How d'you go about bargaining them down?

I went to Tesco yesterday and would have preferred to pay £20 instead of £30 but there you go.

Seriously, all you can do is ask. The very most you are likely to get off is 10% but I think its more likely (and perfectly fair IMO) that they'll expect you to pay the going price.

If you have a Superfi near you and you're buying before the end of November they are giving a £10 voucher towards your next purchase for every £100 you spend there. They call it boomerang. I think its a great idea.

What price are these two shops you're looking at seeling the item you want?

If they're different go into both armed with each others prices and make sure you state clearly "This shop down the road is doing them for X amount, would you be willing to compete with that?" I've done that occasionally with guitar shops (I know it's not hi-fi but retail is retail) who won't even check the other shops price, they seem to know and are willing to either match, beat or add some worthwhile freebies into the bargain on the spot.

It's always worth a try to get the best price but remember, we'd all like things cheaper but like the poster above made the point, sometimes the price you see is the price you'll get, and in these days where products are sold far nearer shops profit margins than they used to be I think it's far more realistic to find the best prices on the net and on the high street and go with what your pocket can afford.

If you can't afford it, wait until you can, or look into other options.

I would agree that your only option would be to ask each shop what the best deal is they can offer you. Tell them you are asking both shops and that you will be purchasing from the one that offers you the best deal.

To be honest, I have been trying to get deals on new speakers and it has not been easy so I have had to save a bit more and pay the retail price. At least you have piece of mind with warranties etc. Other options would be to wait for a second hand pair to pop up on ebay or similar.

But just asks the dealers and see what they say!

There's a guy on the BBC (can't remember his name, but he's bald!) who did have a series a few months back (not sure if it's still on) where he helps people who want to buy something - car, furniture, dress or whatever.   This guy claims to NEVER pay full price - he even got a haircut for half price!    His attitude is that people would sooner make a sale than not.

Mind you, he's quite cheeky and makes a point of joking with shop assistants and store managers first, finding out their first names, then asking for a discount for cash.   Even if they offer him one of, say, 5 or 10%, he'll ask for more - and usually gets it.   Not sure I'd have the bottle, and if everyone did this it wouldn't just be Woolworths and MFI going out of business! 

Don't get done get Dom! (Dominic Littlewood) is the bald chap you are on about.

Good programme as well but you have to have the front to do it.

Octopo:

Don't get done get Dom! (Dominic Littlewood) is the bald chap you are on about.

 
That's the chap! 

Half price haircut you say? He's been done.

He's a car trader by profession.

The trick is to go with the best prices you can find for that particular piece of kit, and where you can get it for that price, and then ask if the dealer can match it (or at least go some way towards it), as you'd rather buy from them rather than somewhere else. At worst they will probably throw some accessories in. Always worth a try.

Try here if you are that way inclined ?

Speaking as a salesperson... seem uninterested/unconvinced. Say "work something up for me..." in a non-committal way. It's an art.

Going with some of the other posts here; it's not as easy as it was, some will some won't, also depends on your relationship with the shop in question, if you're a previous customer or whatever. I have a couple of shops in Edinburgh I go to and one in Glasgow who's been good (Loud and Clear and Retro Reproduction in Edinburgh and Audio Merchants in Glasgow all of whom I recommend highly for service). Price-wise they have the label and then they have the "well, I could do it for this..." but that goes mostly for used gear where they may have more flexibility.

It's a tough climate all round just now, the web undercuts the high street and so on, so if you want the deal, do the background footslogging on all the reviews you can find for what you want to shortlist and buy online. If you want dealer advice, a demo either instore on in the home, after-sales service and all the rest, be prepared to pay a little extra accordingly; it's only fair.

I find a straightforward "What's the best you can do" works wonders.

Let them respond, but don't say anything, just look disappointed. 9 times out of 10 they'll drop a little further.

It's true about being obstinate and prepared to walk though. I went to a music store to pick up some drum bits and I remember my bass player needed a new lead. I phoned him in the shop and he said "get the longest you can, but I don't really want to spend more than £20".

The longest lead they had in the shop was £36, the salesmen kept trying to push me into a sale, then tried to get me a shorter lead for the budget. I kept saying "Nah, I'll just leave it". In the end he crumbled, and I got my mate the good quality long lead that was £36 for £22.

I'm rubbish at this too, but got £10 off a £80 pre-amp today at Richer Sounds just by asking!

In my case I had the option of either the cheaper £50 model, or the £80 model. I just umm'd a bit, made a pathetic attempt at pretending the £80 model was just out of my budget, and then asked, "any chance of getting anything off the £80 model". The guy didn't even hesitate, although he was the store manager, so maybe that helped.

Store was pretty busy so I didn't press any further - Dom would have been disappointed I'm sure, but considering it was a CA amp I was buying (that only RS stock), I couldn't exactly play the "I'll go somewhere else" card.ÿ

I gotta admit I like the bargaining side of buying. My attitude changes depending on the amount I'm spending. If i'm only spending a 1er or so, I won't push too hard, but if i'm spending some proper money, i'll barter hard. I'd go there with the cash that i'd be willing to pay and if the shop doesn't come down enough, I would say 'I have the cash on me, right now. Do you really want to lose the sale over 'X' amount?'ÿ

Usually works, as cash is king. But, always be ready to walk away if they don't play ball, because there's always someone else who will.

My biggest touch was at Dixons 5 years ago. I'd just moved into my first house and had to completely kit it out. I walked in there with 5 grand, grabbed one of the staff got him to follow me round while I picked out tv (a bloody huge 50" toshiba rear projection. Too big for the room but I loved it anyway!), fridge, washing machine, stereo, iron, etc,etc. At the end I got the stereo, dyson hoover, iron, telephone for nothing and got 5 years cover on all the goods (which I usually think is a massive con, but the Toshiba tele went wrong pretty much every six months for four years until they took it away for fixing the last time and smashed it up in the back of the truck. I got to replace the beaten up toshiba with the Sammy plasma I have now!) for nothing. Over a grand saved. Was a good day.ÿ