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Search forHaggling over price could save you cash
Thursday, August 07, 2008, 23:00
Let's get one thing straight from the outset — haggling is not an argument about price, it's a process of negotiation that should be polite and even amiable. From the shops in Üsküdar in Istanbul to the streets of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, haggling is not only expected, it's regarded as impolite not to haggle.
It's a practice that can easily be adapted to the UK market across the board and can save you big bucks.
Step number one — make friends with the vendor and, if possible make them laugh. People are much more likely to give a better deal to a buddy rather than someone who they see as a threat or a sucker.
Don't be afraid to ask for his best price before you make an offer. And when you make your counter bid, it should be lower than the figure that you're actually prepared to pay.
Haggling takes time and patience and cannot be rushed. The final result may be a compromise on both sides but neither party should feel cheated.
This is not a game of tennis in which you have to hit the ball back immediately. If the seller is starting to come down in price, he may also begin to throw in extras for added value.
Silence is a useful tool. If there's a long pause after his last offer, more often than not he'll add a little more to sweeten the deal.
If you've already negotiated the price down and got the road tax paid on the car, wait. The chances are that you'll also get a new CD player thrown in as well.
If it looks as though the price is not going down as much as you'd like, call bintang time. Translated — walk away, saying that you'll think about it over lunch. If the vendor believes that a sale is walking out of the door, he or she will often better the offer.
Never appear to be too eager to buy or too keen on one particular model or type. And give reasons why you can't pay the asking price.
Ask the salesgirl whether she can better the price of the deal that you've seen elsewhere. Everything is negotiable and she wants you to believe that her price is the best. If you buy, you'll come back for more.
And finally, if the price is over your budget or you're not happy — leave. There's always another deal that can be haggled around the corner.
Haggling in shops could save you pounds
