Negotiation Skill Level: EPIC (Furniture purchase!)

Slamming Deals Yesterday!

 

I need to just share what a great day I had yesterday saving money!

 

We have one of those free grocery rewards cards at our local grocer. I usually only buy my meats and produce at this retailer because their pantry, pet, baby, and household items are higher priced than Wal-Mart. So, even though I don’t spend a lot of money there, the purchases do add up in rewards points. The points system here translates to cents off of gas purchases. Well, yesterday I needed to fill up really bad.

I was beyond the “Hm.. I really should get gas soon” point and was about to hit the “HOLY COW I’m probably going to run out of gas six blocks from the gas station” panic. You know that panic. We all dread that panic…I don’t normally let it get that low, but I had been lazy, I won’t lie.

Thankfully, I didn’t run out of gas, and puttered into the gas station that accepts my grocery rewards points. I pumped my gas and went into the teller, handed him my rewards card, he scanned it, then saw I was pulling out cash. He informed me, that this place gives you extra discounts if you are paying with cash! Other gas stations here don’t do that, so I was blown away! I ended up getting my gas for $3/gallon!! That’s $0.65 off per gallon! Thankfully I filled up with that discount! What, what!

 

Next big savvy save yesterday rocked, just rocked! I was so pumped up from it, and I really made Hubby proud!

We’ve been married just about four years now and we’ve never had a bedroom set. I KNOW. CRAZY. Well, I decided this year is the year we’re going to get one! We hadn’t before because we knew we were going to move eventually, well that day happened! We have our new home, so IT WAS TIME.

We shopped around here and there and just weren’t finding anything worth the “deal” the sellers were offering.

I used to work as a finance manager for a furniture company after I got out of the USMC, so I knew the tricks, I knew the gimmicks, I knew the mark-ups, and I knew what an accurate offer was, and what was unreasonable.

TIP 1: KNOW A GOOD AMOUNT ABOUT THE PRODUCT YOU ARE BUYING TO NOT FALL INTO ANY TRAPS.

 Example: We were interested in a particular bedroom set that was gorgeous. I asked the salesman what type of wood it was made out of. Want to know his answer was?

 “Hardwood.” .. … …  REALLY? Thank you Captain Obvious.

I held my tongue and proceeded. I then asked, “Okay, what type of hardwood is it?”

He threw out all these different types of wood, and then said he wasn’t entirely sure. Which happens, I understand.

I then asked if he would be able to look it up for me so that I could make an assessment on the durability and quality of the build.

He grew impatient, crossed his arms and huffed, “Well, I guess….” Add the dramatic sigh and cue temper tantrum. Sheesh.

In my head I thought, “Well, I guess you don’t want to make a sale buddy.” But, don’t worry, I held my tongue again.

He didn’t look it up and said we can continue to look around, and never came to check on us again. Needless to say, we didn’t purchase from there even though it was a gorgeous set.

My husband and I were not rude, not impatient, and not unreasonable. We just are well informed and needed information to make the best decision. Thankfully so.

So remember: KNOW A GOOD AMOUNT ABOUT THE PRODUCT YOU ARE BUYING TO NOT FALL INTO ANY TRAPS

 

Continuing on..

 

Tip 2: TIP: THE POWER OF CASH USED PROPERLY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN

 Thankfully at lunch yesterday, a co-worker mentioned a little place a few towns over she picked up all of her furniture. We were worn out and pretty bummed, so we headed up to where my co-worker had mentioned. We walked in there and found a really nice set that was on sale for $1400. Now, I know they say “sale” and it’s still really marked up, so we haggled and haggled for a bit. We talked them down to $900.

Then I asked if they would do anything better if we paid-in-full cash, right now. This perked the salesman and owner, both were helping us. I mentioned that I know that any use of cards charges a percentage, even if it is a debit card. The card machine company charges a fee for the company to be able to use their card machines. (This is why a lot of places don’t accept AMEX because that company’s fees are nuts!) So, I whipped out my cash, and counted out $800. I said, “Well this is all I have. Would we be able to make a deal for $800?”

 They stood there and thought for a minute and then ACCEPTED!

We made out with an entire King Bedroom Suite for $800 flat! Shazaam!

 

Remember : THE POWER OF CASH USED PROPERLY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN