comet555

Ok... so I've seen a lot of discussion on haggling over prices. So I thought maybe we could compile a list of things you can haggle over, and things you can't. Please add to the list.

Also if you can estimate what % you knocked off, and the store I'm sure everyone would like to know.

I will add to this list as people post:

To Haggle
Electronics
Furniture
Contract work (renovations, pools, etc)
Vehicles
Hotel accommodation
Rentals
Foreign exchange transactions

Not to Haggle
Certain take out food (McDonalds, etc)
Rego
Private health care
Bus fare
Grocery shopping

Ian & Sharon

I've been trying to Haggle over a Kawasaki Z1000 Eddie Lawson Replica and can't budge him on price

Vernons

Definaltly cars also we got some money off our body boards

moneypenny20

Someone haggles over pizza - that's take out

We haggled over the price of the swimming pool - oh and landscaping supplies

comet555

Yah, I saw the pizza discussion. But is it really that common place?

moneypenny20

Not sure, never tried it myself. Quite often forget about haggling but we've not bought a great amount since being here.

andrew63

My daughter works in Maccers and some people do haggle!
Eg, (made up figures) hamburger is $2.00, cheeseburger is $2.50
Quarter pounder $4.50 (comes with cheese)
Ask for QP w/out cheese, they still charge you $4.50
You can ask them to charge you $4.00 and they have to.

Weird the way we dont mind paying for extra but dont object when we ask for reduction and still pay the full price!

Andrew

comet555

Never would have occured to me either. Although in Canada I'm not used to doing any haggling at all (except for houses, vehicles, and some major purchases).

chels

Can:

Hotel accommodation
Rentals
Foreign exchange transactions

Can't:

Rego
Private health care
Bus fare
Grocery shopping

BadgeIsBack

I haggle over Chief's weekly allowance.

comet555

Just out of curiousity how would you haggle over hotels and rentals? Would you bring in an ad for another hotel or rental place, or would you just say "can you give me this for $100 instead of $130?"

Wendy

I bet she wins though

chels

Hotel - they quote you a price, you say 'I was hoping to spend only XX', if they want your business they'll do you a deal. This works closer to the time you want to stay, but IMO hotels have an advertised rate and then a rate they're prepared to fill the room at.

Rentals - this one is dependent on the vacancy rate, but on our first unit we applied for the unit on the basis of a lower rent that what it was advertised, and got the tenancy.

If you don't ask, you don't get - it's worth risking a bit of embarrasment

andrew63

I use a lot of hotels for business and haggle.
I look up the rates on wotif and then call the hotel and ask them to do better. Normally, I get free breakfasts thrown in!

Andrew

Big Galah

Judging by the number of hotels on wotif.com, it's pretty common to offer reduced rates.

A couple of years ago I rented a 3 bed detached cottage in Yarralumla in Canberra (nice area) for $300 a week - it was advertised at $350. That was lucky though, the vacancy rate right now is 1%.

On the downside, I spent $1700 on a new laptop and some accessories at Harris Technology in North Sydney, and when I asked the manager if there was any chance of a discount or freebie he looked at me like I'd just spat on him. His loss. I know where I won't be going when I need some new stuff...

Big.