retailers keener than ever for your money, could haggling become commonplace? We sent our Sydney correspondent Barbara Messer out to find out. In the three months to September 2008, retail sales grew a paltry 0.1 percent, which is bad news for retailers but good news for consumers — providing, of course, you know how to haggle. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians are cutting back on big-ticket items such as plasma televisions, fridges and furniture. It's an environment that's ripe for haggling, says Christopher Zinn, spokesperson for Choice magazine. And that is encouraging retailers to embrace a "happy to haggle" relationship with consumers. [|**Your say: tell us your haggling stories**] "The word 'haggle' is associated with being a bit of a ratbag, but it actually goes back to the origins of buying and selling," Zinn explains. "Everything used to be open to haggling. Fixed prices were only introduced with the onset of department stores around 150 years ago. "These days we have a very fast and sophisticated means of exchange, but I still think there's room for more haggling. It does take time, but it makes the shopping experience much more interesting, and if you're good at it, you can save a lot of dough." First, pick a quiet time of day, and choose boutiques over department stores or supermarkets, which tend to implement more stringent pricing policies, advises Zinn. Next, find a manager or owner who has the authority to discount prices. If you can't secure a discount, ask for added value, such as free accessories or gift-wrapping. It might not sound like much, but it all adds up.  To test Zinn's theory, I head to the department store to haggle — with mixed results. A Sony Bravia Plasma TV is on sale for $999, down from $1299. The salesman readily drops his price to $900, a neat 10 percent saving, but won't budge any lower in spite of my incessant pestering.  I express interest in a Samsung vacuum cleaner, and ask for a deal on both. The vacuum cleaner retails for $199. My salesman drops the price to $149 and throws in a $60 turbo vacuum head for free. This haggling business is a breeze. A Sony Bravia is advertised for $999 plus a 10 percent discount, the same price as Bing Lee. The salesman says he'll match any price, so I lie and tell him Bing Lee offered me $800. He says he'll honour it — if I can show him proof. Mental note: in the game of haggling, lying doesn't necessarily work. In the white goods section, there's a Westinghouse refrigerator with a $1299 price tag plus a 15 percent discount. Again, I pester the sales woman for a bigger reduction. Again, she won't budge unless I show evidence of a lower price elsewhere, nor will she waive the $55 delivery fee. David Jones is sticking to its price-matching policy like glue. When I ask for the best price on a thermal undergarment and a sleeping bag, the salesman informs me there's a 50 percent sale starting in one week's time, and he'll give me the sale price today. I say, "If everyone's getting 50 percent off, can't I have more?" He says, "No." I ask for the manager, but I'm intercepted by another salesman, who explains staff enjoy a discount of up to 60 percent and I'm not staff. He does, however, offer to travel with me to keep me warm at night. Determined to find a vacuum cleaner, I head to Godfreys. The sales boy points me towards a Hoover for $250. I tell him it's far too expensive. He politely points me towards a cheaper model, but tells me it's not really worth buying. The Hoover remains unsold at $250. I return to Bing Lee and report that David Jones has matched their price. The salesman sighs painfully and agrees to an extra $35 discount on the Bravia, and an extra $9 on the vacuum. I nag for more, but he waves me away, assuring me that I'm getting an excellent deal. It's easier haggling at markets, so I aim for a minimum 30 percent discount. I find a dress for $60 and offer $20. They say $50. I say $30. The deal is done for $35 — a satisfying 40 percent discount. A pair of polarised sunglasses comes with a $120 price tag, discounted 30 percent to $83. The salesman looks surprised when I suggest a 40 percent discount would be better, and I begin to feel embarrassed for being such a pest. Still, I insist on more. He throws in a free sunglass case.
 * So what's the secret to haggling? **
 * Bing Lee: **
 * Haggled savings = $99 + $50 +$60 = $209**
 * David Jones: **
 * Haggled savings: $0**
 * Kathmandu **** : **
 * Haggled savings: 50 percent off marked price**
 * Godfreys: **
 * Haggled savings: $0**
 * Bing Lee: **
 * Additional haggled savings: $44**
 * Paddy's Markets: **
 * Haggled savings: $25**
 * Solar Express: **
 * Added value: $15**
 * Result: ** Haggling is time consuming, and it's not always fruitful. But with economic conditions likely to get worse before they get better, haggling is not a bad savings strategy. You'd be surprised how many retailers are willing to play ball, and every dollar saved, adds up.