Even at Megastores, Hagglers Find No Price Is Set in Stone

Michael Roskell and a friend persuaded a store to cut $1,000 off the price of two 46-inch TVs.

By MATT RICHTEL
Published: March 23, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Shoppers are discovering an upside to the down economy. They are getting price breaks by reviving an age-old retail strategy: haggling.

A bargaining culture once confined largely to car showrooms and jewelry stores is taking root in major stores like Best Buy, Circuit City and Home Depot, as well as mom-and-pop operations.

Savvy consumers, empowered by the Internet and encouraged by a slowing economy, are finding that they can dicker on prices, not just on clearance items or big-ticket products like televisions but also on lower-cost goods like cameras, audio speakers, couches, rugs and even clothing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/business/23haggle.html?_r=4&ex=1364011200&en=5ce6c96a2c5037be&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Oh yeah. I was looking at a Saturn Astra (Vauxhal or Opel for those across the pond...pardon my spelling) for my wife the other day and even the Saturn dealer was willing to dicker. That's something new for them. It's getting to be a buyer's market. That's why I am not jumping at a sa BD player just yet.

[Post edited by StevePro on Mar 25, 2008]

that's how I got my Best Buy $499 clearance priced Samsung BD-UP5000 for $399...told them I knew their cost and had them match a local indepedant shop...