Wally World will honor other stores weekly ad prices…I’ve gotten Bob Evans rolled sausage and sausage patties @ 2/$6.00 so,yes,they will drop their prices by matching another store’s sale price.All you need to do is show them the ad and they will match it.
That may not be haggling in its truest form but,you are getting them to lower their regular price.
Galaxy,
I manage a privately owned men’s clothing store. In ANY privately owned men’s clothing store you can haggle. Regular prices and sale prices barely mean a thing. If I want to sell something that day just to make a sale, I can change the price to anything I want within reason. I could certainly come off my price ten dollars in most cases. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t give the guy an attitude just for asking! I’m not much of a haggler myself, but I’ve found that any time I shop at a small business, if I ask if there’s any chance of getting a better price, I can usually get at least ten percent off the asking price. Whether it’s jewelry, home theater equipment, a lawn mower, appliances, or a car, if it’s a privately owned store and not Walmart, they usually negotiate. I get the fact that he was there to make money. I was there to get a deal. The fact that we couldn’t come to an agreement doesn’t bother me that much since I didn’t really need the locomotive. I was only bothered by his attitude and couldn’t believe the reaction for simply asking if he’s take a couple bucks less.
It’s called feeling out the competition. I do that all the time when I bid on cars. You see just how many people are interested and let them have all the fun bidding. Then you come in later on and snatch it away from them. [}:)]
I am NOT talking about price matching.
I am talking " say, Mr. Manager, I see these gas BBQ grills are listed at $125.00. I really want one, What Say I give you $85.00 for it?"
AIN’T HAPPENING.
MIGHT happen at year-end clearance, or if a it is the last one they will ever get, or if it is damaged.
BUT, Otherwise, MR. Wally World manager ain’t budging on the retail price. He’ll say “you’ll have to wait til they go on sale”.
I’ve HEARD that happen, AND I used to work Retail. My manager of our NE Chain store was always innudated by some customer or even employee who wanted a “special deal”. and Company policy was NOT for that. The only time 10%-20% was taken off was last display model, clearace or damaged. And that 10-20% was OFF REGUALR RETAIL price, NOT any other sales price.
Other Retailers I worked for had a NO DISCOUNT policy, except as noted…last display model or damaged item .
Clearance is usually the BEST symbol of the lowest price they will take for any item that is last in stock ro getting rid of. And not a penny less.
Again, I would not presume any dealer…regardless of whom, will take anything low
I am talking " say, Mr. Manager, I see these gas BBQ grills are listed at $125.00. I really want one, What Say I give you $85.00 for it?"
AIN’T HAPPENING.
Next time try “Sears has these grills for $99.95”…Can you match that price?
Same principle as haggling to get the best price.
Train show dealers love those buyers that fork over their price even though they are willing to negotiate a lower price.
I was looking over the dealers tables at the Bucyrus train show about a half hour before the show doors open and I got talking to some of the dealers and all said one thing in common-all prices are negotiable.The only thing I bought was a used Atlas S4 that was on cosignment from a private seller for $45.00.I didn’t haggle since I already knew the proceeds was going to help pay medical bills.
[angel]
Maybe the seller in this case has succeeded in getting higher prices when he is snarky. Everyone comes to a gunfight with a knife in their pocket as well, right? If you remembered your gun, you’re in business. If all you brought was the knife…
In my very limited experience, with attendance only at three close-by small shows in my 7 years in the hobby, and a stay as well of only 45 minutes, sellers fall into two categories…well, three, and I only bought from the third, but the two main categories are hobby/collector types who are attempting to divest themselves of some stuff to free up some cash, or there are the retailers who hope to move the stuff with the red stickers on them that he had to drag out of the bin and load into his car…some of it for the second time. They also bring one-off items, say a Walthers indexed turntable or a transformer that hasn’t sold, something costly to him that hasn’t moved.
In every case, hobbyist or retailer, they have at least thought about what they would need to part with the more costly items. If they quote you a price, they have taken the time to consider the matter. Quoting includes placing a marked sticker on it. Most experienced retailers know that they will be offered some very low prices, particularly when someone they know comes in and they both know the item had a quarter inch of dust on it before it went into the van. But sad is the retailer, and unsuccessful, who is not prepared to respond with equanimity to a proposed price on any items he offers for sale. He does have the right to refuse tersely an offer that borders on an insult…say an offer of $60 for a BLI steamer, NIB, that he thought to bring along at the last minute. His terse reply would be part of the communications that he is not willing to feign enjoyment of the dance being proposed.
The responsible and reasonable prospective buyer should be aware that, and be prepared to
My best success negotiating lower prices at swap meets is in the last hour or two of a show, and when I’m buying more than one item at the same time.
It helps to keep up on current prices and see how identical items are priced by different sellers. I’ve found the same kit at swap meets with a price swing of 20% to 30%, on different tables.
[quote user=“galaxy”]
I am NOT talking about price matching.
I am talking " say, Mr. Manager, I see these gas BBQ grills are listed at $125.00. I really want one, What Say I give you $85.00 for it?"
AIN’T HAPPENING.
MIGHT happen at year-end clearance, or if a it is the last one they will ever get, or if it is damaged.
BUT, Otherwise, MR. Wally World manager ain’t budging on the retail price. He’ll say “you’ll have to wait til they go on sale”.
I’ve HEARD that happen, AND I used to work Retail. My manager of our NE Chain store was always innudated by some customer or even employee who wanted a “special deal”. and Company policy was NOT for that. The only time 10%-20% was taken off was last display model, clearace or damaged. And that 10-20% was OFF REGUALR RETAIL price, NOT any other sales price.
Other Retailers I worked for had a NO DISCOUNT policy, except as noted…last display model or damaged item .
Clearance is usually the BEST symbol of the lowest price they will take for any item that is last in stock ro getting rid of. And not a penny less.
Again, I would not presume any dealer…reg
In 50 years of going to train shows, I’ve found that around 40% of the folks who hold down tables are , in fact, good businessmen who enjoy the art of the deal. The other 60% …well, ask their former employer…if they had one.
Why did they have to pick TRAINS? [^o)]
That’s why I only go to shows on the last day. A lot of dealers don’t like to pack up all the stuff they’ve hauled from their home base. Sure, the item you may be looking for may already be gone, but I’ve found there is more “haggling” room on the last day.
Some of these dealers really make me wonder. Maybe they are using shows as a tax break.
They haul huge amounts of product to the show, unload and set up. Then the dealer will stubbornly refuse to lower prices and haul the stuff back home or to a storage facility.
And the process repeats over and over. [D)][D)][D)]
This isn’t new product I am talking about, its NOS from back in the 80s and 90s. I’ve seen Kato and Atlas boxes with the coloring worn off from all the handling over the years.
People know they can get these NOS items on idiotbay for 1/2 of the train show hard liners. While shipping is a factor, gas and show admittance also has to be factored.
Another factor is returns. The train shows have zero protection unless you pay with a CC. Idiotbay has 3 levels of protection. You can open a claim with Ebay, Paypal or your credit card company.
No, didn’t hurt to ask. I can understand why a retailer wouldn’t budge, as that is their bread-and-butter.
I loathe any reference to ebay during a negotiation. You know in advance what you are willing to shell out for said merchandise, just like the seller knows in advance what he/she will accept.
I’ve learned that if I show particular interest in an object, the seller usually will strike a conversation with me, and mention he will go X amount lower on same. Cut out the bullpoop, and be genuine and sincere…that is the art of the deal.[2c]
Well I actually read all what you wrote and if that is how it happened, and I have no reason to doubt what you say, I see nothing wrong on your part. You were polite and not unreasonable. You did offer to add tax to the item when he brought it up. You did not use the E-bay price as leverage, but you more like said “I know your price is fair because… but would you take less?” Again, in my opinion, you did nothing wrong.
Not knowing how long the guy had been there that day and how many times he’d been approached for a discount, I’d say he reacted more out of disgust. Like “really? Another person trying to get it cheaper.” Well he should know that most people who are cruising the place looking at items, are there to get things at a deal. That’s why they came. I’ve never heard anyone say they were going to a trainshow hoping to pay full or slightly higher than somewhere else prices. If he doesn’t want people to ask for lower prices, then maybe he shouldn’t sell in a setting where haggling is expected. After all, it is sort of a garage sale environment. Stay in a store where haggling is less expected. But even then, he should be willing to expect from time to time lower offers, especially on used items. As for offering Walmart a lower price, well that’s kind of a yes and no thing. Yes they do budge on their prices. Just bring in an add from another retailer with a lower price for the same item, and Walmart will lower their price. Is that haggling in the truest form? Well, the same as saying to the guy at the table, “I can get this from so and so’s for …” Same thing depending on how you look at it. And yes my wife did get the manager over and offered him less on this fountain thing and he accepted, and yes it was last one in their store, no longer made. But then again, didn’t the guy say that they don’t make those locos anymore? Again, same thing. But o
Todd,You bring up a good point that I will add too.
I’ve seen vendors that was gentle and kind while others seem to be like a she coon guarding her cubs.
Maybe they’re having a bad day or mad because other vendors have lower prices? I dunno.
Corey,
I have only read some of the replies from others, but I will say this. I don’t think you were necessarily wrong in asking
I would have to agree with Sheldon. I’m not much of a haggler. If something is reasonably priced and I want or need it, I’ll pay that price; knowing that the guy behind the counter needs to make a profit on the item, too.
If - on the other hand - the price is above what I think the item is worth, I might ask if the price is negotiable. If it is, I’d make a “reasonable” offer and/or counter offer - i.e. until a amicable agreement can be made. If it isn’t then I’d move on and/or try again at a later time; if the item is still there.
Tom
Of course you are correct but,allow me to give you a behind the scene look.
Our club has a train show once a year and I’ve seen dealers buy from each other and even horse trade…I even heard them talking about how much they made…
One boldly stated he dumps his “dust collectors” at these shows at 5-10% profit.The buyer is happy he got a deal and I’m tickled I finally moved a locomotive or car that’s been collecting dust for X many years and that engine or car has been to so many shows he lost count…
Make no mistake every dealer knows his limit he can sell for and he also knows all to well his competitors is chomping at the bit to “steal” his sale and lost sales is the difference between a profitable day and a bad day. He is also well aware the majority of the show’s attendees knows how much a engine or car goes for on e-Bay or on line.
I will offer and counter offer reasonable prices.
Selling anything at 5-10% above your cost is breaking even at best - not making a profit. Going home with something you may be able to sell another day is no worse than selling it at cost if your business is properly funded and properly managed.
What you may or may not know is that there is a percentage of train show dealers for whom their business is really just a hobby - they actually like hanging out at the train show all weekend at an effective labor rate of $5 or $10 per hour and don’t care that they only made a 5% net return on a not so big investment in the first place.
Actually several of our dealers has shops and use train shows as a means to dump old stock…Several are professional train show dealers that has a large investment while others are “weekend warriors” that sells models collected from several means to include estates,closed shop inventories won at auction.
A engine or car that has sit in your shop for X many years and been to taken to several train shows a 5-10% profit looks good and far better then hoping that it will sell in your shop before the next show.
I’ve had dealers to offer me P2K GP7/9s and E8s for $30.00 each or I could make a lot offer.
I passed.