After what happened with our last one, we decided to replace it finally.
For the past few months we have been using a TV I bought when Jman was a baby. So thats about 6 years ago now.
A big bulky beast that needs magnets at the back if we wish to watch more colours than just purple and green.
Just after Christmas doesn't seem the best time to buy said luxury right?
Well with a little research and compromise between The Daddy Man and I we have found some great deals.
The Daddy Man is a techno whizz. In his early 20's he was married. They were DINKS*. He thought nothing of heading out and buying a brand new gadget for over $1000 without shopping around.
Then he got divorced, met me, had a hoard of kids and realised we needed to be very smart with our dollars.
Although I call The Daddy Man terms of endearment like "Scrooge Mc'Duck", "Mr Stinge" and "A cheap bastard". Sometimes It comes in handy.
The Daddy Man is gifted in the sense he can haggle. I am the worst haggler ever and so leave this up to him.
I have seen him single handedly haggle items hundreds of dollars lower than their ticket price, and get stuff thrown in for free. Awesome right? He is also very talented in bargain spotting.
So tomorrow he will be putting his haggling skills to the test and not only getting us an awesome TV that has colours other than purple and green, but a Surround Sound System thrown in. For free. He will succeed. He's good like that.
This all got me thinking.
How do you purchase goods?
Do you haggle?
Do you buy cash back items? (these can be good if you read the fine print early)
Do you shop around?
Do you buy when items are on sale?
Do you ask for rain checks?
Having a little bit of courage, bravado and smart thinking can save you money.
We thrive on the fact that we never buy anything (aside from groceries) that aren't on sale or without haggling a discount.
Call it cheap, stingey or thrifty. I call it smart!
# DINKS = Double income no kids.
A few years ago I was living in Melbourne and was reading an Australian financial book that had a chapter on haggling! My mum need a new video camera - so I spent a couple of hours with her visiting 5 shops in one area and was able to get the camera about $150 cheaper then the 1st shop by telling each shop what the other was offering. AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteIt works and no one was hurt in the process. In each shop my confidence grew and grew - but it was heart pounding scary at 1st.
Thats fantastic! I know the feeling. I always worry about being told no or to go away lol. My confidence is growing but i like to leave it to the expert.
ReplyDeleteI *wish* I could haggle. Best I can do is ask if thats the best price and when told yes, pay it. The staff just look at me with their steely cold eyes and know I'm a pansy.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can do though is shop around, and I mean a lot. That's why I buy online, I can compare everything without the hard sell. Unfortunately for Aussie retailers the prices are better overseas, so they should be nicer to me next time I do try to haggle.
For larger purchases, I tend to go into the shops, have a look and then go home and jump online to see if I can find it cheaper. Then I call the shop to let them know I have found it cheaper online, I have had a few stores match the online price!!
ReplyDeleteI also love to haggle, but I go red in the face when I do it. I think the salesperson takes advantage of my obvious redness and they gain the upper hand! I always need a speaker to haggle on my behalf. My sister is awesome at it