GC Haggling....good or bad ???

[Marty Albertson]

Hi All......wanted to get some input.....we (GC) are testing the idea of eliminating negotiation in our stores. We find that most but not all customers find it unpleasant. we have a price guaranty and could offer a loyalty program for frequent shoppers...do you all feel this is a good or bad idea ? Or are there suggestions on your part that you feel would make this work best ......love to hear from any and all....

[Slingy]

Hi Marty. I personally don't care for for the price haggling or knowing that someone can get a better deal just because they know someone. That is just my opinion.

I do however like getting a discount if I'm getting something that has been damaged in the store. I have bought two EBMM's this way from GC. A Sub guitar that had a broken toggle, and a Luke model that had a pretty good ding in it at the headstock. In each case I believe a discount was the right thing to do.

Cheers!

[Sweat]

Hi All......wanted to get some input.....we (GC) are testing the idea of eliminating negotiation in our stores. We find that most but not all customers find it unpleasant. we have a price guaranty and could offer a loyalty program for frequent shoppers...do you all feel this is a good or bad idea ? Or are there suggestions on your part that you feel would make this work best ......love to hear from any and all....

Hi Marty,

To me this is a tough one, sometimes negotiation is needed and necessary, and it can be unpleaseant and a pain in the butt.


As Slingy said if it is NOS or has some damage and the item is not already marked down then negtiation is needed.

Also I think most people looking at a product know the proper pricing range and where they can get the same item cheaper so if GC is higher then again negotiation may be needed.

A couple of examples for you, I was in the central Dallas GC today to buy some new EB acoustic strings and saw a few Music Man guitars, one was a JP piced at X dollars and I know of at least 2 different place to buy the same guitar for a couple of hundred dollars less than what it was priced, so again negotiation would come into play or this may be where your price guaranty would work.

Also I was in the North Dallas store last Saturday, they had a nice Silo that I was interested in, the price onit was way out of proportion with the actual cost of a Silo, several hundred dollars out of proportion, talked to the sales guy and an assitant manager and they said it was an invoicing mistake most likely but did not know how to find out the actual sale price that day I showed them the price of a couple of other Silos in stock and asked if they could let it go for x dollars but they said all they could do is wait and call me with a price, still waiting, point being that again it was needed to negotiate the pricing.

I will agree a buyer loyalty card, with a discount after x amount would be great and to see a tag that says we meet or beat any one pricing system would also be a plus.

Well thats my 2 cents, thanks for being part of the forum and for all your help.

Keith

[PeteDuBaldo]

I have found that the very few people who try and beat me up on the selling price are generally not the type of people I want to be doing business with...

[paranoid70]

Great question! Wish I had a good answer.

Sometimes I look at the tag and think, well should I offer $Y... what if I am lowballing and the sales guy thinks I am a jerk-off? If he doesn't budge, you look like an idiot. On the other hand, you think well this price is too much, then the Sales guy may offer something less.

I have got what *I* thought were good deals by haggling. Sometimes the Sales guy can't move the price so he throws in strings and stuff. Still a negotiation right?

However, if you do get rid of the haggling, I would know the price on the guitar is the price of the guitar. Currently, I think of it as a starting point.

[Jodizzle]

That's tough. I'm not a confidant haggler (unless in Mexico), but I like thinking "Oh man, I just totally scored!!" (stop it boys) It's always a good feeling, when you feel you've gotten a great deal ... almost a steal!
But, sometimes the haggling depends on the haggled. Some salespeople just don't want to be reasoned with. Like Paranoid said .. some just think you're jerks. That's a yucky feeling. Some sales people tend to become less nice and more firm when being haggled. Last GC I went into had a Bongo on the wall .. was quite dusty. I had no intention of buying it, but started asking one of the sales guys about it, and what they would take for it. He actually got pretty jerky with me, didn't want to reason at all and pretended that he had more to tend to in the store. Maybe I was at fault for trying "to work" him when I had no intentions of buying?

I guess haggle-free would be better ---- with offers to cool our pride though

[Sweat]

That's tough. I'm not a confidant haggler (unless in Mexico), but I like thinking "Oh man, I just totally scored!!" (stop it boys) It's always a good feeling, when you feel you've gotten a great deal ... almost a steal!
But, sometimes the haggling depends on the haggled. Some salespeople just don't want to be reasoned with. Like Paranoid said .. some just think you're jerks. That's a yucky feeling. Some sales people tend to become less nice and more firm when being haggled. Last GC I went into had a Bongo on the wall .. was quite dusty. I had no intention of buying it, but started asking one of the sales guys about it, and what they would take for it. He actually got pretty jerky with me, didn't want to reason at all and pretended that he had more to tend to in the store. Maybe I was at fault for trying "to work" him when I had no intentions of buying?

I guess haggle-free would be better ---- with offers to cool our pride though

Very well put Jodi haggle free with offers, I like that, never want to work someone, but want a fair deal, I had cash in pocket with the intention of buying but did not get the we can do this at this $.

[Marty Albertson]

Thanks all......keep it coming !!! We currently today beat any and all verifiable competitive prices...or at least that is our policy and all stores should be doing this......I agree that any damaged instrument should be sold at a discount and the size of the discount should depend on the extent of the damage. What I would like to do is mark the price for the damage rather than negotiate. I believe the credibilty issue is critical here and selling to everyone at the same price is important with a discount given to those reaching certain purchasing volumes.

[spychocyco]

I hate buying cars, furniture and instruments for this very reason. I hate haggling. It's OK with damaged instruments, as there should be some give and take there. But if it's a new instrument in mint condition, just give me the best price that you can give me, and let me decide if I want to pay it.

[Big Poppa]

MARTY Im going to open this thread in the guitar and bass section as many forumites only go to either guitar or bass...keep posting anywhere you are comfortable

[kbaim]

Thanks all......keep it coming !!! We currently today beat any and all verifiable competitive prices...or at least that is our policy and all stores should be doing this......I agree that any damaged instrument should be sold at a discount and the size of the discount should depend on the extent of the damage. What I would like to do is mark the price for the damage rather than negotiate. I believe the credibilty issue is critical here and selling to everyone at the same price is important with a discount given to those reaching certain purchasing volumes.

Hey marty,
I've posted a reply to this in Sterlings repost in the guitar section (guessing this was done so more people might see it), so please look there as well...but I'm also wondering if everyone would now start at zero or would there be some system to account for money already spent?

But with the mortgage crisis, gas around 4 bucks a gallon, and food costs soaring, I think consumers might be MORE inclined to want to negotiate their other purchases, not less. Very tough call, very tough decision for ya.
Good luck.

[Colin]

I personally don't feel comfortable with haggling. I usually ask them for their best price and let the salesperson know I'm getting quotes from 2 other stores. Does anyone ever pay the full retail price these days anyway?

[slukather]

I agree with Colin, I'm not really a big fan of haggling, but l have done it in the past, normally now l just ask for their best price, and l call around to other stores and ask for their best price, and go from there. But considering Colins the only one l deal with regarding Ernie Ball products, l don't have to worry about being ripped off. At least l hope not.

Scott.

[dkassenbrock]

Hi Marty,
While I don't have a problem with haggling, (I've even resorted to filpping a coin for my highest vs. your lowest price) I don't think it is fair for me to get a better price than some mother buying her kid his first guitar just because I'm better at arm-wrestling a better deal. Probably best to set the price according to market demands, then knockoff for damage or sales events. Just my 2 centavos. -Capt Don

[Colin]

l don't have to worry about being ripped off. At least l hope not.

getting a good and honest deal is all the customer really wants at the end of the day. loyalty is the key here...