TV Prices to the Retailer?

chosen1s

chosen1s

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Ok,

I promise this will (probably) :) be my last thread about TV's. I'm looking to get a deal from Ultimate Electronics' store closing in my area (mentioned in another thread that did not really address this topic as I had hoped it would), and the sales people have been haggling with me like there's no tomorrow every time I go in there. Lots of "Just come up here with your checkbook and I'll cut you the deal of a lifetime" comments.

I REALLY hate getting schooled by a salesperson because I'm in sales, and being a CAG on top of it just makes my frustration all the worse at being at a disadvantage in this negotiating. So here's the big question:

1) Does anybody here have access to the wholesale prices paid by Ultimate Electronics/Best Buy/Circuit City for sets, and if so could I send you a few model numbers and get those costs from you? (PM me please?). Any major retailer will do, as I expect they all pay pretty much the same.

2) Does anybody here know where I could go to get this information, somewhere on the internet perhaps?

3) If someone can help me out with this so that I am able to negotiate a much better price, I would be happy to Paypal a token of my appreciation (assuming it's legal to ask for this information and I don't know why it wouldn't be).

These guys are really giving me the hard sell, with lots of conflicting information (Ex - "We've already been bought out by a liquidator. They probably paid pennies on the dollar for all this stuff and are going to make a killing regardless of the price they sell it at, so you'd better get one now while they're still here"...later on in the conversation..."I can only drop the price 'this' much, because there is really not much profit margin in that price to begin with". Oh really? A liquidator bought all of this stuff for pennies on the dollar but now you're telling me you have to make a profit over what the original cost was? That makes no sense).

Forget what the liquidator paid, I just want to know what the wholesale price is so I have a starting point of reference to negotiate and I don't have to just bend over and take what they tell me. Any help would be much appreciated, and I am sure there are other CAG's who are looking for a shiny new HDTV that will benefit from this thread as well. Currently wondering about:

Samsung hlp-5063w
 
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Where would you be able to negotiate a price? Don't most retailers already have a set price? It's not like you are going car shopping. I've never bought a TV over $2000, though, so I probably wouldn't know how it works.
 
Ultimate Electronics is closing a number of stores, and one of them is in my area. The salespeople have been very vocal about their ability to negotiate the price of the TV's in their inventory.
 
Just make sure you have a cross-section of other retailers' price for the same model. If the place you're trying makes you a substantially better deal that mitigates the issue of not having them for support later on, then what do you care what they actually paid? In a liquidation situation the price could easily be far below wholesale but that doesn't necessarily make it a great deal if it isn't what you want.

Since you don't have access to wholesale purchasing that factor really shouldn't matter. It's either a good deal compared to surviving retailers or it isn't.
 
i already tried this when i bought my jvc 52 DLP HDTV... good luck jew'in em down, wont work at stores like best buy or circuit city with HDTV's bro ---- price match!!! .. someone will buy it, just maybe not you.

that samsung is a slick unit.. if you want to see lowest prices, go to like pricegrabber.com and enter your model in, cross reference with evil bay and thats about it.. print out 2 or 3 adds, then hope they can match that, remeber your not paying SHIPPING costs
 
[quote name='Legolas813']Where would you be able to negotiate a price? Don't most retailers already have a set price? It's not like you are going car shopping. I've never bought a TV over $2000, though, so I probably wouldn't know how it works.[/QUOTE]

price is always negotiable. that is the only thing i learned as an outside sales rep. that and how to get the company to expense meals and golf rounds.

if you enter a store with the attitude that there is no negotiation, then be sure to pack some KY
in your man purse. they have a set price, but if you tell that you will buy x product now for x price then the ball is in their court. the key is you have to be willing to walk out on the deal if they don't budge on price. some things that i have found to influence price negotiation is being able to pay cash. it is more to your advantage to have a bankroll to use than a credit card. 9 times out of 10 the clerk will look at you like your crazy, that's when you ask to see his boss or someone that has the authority to do the deal. if he doesn't want your money, tell him that you'll just take it to the competitor because you know for a fact that they negotiate on their items.

now keep in mind we are talking about big ticket items. don't expect to go to BB or CC and negotiate the price down on Doom3 for xbox.
 
[quote name='Legolas813']Where would you be able to negotiate a price? Don't most retailers already have a set price? It's not like you are going car shopping. I've never bought a TV over $2000, though, so I probably wouldn't know how it works.[/QUOTE]

You would be surprised what you can haggle on. I know a guy that will haggle with Sears to get tools cheaper, haggle with department stores to get clothing cheaper.. nearly everything he purchases he haggles on.

Personally, its not worth my time to wait for a manager and spend 10 minutes haggling to get a screwdriver for $2 off, but on a major purchase I never ever pay list price.

And if you ever pay full price for jewelry, you're off your rocker. Jewelry stores will haggle like no else.
 
[quote name='exceed19']i already tried this when i bought my jvc 52 DLP HDTV... good luck jew'in em down, wont work at stores like best buy or circuit city with HDTV's bro ---- price match!!! .. someone will buy it, just maybe not you.

that samsung is a slick unit.. if you want to see lowest prices, go to like pricegrabber.com and enter your model in, cross reference with evil bay and thats about it.. print out 2 or 3 adds, then hope they can match that, remeber your not paying SHIPPING costs[/QUOTE]


Nice!

Anti-Semitic advice!

(Emphasis Added)
 
Thanks for everyone's feedback. Back to topic though, anybody know how I might find out what they are actually paying for these things? I agree completely with the theory of walking in and saying "I'll pay cash for this price, take it or leave it" - but, I need to know that my offer makes sense.
 
[quote name='chosen1s']Thanks for everyone's feedback. Back to topic though, anybody know how I might find out what they are actually paying for these things? I agree completely with the theory of walking in and saying "I'll pay cash for this price, take it or leave it" - but, I need to know that my offer makes sense.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry about what price they paid. They're liquidating. Find what price you feel comfortable paying, and offer a bit below that. They'll try to work you up, but make sure you indicate that going above X price is a deal breaker.

Just be comfortable with what you're paying, don't worry about winning or losing, if you and they both find a comfortable meeting point, you both win.
 
the fact that most americans don't haggle is why we are so welcomed in the marketplaces of foreign countries. haggling is expected in most countries. its just part of the transaction.
 
I think offering between 20 to 35 % off their normal asking price would be a good place to start.
 
Thanks. Actually I went over to CC an Best Buy earlier today and talked to their TV people. Both were very friendly (though both also tried to convince me to just go ahead and buy a TV from them). They both gave me some good information about how the Ultimate Electronics salespeople are paid (which helps me understand how their commission is affected by the sales price) and also what I should ask for.

I'll probably go discuss with UE later today. If anybody here ever does come across this thread and has additional suggestions or input, I would appreciate it.
 
[quote name='chosen1s']Thanks. Actually I went over to CC an Best Buy earlier today and talked to their TV people. Both were very friendly (though both also tried to convince me to just go ahead and buy a TV from them). They both gave me some good information about how the Ultimate Electronics salespeople are paid (which helps me understand how their commission is affected by the sales price) and also what I should ask for.[/QUOTE]

I feel that is wrong of you, that you go in a store and go Hi I like this tv but the other store is where I am going to buy this from so I will waste your time and then go buy it from them. I am a commissioned salesman myself and I am always nice to people but I HATE when people come in my store and I talk to them and then after explaining everything that the items does and how it will benefit them for 20 mins. they ask does walmart, CC or BB have it cheaper. That is when I politely tell them that I am commissioned I have no reason to lie and sometimes if I am in a pissed off mood and we are busy. they are leaving w/o a purchase I tell them thanks for stealing my time. basically what I am trying to say it quit being a CheapAss and buy the tv from either BB or UE. go into UE start haggling about 75 bucks less then you want to pay. then let them talk you up you may get lucky and get it for less then you were willing to pay.
 
[quote name='Graystone']I feel that is wrong of you, that you go in a store and go Hi I like this tv but the other store is where I am going to buy this from so I will waste your time and then go buy it from them. I am a commissioned salesman myself and I am always nice to people but I HATE when people come in my store and I talk to them and then after explaining everything that the items does and how it will benefit them for 20 mins. they ask does walmart, CC or BB have it cheaper. That is when I politely tell them that I am commissioned I have no reason to lie and sometimes if I am in a pissed off mood and we are busy. they are leaving w/o a purchase I tell them thanks for stealing my time. basically what I am trying to say it quit being a CheapAss and buy the tv from either BB or UE. go into UE start haggling about 75 bucks less then you want to pay. then let them talk you up you may get lucky and get it for less then you were willing to pay.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the lecture but you can get off your soapbox.

1) Both the Best Buy and Circuit City employees told me they were not on commission.
2) I told them upfront that I was gathering information on UE and that I didn't want to waste their time if they had other things to do.
3) Both told me they just enjoyed shooting the bull and talking TV's with me.

I see where you are coming from, but stop taking things so personally. I'm not the person who screwed you out of your happy little sale. And by the way, after my most recent experiences, a TV salesperson working on commission gets about as much sympathy from me as a used car salesman. I've never heard so many lies and seen so many sleezeball tactics used in my life as I have since I started looking for a good TV. Boo Hoo. You didn't make your $300 commission after spending a whole 20 MINUTES talking to me.
 
Best Buy employees who know their math could find out for you. We get a discount of cost + 5%. If you give me some makes and models, I'll see what I can do.
 
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