Jul 14, 2008 6:18 pm US/Central
Save On Hundreds Of Items By Haggling
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Can bargaining, negotiating or haggling work at big-box stores? TXA 21 undercover crews went to several stores to find out.
At Best Buy, an employee disclosed how to get $50 off a camcorder: buy it online at BestBuy.com. At Sears, the sales person was willing to knock $200 off a 42-inch plasma television if a warranty was purchased.
Haggling can be done on pretty much anything. The undercover crew found Oakley knock-off sunglasses at a mall kiosk. They were $12.99, but after offering the clerk $9.99, the deal was made. A toy guitar was already on sale at Toys R' Us for $29.99, but after noticing the box was open, the manager knocked off $10.
On a slow day at a Wautaga car wash, the manager was willing to knock off $9 for a detailing special, bringing it down to $40. When the crew haggled at a local JC Penney, the salesman gave a discount on delivery and even threw in a free warranty. The total savings was over $100.
Here are some tips on how those deals were made:
Make an offer that's low, but not too low. If they won't budge on the price, ask them to throw something else in.
Always speak to a manager.
Shop on off days when things are slow.
Look for "open box" items.
Experts say stores have more lee-way on big ticket items, but have a little wiggle room even on a $10 sweater.
Don't forget the best haggling tool of all: know the prices at the competitors and make it clear you're willing to shop there too.
The bottom line: The worst they can do is say no.
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