I have tried it but it's never worked. I bet the only reason it worked for Chris and Jamie is because of the camera crew with them in the shops, and the people were embarresed in the end knowing this would be going nationwide on tv.
Do you haggle?
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Not in this country but certainly abroad.
In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.
Have nearly embarrassed myself on returning to the UK on a couple of occasions by getting ready to haggle at the airport WH Smiths.
In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.
Have nearly embarrassed myself on returning to the UK on a couple of occasions by getting ready to haggle at the airport WH Smiths.
I never try, even though I know I should. For me it's just got the stigma attached to it of being rude! My boyfriend's dad (who in another thread I likened to Alan Sugar 
) will always ask for a discount on practically anything, just because, why not? And a lot of the time it works and he gets money off. I just can't be arsed really because I know I'd just cave and settle for their price
) will always ask for a discount on practically anything, just because, why not? And a lot of the time it works and he gets money off. I just can't be arsed really because I know I'd just cave and settle for their price
Originally Posted by Jepson:
“Not in this country but certainly abroad.
In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.
Have nearly embarrassed myself on returning to the UK on a couple of occasions by getting ready to haggle at the airport WH Smiths.”
“Not in this country but certainly abroad.
In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.
Have nearly embarrassed myself on returning to the UK on a couple of occasions by getting ready to haggle at the airport WH Smiths.
”
It would never work in places like Smiths with fixed prices and small margins.
All the time - but then I've lived in countries where it's the norm. If you don't ask, you don't get.
Depends where it is and who you are talking to.
I'll haggle (badly) with market traders and business owners, I'll even try to get free delivery or free fitting at Curry's and Dixons, but I wouldn't bother trying to get a few quid knocked off at Tesco's
I'll haggle (badly) with market traders and business owners, I'll even try to get free delivery or free fitting at Curry's and Dixons, but I wouldn't bother trying to get a few quid knocked off at Tesco's
I got £10 off a desk in John Lewis last week and I always ask for free peripherals when I buy computer, phone or gadget stuff. Sometimes they say no way but they say yes far more often than you'd imagine. As long as you get a manager or someone authorised to make reductions then you're okay.
I once bought some jewellery from an Indian jewellers near me, paying the price they quoted me. A friend who is of Indian heritage asked me about it and laughed at me for not haggling. She said that in those shops they expect some haggling and would've been surprised, and delighted to be paid the full price.
Originally Posted by Sweet FA:
“If you don't ask, you don't get.”
“If you don't ask, you don't get.
”
Very true. That's all it really boils down to.
God no. I cringe when my bf haggles over 50p at a bootsale, and I quickly walk off pretending I have no idea who he is 
Always haggle. Doesn't always work, but 8 times out of 10 I'll get a discount.
Sainsburys,Tescos etc are not very good at haggling unless you pick up a damaged or incorrectly priced item. Good idea to compare Internet prices with shop prices even big chains will compromise on price. Smaller businesses will always try to work on a good price, but I generally prefer to meet them halfway to ensure they get their profit too.
Sainsburys,Tescos etc are not very good at haggling unless you pick up a damaged or incorrectly priced item. Good idea to compare Internet prices with shop prices even big chains will compromise on price. Smaller businesses will always try to work on a good price, but I generally prefer to meet them halfway to ensure they get their profit too.
I dont think you need worry. These Indians only up the price when they are dealing with someone who is going to haggle. They can 'sense' this.
They know very well that you may not buy, and to afterwards lower the price wont work in the UK. You feel you have been cheated and dont want to have to deal with them.
They know very well that you may not buy, and to afterwards lower the price wont work in the UK. You feel you have been cheated and dont want to have to deal with them.
You can't in the large chain stores, but if you e.g. buy electrical items in London's Tottenham Court Road instead of at Comet, then you can haggle.
My husband has haggled and 'won' in both PC World and Comet! (Personally I wouldn't have gone there in the first place )
)
Why ever not. If you need the article where would you have gone.
They are reputable stores. But it is easier to change things in argos. But on the other hand you could be buying something someone else has returned.
They are reputable stores. But it is easier to change things in argos. But on the other hand you could be buying something someone else has returned.
Originally Posted by Jepson:
“In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.”
“In India, for example, it's virtually mandatory because vendors typically start at a prices 2-3 times what they'll settle for.”
The really funny thing with this statement is that I can almost guarantee that most of the items sold in India have a FAR greater mark up than 2-3times the price they'd settle on.
On a trip out to Africa I was told by a friend to pick up an item I was interested in and then put it down. He would then negotiate for me. As I was white and unable to speak numerous languages I was at a far greater disadvantage; they could literally see me coming a mile away. In most cases items I bought were up to 20 times less than there initial asking price; a well crafted drum which was originally quoted as being £300 became £15 when my friend purchased it.
So yeah, in many cultures haggling is expected; not as much the case in England - unless at markets.
If the presence of the camera crew is such a key issue why did the girls perform so badly then????????
Originally Posted by DuaneBenzie:
“If the presence of the camera crew is such a key issue why did the girls perform so badly then????????”
“If the presence of the camera crew is such a key issue why did the girls perform so badly then????????”
Your '?' key seems to be sticking.
To answer your question, the boys got lucky. They went over the top and were fortunate that their antics, together with the presence of the cameras, gave them a positive outcome.
They were also lucky that Sugar, on this occasion, didn't seem to care about the lies.
The girls weren't particularly good at negotiating but their technique produced a result that was much closer to what would transpire in a real situation without the presence of a camera crew.
Originally Posted by parthy:
“I've tried but I was utterly useless and ended up embarrassing myself.
”
“I've tried but I was utterly useless and ended up embarrassing myself.
”
What does it matter what a shop assistant who you are never going to see again thinks of you for 10 seconds?
Originally Posted by vidalia:
“What does it matter what a shop assistant who you are never going to see again thinks of you for 10 seconds?”
“What does it matter what a shop assistant who you are never going to see again thinks of you for 10 seconds?”
Yeah, that's the logical way of thinking about it, and exactly what my parents would tell me. But I'm not logical as a general rule so...
I think the embarrassment comes from me not having a good technique too. And sadly, I do put too much stock in what people think of me.
Originally Posted by Jepson:
“Your '?' key seems to be sticking.
To answer your question, the boys got lucky. They went over the top and were fortunate that their antics, together with the presence of the cameras, gave them a positive outcome.
They were also lucky that Sugar, on this occasion, didn't seem to care about the lies.
The girls weren't particularly good at negotiating but their technique produced a result that was much closer to what would transpire in a real situation without the presence of a camera crew.”
“Your '?' key seems to be sticking.
To answer your question, the boys got lucky. They went over the top and were fortunate that their antics, together with the presence of the cameras, gave them a positive outcome.
They were also lucky that Sugar, on this occasion, didn't seem to care about the lies.
The girls weren't particularly good at negotiating but their technique produced a result that was much closer to what would transpire in a real situation without the presence of a camera crew.”
So it was all down to luck
So in the boy's case a combination of luck and the presence of the cameras gave them a positive outcome. Nothing to do with the fact that they identified the issue of costs straightaway, picked better locations and also identified that they were negotiating for items required a none corporate approach.. They were simply lucky and got some assistance from the presence of the camera key that for some unexplained and unknown reason that the girls did not.
Whereas the girls who also had the presence of a camera crew derived no benefit from this and had no luck whatsoever. The poor girls eh? THey should have factored in luck more strongly to their brain storming. But at least their poor result is more in line what you would expect in a real business situation(i.e. failure).
The truth is the boys negotiated alot better than the girls and made better decisions than them from the beginning. They both had the presence of the camera crew so their is no way this can be attributed to the boys success and then explained as having no impact on the girls. It's a ludicrious explanation.
Originally Posted by DuaneBenzie:
“So it was all down to luck”
“So it was all down to luck”
Correct.
Quote:
“So in the boy's case a combination of luck and the presence of the cameras gave them a positive outcome. Nothing to do with the fact that they identified the issue of costs straightaway, picked better locations and also identified that they were negotiating for items required a none corporate approach.. They were simply lucky and got some assistance from the presence of the camera key that for some unexplained and unknown reason that the girls did not.”
“So in the boy's case a combination of luck and the presence of the cameras gave them a positive outcome. Nothing to do with the fact that they identified the issue of costs straightaway, picked better locations and also identified that they were negotiating for items required a none corporate approach.. They were simply lucky and got some assistance from the presence of the camera key that for some unexplained and unknown reason that the girls did not.”
It's been acknowledged several times that the girls were not particularly good at negotiating.
In particular they were not prepared to demean themselves by absurd lying.
The boys greatest piece of luck was probably that Sugar is not the most ethical of people himself (unless it comes to girls flirting
) and did not care about their mendacity.
Quote:
“Whereas the girls who also had the presence of a camera crew derived no benefit from this and had no luck whatsoever. The poor girls eh? THey should have factored in luck more strongly to their brain storming. But at least their poor result is more in line what you would expect in a real business situation(i.e. failure).”
“Whereas the girls who also had the presence of a camera crew derived no benefit from this and had no luck whatsoever. The poor girls eh? THey should have factored in luck more strongly to their brain storming. But at least their poor result is more in line what you would expect in a real business situation(i.e. failure).”
Actually, you have that completely the wrong way around.
In a normal business situation if you need 10 items for a project then missing out on three would mean that your project is screwed and you have completely failed.
In the real world, the company that the boys worked for would have been unable to complete the project and so would have failed completely.
Whereas the company the girls worked for would have completed the project but made a smaller profit than if they had got the items at the (nominal) list price.
The boy's company would have been out by three man-days wages, expenses and whatever they lost trying to offload the items they did buy for which they now have no use.
Quote:
“The truth is the boys negotiated alot better than the girls”
“The truth is the boys negotiated alot better than the girls”
The truth is that the boys got their prices by repeated mendacity and they were lucky that Sugar's barrow-boy mentality does not seem to find that a problem.
When I was buying my Panasonic Plasma TV from the Comet (or Curries - cant remember) in town I haggled and managed to get £90 off with free delivery. Always worth a try.
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