How to bargain in shops Video guide: how to bargain
Which? Archive
This article, How to bargain in shops, was last updated on 23 June 2009 and is now out of date and held in our online archive for reference. Explore our latest Money articles.
Haggling can save you up to £100 on major appliances
Haggling to get a cheaper price is one of the oldest tricks in the book to save money. But a Which? survey has revealed that almost three in four shoppers haven't tried it recently. The same survey found that eight in 10 who did try haggling, got a deal.
A Which? member recently told us she'd saved £100 when buying a bundle of kitchen appliances - a dishwasher, hob and cooker hood. She also haggled for free delivery on a fridge freezer. Another member made some great savings on technology such as TVs with a little bargaining.
Getting a bargain in shops is easier than you may think with a bit of know-how. You may be nervous about bartering but there’s no shame in trying to get yourself a better deal, so Which? has given you the tools you need to haggle your way to a bargain. You can even have a go at haggling on already discounted products. Check out for the lowest prices online for Best Buy products - you can ask stores to match them.
How to bargain – expert tips
Which? haggling guru Pete Tynan has bargained down shop staff on everything from an iPod to a tent. In this video guide, he shares his haggling secrets.
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If you’re up for trying for a bargain in shops, then go armed with Pete’s top 10 bartering tips.
- Choose your products – the latest must-haves will be more difficult to bargain down.
- Do your homework – look for comparative prices in other stores and online. Then take evidence such as printouts to your target shop.
- Go at a quiet time if you can – you’ll be fighting for attention if you try to bargain on a busy lunchtime or Saturday morning.
- Show your interest by asking lots of questions – let them know you are a serious buyer.
- Make sure you’re speaking to someone who can give a discount.
- Be confident, but be polite and friendly, not aggressive.
- If the shop staff won’t knock the price down then consider bundles – ask if they'll chuck in some headphones/speakers with that MP3 player.
- Don’t just walk up to the till and demand a discount.
- Hold your resolve – be prepared to walk away.
- Give local shops a chance – they may be grateful to try and match chain and online prices.
Bargain your way to a great discount with our haggling tips
Pete’s £50 saving on a £350 tent was down to little more than a bit of research online and bags of confidence. He found the cheapest price for the tent on the internet, then paid a visit to his local independent outdoor shop to ask for a discount because he could get it cheaper online.
Not only did Pete get his bargain, but the shop assistant thanked him for giving him the opportunity to match the price. Watch him in action in our video.
How to bargain in shops – insider tips
Which? reveals what shop staff don’t want you to know – the tactics for getting sales staff to drop the price. Our haggling insider, whose identity we have concealed, has been a shop floor manager in some of the UK’s best-known stores, including a mobile phone shop and furniture chains.
In our video, our insider reveals the buying signals you give off that shop staff are trained to spot, and gives advice on how to take control when you're bargaining with shop staff. He also encourages you to try to walk away if you don't get the deal you want to start with – and see what shop staff will offer you as a result.
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