Would you dress differently to buy large items?

[Lemoncurd]

When you are shopping for something big such as a car, new kitchen etc, do you present yourself any differently? Do you think it makes a difference?

Or if you are a salesperson, would the appearance of potential clients make a difference to the service you provide or deal you give?

We are about to completely refurbish our house and need to source everything - kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, flooring, tiles etc
I work from home and have no client contact at all so live in (clean and tidy) jeans and jumper/casual clothing. DH feels that I need to dress up to go to show rooms / meet with salespeople and designers. It seems a bit unnecessary to me when I'm the customer, have often made appointments or sent across plans in advance so am obviously a serious customer. Would I really get a better deal if I dressed up?

[Bayleyf]

As long as you're clean and presentable, it wouldn't occur to me to dress any different from normal!

[Catscratchclub]

My ex dp is very wealthy and once bought a Lamborghini in Gap joggers and a hoody..... I think if you dress up you almost fit in less as it looks a bit try hard? Just wear what you would ordinarily wear and ask the right questions (like are there any discounts?!)

Ps that’s not a stealth boast by the way. Ex was a wanker on the whole

[Gwenhwyfar]

There's an episode of the Cosby Show where Dr Huxtable dresses down in an attempt to get a good deal on a second-hand car. If you're going to negotiate a price, it might not be the best idea to wear your best clothes.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

You'll get more assistance if you are better dressed, at least in fancier places. I used to pop into showrooms straight from work and got decent service then once did it on a working from home day with jeans, tshirt and no makeup and was given the basics only.
Not sure if it should make any difference on negotiating though.

[GammonNosher]

my dh wears a suit to go to the cinema like it's the theatre or something

[Expressedways]

My Dad once bought a yacht in his gardening clothes. It really doesn’t matter what you wear as long as you don’t smell or anything! No kitchen company is going to give you the brush off because you wore jeans to their showroom. And if they are that snobby (are Clive Christian still around and is that where you’re going?!) then do you really want to do business with them?

[Hecateh]

Your body language will have a much bigger impact than the clothes you are wearing (within reason)

Look confident, act confident and the clothes don't matter

[EdtheBear]

I've certainly felt brushed off in car showrooms when dressed in scruffy jeans. But i also think the car you turn up in plays a part.
We drove into a garage in a 3 yo Mondeo- how can I help....
We drove into same garage in a 8yo Polo completely ignored!

I used to work with a guy who felt he'd get different service pointed in different directions depending on his dress.
Business suit he'd be pushed to top end
Chinos middle range
Scruffy jeans bottom of the range.

[FinallyHere]

You'll get more assistance if you are better dressed, at least in fancier places

In my experience (not keen on dressing up ever) in really good places you will be attended to no matter what you wear, especially as a repeat visitor.

[Aroundtheworldandback]

You’re money’s the same to them however you’re dressed

[Fairylea]

The richest people I know are the scruffiest!

[Her0utdoors]

When I sold high end items, my heart would sink when very smart customers arrived, they were usually very hard to satisfy, it definitely didn't give me the feeling they were going to spend more. But I'd much prefer to spend my day helping them than a customer with lacking personal hygiene, or one who was a sexual predator.

[WanderingTrolley1]

Nope, have never dressed differently to spend large amounts of money. Never had any problems, either.