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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that I can barter in a shop?

110 replies

anditwasallyellow · 07/08/2012 08:32

I went to buy a suitcase yesterday from a small shop I'm fairly sure it's a one off shop not a chain store or large business, just a few metres from the shop there's a market stall selling similiar suitcases but a couple of quid cheaper same brand just different designs etc.

I went to the shop and offered the guy £20 for a £24 suitcase and he looked at me like I was bonkers and said no way, I said that the stall were selling them cheaper and asked what the maximum discount was he could offer. Then I said I wasn't 100% happy as they were all out on display and customer will have obviously been handling them. He gave me £2 off and I thought it was a job well done. I always try to get dicounts if I can.

My mum and boyfriend think I'm mad and hilarious for doing this!

OP posts:
MrsKeithRichards · 07/08/2012 08:34

Why not?

Tee2072 · 07/08/2012 08:34

I think you're very rude. It's not a market stall. It's a shop. It has overhead, bills, rent etc.

I want to shoot whomever first wrote 'barter, the store will love you!'

No. They won't. They'll think you are the rudest customer in the world and will give you the £2 to shut you up and get you out.

Just like I give my son a sweet to get him to use the potty.

tidybaby · 07/08/2012 08:35

I personally couldn't do it for fear of embarrassment if they said no, but if you don't ask you don't get. I remember a programme on BBC1 a few years ago featuring Dominic Littlewood who encouraged people to barter in shops, most of the time they got quite decent discounts.

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 07/08/2012 08:36

You can do it anywhere. We've done it in Comet before.

But it's haggling, not bartering Grin

LRDtheFeministDragon · 07/08/2012 08:37

I think you'd be ok to ask politely for a discount. Saying 'the stall is selling them cheaper' makes you sound rude and silly, though - if that were true, why wouldn't you buy it at the stall?!

I think even if you did ask for a discount, he'd be well within his rights to refuse - most shops don't expect you to try to barter and some will think it's rude.

JumpingThroughHoops · 07/08/2012 08:39

You should as for at least 4% off - because thats what a retailer gets charged by CC companies. Therefore they have factored in at least 4%.

I haggle all the time, especially for cash.

ethelb · 07/08/2012 08:39

I just don't think it is something the British are good at I'm afriad and its not something we do.

Plus with the dominance of chain stores in the UK and the lack of business ownership by store staff, you are only going to embarrass a minimum wage mployee. Shop owners are fairer game though.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 07/08/2012 08:39

If you are spending a lot of money (by a lot i'd say £200+) then bartering would work in bigger named stores too.

We would offer 20% disc if it looked like someone was umming and ahhing, just to get the sale. Head offices really stress the importance of targets!

Kennyp · 07/08/2012 08:39

I have haggled in tescos and got money off, plus debenhams and a key cutting shop and car boot sales tooo. It always works for me. I make a reasonable offer and they always say yes. So i dint think its unreasonable at all.

MrsKeithRichards · 07/08/2012 08:40

A price tag is an invitation to buy at that price, you're well within your rights to ask if that price is negotiable, just as the shop keep is within their rights to say no, it's not. As long as everyone is polite there's no problem!

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 07/08/2012 08:41

Well I preferred the colour of the one in the shop simple as that. And thought he'd like to amke the sale rather than me go to the stall.

OP posts:
Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 07/08/2012 08:44

What did you haggle in Tescos over? I know sometimes in chain stores you can negotiate free delivery or free insurance etc. I love doing it but then I'm not too bothered if I look silly or if they say no.

Sorry is it haggle not barter?!

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 07/08/2012 08:45

Yes, it's haggling, not bartering.

I couldn't do it.

MarathonRunnersPukeCatcher · 07/08/2012 08:47

I've asked for a discount for cash in one of those furniture stores that offers interest free credit for 4 years. I didn't want the credit option and just asked what the price was for paying in full. Nice sales peron knocked a few hundred off.

trixymalixy · 07/08/2012 08:48

Yep, I have haggled in shops before. I bought a bedroom suite and asked what their max discount would be if I paid in cash, the manager said 10%, I got him to take 20% off in the end.

Andie20521 · 07/08/2012 08:48

I asked what was the best price they could give me on my engagement ring!

My now DH was mortified and even more so when I sent said chap to speak to his Manager, to see if she could do even better than what he had offered.

£400 discount later though, he wasn't complaining!

It was an hour before closing, at the end of the month, so I tried knowing that most sales figures are calculated for bonuses/commission so more likely to be flexible.

For me the romantic part was choosing the ring, and the extra money saved payed for a weekend away!

CaseyShraeger · 07/08/2012 08:49

It would be bartering if you offered him a nice freshly-baked Victoria Sandwich Cake, or six hours of gardening services, or something like that, in return for the suitcase.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 07/08/2012 08:49

Well, not very surprising the stall had the unpopular colours cheaper (maybe that was it)?

I think it usually sounds politer if you go in asking for a discount for a reason, not just 'oh, I can get it cheaper'. Maybe I'm unfair but that used to really wind me up and my boss who was more straight talking than me would just say, well, buy it somewhere else then!

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 07/08/2012 08:49

Yeah, barter is where you exchange goods or services.

We've kind of haggled in Mothercare too - anything large we've bought, we've had price matched. Saved over £100 doing this. It's a good feeling.

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 07/08/2012 08:53

Now I feel silly, think mumsnet could change the title for me?!

OP posts:
ThePigOnTheWall · 07/08/2012 08:55

I find it toe curlngly embarrassing

MrsHelsBels74 · 07/08/2012 08:55

I couldn't do it, would just be too embarrassed but that says way more about me than it does about hagglers Blush

Original poster
anditwasallyellow · 07/08/2012 08:58

To those who have said they couldn't do it or would be too embarrassed, can I ask why?

OP posts:
MyDogShitsMoney · 07/08/2012 08:58

What Tee said.

Rude.

If you don't like the price buy elsewhere.

To me the main motivation for people who do this is a sense of satisfaction at getting one over the seller.

MrsKeithRichards · 07/08/2012 09:00

It's not rude as long as no one is rude about it!

You're giving the seller the chance to sell to you.