Has the recession made you a haggler?
Aside from skirting things like this, the best part about visiting the Caribbean is the chance to haggle.
Because, bartering is the traveller’s currency in many ways. We flock to negotiate prices in countries that rely on tourist dollars because, frankly, it’s the only time North American consumers have any real leverage.
Yet could a crippling recession change shopping traditions here at home? With retail tags all but set in stone, it’s not the custom to bargain in Canada … but, with a bum economy still looming, why shouldn’t it be?
Michael S. Rosenwald of the Washington Post thinks so, at least, taking haggling to task in a recent feature for the newspaper.
Rosenwald challenges our society’s reluctance to barter, even going so far as to get Macy’s – as much of a we-don’t-need-to-budge-to-make-a-sale institution as there is – to knock 10 per cent off a pair of US$148 Cole Haan loafers.
Indeed, with revenue declining in nearly every form of consumerism, this may just be the time for retailers to be flexible with pricing where they may not have been before.
According to a recent Consumer Reports study, 66 per cent of U.S. shoppers have “haggled at least once” in the past six months, and an impressive 88 per cent of those bargain hunters successfully cashed in – deals that netted savings on a gamut of popular purchases: clothes, furniture, food, gadgets, shoes, etc.
“I’ve always wondered why more people don’t (barter),” a government economist source told the Post. “This is your money. It would be wasteful not to do this, right?”
Where Canadian haggling is concerned, it used to stand that fighting with Internet/TV/wireless providers like Rogers and Bell was our only method to bargain with leverage.
And while sometimes those companies budged, it didn’t exactly make Canucks feel they could go into dry cleaners or big box retailers and play hardball with their wallets. Reasoning with telecom giants appeared like an isolated opportunity.
Yet, the above question stands: could a recession – as deep and lasting as this one – press the RESET button on our shopping customs?
Have you started haggling for goods lately and, if so, has it worked?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Lilifee | Feb 4, 2022 9:46:16 AM
With pleasure I respond to your last question. I have started bartering on www.barterquest.com. The site is awesome because you can exchange goods, services and real estate. Every time if I get a good for a good I feel so happy and think what a good deal!
Posted by: Fred | Feb 4, 2022 10:47:05 AM
It is a good idea to "haggle" now if we could haggle on government taxes,on the rents the store owners pay,the wages store owners pay-most of the time these payments are fixed-little or no room to "haggle". These people that haggle take no consideration on many merchants who struggle monthly to pay their bills.Hagglers care about themselves -many of them would scoff if anyone would haggle over their wages and their benefits.
Everyone wants to be treated fairly.Everyone has a right to earn a living. We all have to eat,pay living expenses,etc.In order to understand we have to live in the other persons shoes .
Posted by: PirateKitty | Feb 4, 2022 1:54:26 PM
I wouldn't say I haggle anymore than I used to, which is usually limited to asking for discounts on damaged items. I have on occasion thrown out a "I'm not paying THAT much!" in earshot of a salesperson to test the waters for bargaining.
Interestingly though, I've become alot more protective of my money and on principal will fight back for every penny I may be getting ripped off for. In the past 6 months, I've taken the fight to Direct Energy, Shaw, Telus, and even the cashiers who tried to charge me for the regular price for an item that was listed on sale (you put up the sign a day early, too darn bad!). Whereas before, if I was overcharged, I'd weight the amount versus the hassle and usually didn't bother because of the perception it was impossible to fight with big companies. So far, the only one I didn't get anywhere with was Telus, but they also lost a customer, so they didn't win either.
I think the key to winning these battles and even haggling, is remaining, calm, sticking to facts and leaving emotions out of it. I always tell them exactly what I want done to rectify the problem, and will accept a fair compromise every time.
Posted by: John Blane | Feb 5, 2022 12:34:54 AM
Love to barter... it's a wonderful way to save money! I've had great success with http://www.swaptreasures.com as they have so many categories of items you can swap for. Great to keep our planet clean and eco-friendly.
Posted by: mon serin | Feb 5, 2022 9:50:19 PM
i can definitely say that if you are dealing with the manager of higher up within a store, if you appear just for a moment a little reticient about your purchase, now , 9 times of out 10, they will say " ok how about 20 percent off" (absolutely if cash sale) which basically takes care of GST / PST and a real 5% discount... nowadays, i almost never buy something unless it is on sale or discounted. sometimes all you have to do is share that "golden rule" and they will discount whatever you are purchasing. i believe it is always worth asking... the most terrible thing that can happen is they will say "no". If not, you have just paid yourself.