March 23, 2008

How To Save $1000 On Your Next HDTV Purchase

Haggling, at one time relegated to used car lots and black market deals is making a comeback. Thanks to easy access to pricing info on the internet and a weak US economy, haggling seems to be going mainstream-even becoming acceptable at big-box electronics retailers such as Best Buy.

It's not just consumers that hit by the tough economy, it's retailers too, most of which are willing to allow their salespeople some price flexibility when making a sale in order to retain the customer, ensuring a return visit sometime in the future. "This is one of the periods where the customer is empowered," Wachovia analyst John Morris said. "The retailer knows that the customer is enduring tough times -- and is more willing to be the one who blinks first in that stare-down match."

Knowing this may save you some serious money on your next big HDTV purchase. Take for instance New Yorker Mike Roskell, who used a good cop/bad cop haggling strategy to know $1000 off the price of two 46-inch HDTV's at P. C. Richard & Son. Or another guy or haggled his way to $300 off a 50-inch plasma TV.

Says Frederick Stinchfield, ""If you get denied once, go looking for someone else who looks nice", but make sure you "come armed with information, and you will be rewarded."

Oh, and if you're looking for a new pair of pants, you can probably haggle your way to a deal on those too.

Via New York Times