to think if you ask for a discount in a shop and you are refused you shouldn't be an arse to the staff?

[workshy]

over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of people asking for discounts on things which is understandable however, if the item is perfect condition, the answer in large chain stores is no

but I never mind people asking

what I do mind though is people's reaction when you politely explain that you can't discount

'I spend a lot of money in your store'
'well it was on offer the other week'
'I can't believe your prices are so high'
'well it's cheaper down the road' (if they have it in stock we will match price but if it's out of stock then no, sorry)

people can get really arsey about it -I don't make the prices up off the top of my head, I get told what things cost and we aren't in the business of haggling

arrrggghhhhh

and breathe....

I would always ask for a discount when buying a big ticket item such as furniture, carpet, jewellery or a car. I have never yet been refused. I am always polite though. I would never ask for a reduction in a charity shop.

lololizzy yeah, I think their staff aren't great tbh, quite often stiff is damaged. I've taken to inspecting it really closely after unwittingly buying a top with a massive hole in the back.

this is why i lament the end of the Net Book Agreement. :(

I run a business where people ask for discounts. it's certainly happening more now than it used to do.

people ask for discounts for being new, long term customers, buying a lot, not buying much and on and on.

We have a strategy that we charge as low as we can and give that price to everyone. i.e. we don't do a "boden" and put the price up by 10% to put it down by 10% to everyone.

i don't get cross about it but i do think i ought to give the best possible price to the lady who's too shy to ask as well as the bold as brass person.

mind you our average customer spends £20 odd so it's hardly big ticket

I ask straight out what the best price they can do is on an item. LAst time I knocked over £100 off and they gave me a free item worth £300. It's always worth asking politely.

i take part in a Shop Local Loyalty Scheme.

I offer 10% to the people who have a card.

Before that came along, I had my own shop scheme for people who bought from me regularly (and spent quite a bit) - when the shop local scheme came in, I gave those people 15% instead (that's the best discount I ever do!)
I have 3 people on that scheme, 1 buys books every single week, 1 other every month, and 1 other buys books for 4 children every few weeks (often spending £50 in one go after the discount has been applied) - I hope that it means that they think of my shop first - I know the one that buys every week (orders stuff in, too) tells all of his friends etc to shop here :)

Rilla, in my shop only the management are allowed to select which clothes go out. The volunteers have special needs or are old with poor eyesight so its just too difficult for them, they don't spot stains, holes, bad bobbling etc. If I have missed something (and it does happen sometimes) I would expect the buyer to comment and would ALWAYS give them a huge discount eg sell it for about £1 (have been known to give for free if item really shouldnt have gone out)
Its when the item is perfect or new (we do get a lot of new with tags stuff - work opposite M&S and they donate a lot of new with tags bits) and i price VERY fairly (eg £2.50 - £3.50 for a perfect Boden cardigan ) and they quibble and throw a strop that i hate it, especially if they then come back and steal said garment (probably to get back at me) or throw it on floor , tread on it and storm out. Daily occurance.

See, yesterday we asked if a shop could give us a discount on a laptop - the model we were looking at was reduced - £379 instead of £599. They didn't have another in stock - nor were there any in the region. The reduction was not because it was a display model, all the brand new ones were £379 - they just didn't have any locally.

He wouldn't give us a discount on the display model 'because you're already saving £220'. We didn't get arsey, we just left... And today I've got a better spec model from a different shop for £400 instead.