The haggling by the blokes was cringworthy

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Sweet FA

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by trollface:
“That depends. There are rules that cover that kind of thing. If a manufacturer gives you a retail price and says you have to stick by it, then you do. If the manufacturer finds you selling their product for less than they think it should be sold and therefore undercutting your competitors and giving the impression that their wares are worth less on the market than they think they are, then they can and will tell you to raise your prices to be in line with everybody else and may re-consider supplying you in the future.

It's not as simple as there being a list price and then shopkeepers pulling a mark up out of their bums.”

Well obviously. Which is why you only haggle when it's appropriate. For example if someone asks you to get the best deal on truffles, the last place any sensible person would think of starting out is at a high end resturant in Knightsbridge! The boys called it right and got the result - no one got hurt.

parthy

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by AlexR!:
“Whether or not it was cringeworthy/cringeable, what I found most appalling was that Chris seemed to have no sense that he was actually doing anything wrong. It wasn’t so much the lying itself (we all lie) but that in Chris’s world, even when you are on an extended job interview and therefore should at least be trying to present an image of integrity, it is an acceptable business practice.
And yes, I know that LAS has rewarded lying in the past (i.e. Lee McQueen), and I also know that the shopkeepers weren’t harmed, and that all involved knew that these were just lies and were playing along for mutual publicity. However, whereas I have to admit that I have lied in the workplace in the past (i.e. ‘Have you finished that job yet?’ ‘Yes’, knowing that I was still working on it; ‘Did you check that order thoroughly before it went out?’ ‘Yes’, knowing I had only given it a cursory glance) I do these in context and, more importantly, I know that I shouldn’t. And knowing that I shouldn’t, I certainly wouldn’t act that way during an interview/assessment. At the end of the day I’m disappointed that his team-mates, Nick, Karen and the You’re Fired panel all just thought it was a bit of a laugh and not indicative of any failing on Chris’s part (I knew that Lord Barrow-Boy wouldn’t be bothered).
But at the end of the day what saddens me most is that I seem to be in a minority on this.”

Well, I totally agree but yes, we're in the minority. Meanwhile Jamie has been criticised a lot on here. Yes, his organisation skills were poor and he shouldn't have lingered on the worktop for so long but he was a much better, more professional negotiator than Chris and Stuart.

trollface

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by Sweet FA:
“Well obviously. Which is why you only haggle when it's appropriate. For example if someone asks you to get the best deal on truffles, the last place any sensible person would think of starting out is at a high end resturant in Knightsbridge! The boys called it right and got the result - no one got hurt.”

My post was in response to you posting this:

Originally Posted by Sweet FA:
“Anyone trying to sell their wares at a 70-100% mark-up is hardly a paragon of honesty or integrity are they?”

Your latest post seems to be about something else entirely.

Can I take it from your "well obviously" to my post about the realities of retail pricing that you do actually accept that you can have a mark up of 70-100% and be a paragon of honesty and integrity?

Sweet FA

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by trollface:
“My post was in response to you posting this:

Your latest post seems to be about something else entirely.

Can I take it from your "well obviously" to my post about the realities of retail pricing that you do actually accept that you can have a mark up of 70-100% and be a paragon of honesty and integrity?”

We're still discussing this week's The Apprentice - right? If a heavily discounted knock down price is successfully negotiated, as seen in the footage then it's unlikely there are any pricing constraints. Totally pointless pontificating on concepts which probably don't apply.

trollface

05-12-2010

Nope, that still doesn't seem to be answering my post. You can have a mark-up of 70-100% and be a paragon of honesty and integrity, yes or no?

Sweet FA

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by trollface:
“Nope, that still doesn't seem to be answering my post. You can have a mark-up of 70-100% and be a paragon of honesty and integrity, yes or no?”

Erm, you need to go back and do some re-reading - not exactly difficult to follow...

Jepson

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by trollface:
“Nope, that still doesn't seem to be answering my post. You can have a mark-up of 70-100% and be a paragon of honesty and integrity, yes or no?”

Of course you can have that sort of mark up and still be honest.

It depends on many factors such as purchasing costs, selling costs, length of time stock has to be held before sale and storage costs.

In fact, in a market economy, even that isn't all that relevant because people charge what the market will bear. You may consider that dishonest if they put a huge markup on things with low costs but then business have to try and accumulate reserves for difficult times so even then it's not totally straight forward.

Sylvia

05-12-2010

I find in real life that most men have no problem haggling, in fact seem to enjoy it, whereas many women don't feel comfortable doing it.

trollface

05-12-2010

Originally Posted by Sweet FA:
“Erm, you need to go back and do some re-reading - not exactly difficult to follow...”

That's a "yes", then.

TechnoMouse

06-12-2010

A camera crew in your premises makes a big difference. Most of the retailers took it as a bit of fun hence the generous discounts. Except the guy who sold the tartan to Stella and Laura. Lord Alan should hire him!

Artois

07-12-2010

What I love and hate about all three guys left is that they are so pleased with themselves - esp the insufferable Baggs, and think they are doing such a great job. Those stupid stories they were telling - and "I've only got three quid in my pocket" oh ha, ha, ha.

Is this how they carry on in their day jobs? What kind of a way to do business is that. I wouldn't buy anything from any of them - not twice anyway!!

Roll on interview week.........

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