Negotiating Apple accessories at BestBuy - Mac-Forums.com

noisreh · 10-30-2009, 10:22 PM

So the other day I was in Best Buy looking around at some of the apple accessory products, and decided to do some haggling over a keyboard from the apple accessory display section. I asked one of the retail workers if he could cut me a deal and let me out the door with a keyboard for a couple bucks off the regular price of $49.99, but he would not budge on the price. He explained to me that apple products are sold just the way they are and just how apple wants them to be priced. I even talked with there manager about it, and she would not budge on the price either. So the question, "Are Mac products sold at a price agreement with most companies?"

clayneal · 10-30-2009, 10:24 PM

Short answer- yes

bobtomay · 10-30-2009, 10:53 PM

Yeah, I don't know if the price fix is in or not, but you're not going to find much discounting going on anywhere. Kind of like trying to get a PS3 or Xbox360 for less than list. With those it's easier to find sellers at higher than list price than lower.

DarkestRitual · 10-30-2009, 11:02 PM

Good for that manager.

D3v1L80Y · 10-31-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noisreh

So the other day I ...decided to do some haggling ...one of the retail workers if he could cut me a deal .... So the question, "Are Mac products sold at a price agreement with most companies?"

No, products at a retail establishment are set at a price from the manufacturer.

You haggle over the price of a car or a house... you can haggle at a yard sale... you can even haggle at an outdoor Middle Eastern produce market... and that's about it.

There is no haggling in retail.

If you don't like the price, either find it cheaper elsewhere or simply don't buy it.

Eric559 · 10-31-2009, 05:47 PM

Go to a swap meet or craigslist if you want to haggle on a price

CrimsonRequiem · 10-31-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D3v1L80Y

No, products at a retail establishment are set at a price from the manufacturer.

You haggle over the price of a car or a house... you can haggle at a yard sale... you can even haggle at an outdoor Middle Eastern produce market... and that's about it.

There is no haggling in retail.

If you don't like the price, either find it cheaper elsewhere or simply don't buy it.

Umm actually yes you can haggle but it only works if there is a defect and you are willing to buy it as is, and not return the item. I got 15% off a Sony 2 GB Memory Stick PRO DUO at Best buy. These things aren't exactly cheap, especially when they first just came out. The packaging was mangled and tapped back together. I didn't do that of course it was already like that in the display case.

Can also do this with clothing. ^-^" Of course I don't do it often, only when the price is really highly and there is actually something to nit pick about.

D3v1L80Y · 10-31-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrimsonRequiem

Umm actually yes you can haggle but it only works if there is a defect and you are willing to buy it as is, and not return the item. I got 15% off a Sony 2 GB Memory Stick PRO DUO at Best buy. These things aren't exactly cheap, especially when they first just came out. The packaging was mangled and tapped back together. I didn't do that of course it was already like that in the display case.

Can also do this with clothing. ^-^" Of course I don't do it often, only when the price is really highly and there is actually something to nit pick about.

That doesn't change the notion that haggling should not be a part of retail.
Anyone who has worked in retail for any notable length of time understands this.

Now yes, there are people who "nitpick" (to be excessively concerned with or critical of inconsequential details) and whine and complain to the point where their actions mimic that of a three-year-old throwing a tantrum when Mommy won't buy them a toy while grocery shopping.
Some actually succeed when a spineless manager caves to their demands.

This is part of The Microwave Mentality of the Burger King Generation's Priceline/Price Match Plus Slacker Brigade syndrome that has tarnished and blackened the retail sales world.

It's this mentality that has also played a huge part in creating the current worldwide economic downturn we've been experiencing.

I'm not that old, but I do still remember a time about 20 years or so ago when people didn't haggle at the clothing store, electronics outlet or any other random establishment found at a shopping mall.
If they did try to haggle, the store stood its ground.
So, if they weren't happy with one store's price they went somewhere else.
If they couldn't find a price they were willing to pay, they simply didn't buy the item anywhere.

Today's retail world has changed, sadly.
Retailers are staring to now mollycoddle consumers and cave to their every beck and call.

It's really sad.

the8thark · 11-01-2009, 03:20 AM

to D3v1L80Y:

Yes it has changed. And now some retailers are willing to have a little less profit on a certain item if it means they get a sale. If they did not listen to the haggling customer then they'd most certainly have lost the sale entirely. Heck I try to haggle all the time in big purchases. If the retailers can use every trick in the book to justify their price, ie the higher the better, then I inturn can and do use all the tricks in the book to justify the price I want to pay, ie a lower one.

Sure sometimes I get nowhere. But sometimes too I get things a little cheaper.

I don't believe it's retailers trying to cave in to the consumers demands. I think it is consumers now days fight for the best price. And the retailers have to do more to get their sale and beat out the other retailers. So all in all it's a benefit for us consumers. We get cheaper and a better quality of product all around.

tattooedmac · 11-01-2009, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clayneal

Short answer- yes

Not entirely true .....

I went into the Authorised  reseller where i live and got the price of $99 AUD for the new Magic Mouse, then went to another store being JB Hi Fi and asked him in there if he could cut me a deal, and he said if i pay cash he would give me $3 off the $99. As i was there old mate was looking at the new 27" and asked for his best price and its then he said come with me and we can do a deal.
Granted i heard in ear shot that it wouldnt be too much off as its a brand new line, but to my reckoning any money in my pocket is better than there's.

The $3 i would save would have payed for my parking.

Win win

noisreh · 11-01-2009, 08:01 PM

I love that one comment, their is no haggling in retail! That's like saying you cannot haggle over anything in our world today. That guy must a Mommies closet D&D player.

clayneal · 11-01-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noisreh

I love that one comment, their is no haggling in retail! That's like saying you cannot haggle over anything in our world today. That guy must a Mommies closet D&D player.

here's some unsolicted advice. Edit your post.

Chris H. · 11-01-2009, 08:08 PM

The term (or phrase) OBO for "Or Best Offer" comes to mind here..but it doesn't really apply at retail stores.

Chris H. · 11-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the8thark

to D3v1L80Y:

Yes it has changed. And now some retailers are willing to have a little less profit on a certain item if it means they get a sale. If they did not listen to the haggling customer then they'd most certainly have lost the sale entirely. Heck I try to haggle all the time in big purchases. If the retailers can use every trick in the book to justify their price, ie the higher the better, then I inturn can and do use all the tricks in the book to justify the price I want to pay, ie a lower one.

Sure sometimes I get nowhere. But sometimes too I get things a little cheaper.

I don't believe it's retailers trying to cave in to the consumers demands. I think it is consumers now days fight for the best price. And the retailers have to do more to get their sale and beat out the other retailers. So all in all it's a benefit for us consumers. We get cheaper and a better quality of product all around.

There's a sort of law that goes here. Law of Demand: When prices go up, demand goes down and vice versa. There's another law: Law of Supply: more will be offered for sale at higher prices than at lower prices.

In any case, if I don't want to pay that much of a price, I'll elsewhere to find it. And if I don't find what I'm looking for with the price I want to pay, I compare my options, and I'll pay at whoever has the lowest price for a same or similar product. Unless I find several similar products at one store then I'll buy the one that has the most bang for the buck.

Dysfunction · 11-01-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D3v1L80Y

Today's retail world has changed, sadly.
Retailers are staring to now mollycoddle consumers and cave to their every beck and call.
.

Largely because they are no longer the only game in town and they know it. On the other hand, I saw someone return a 20+ year old canoe to Sears and demand a new one about 25 years ago.. and Sears did it. The canoe was damaged too