I have notice that in these less than stellar economics times, many national stores (not online) are willing to dicker on prices below over that which is published. Sears, Macy’s, William-Sonoma, are just some stores where the local sales people have authority to alter the price.
Has anyone seen tried anything like this at general ww stores like Rockler, Woodcraft etc.?
LV ?
Again, not online but at a store.
I don’t mean a set of drill bits but when your looking say, at $150.00 item on up to Eurosliders?
Just wondering.
Replies
I once suggested a discount at a lee Valley store when I was buying about $800 worth of toys. The guy at the counter politely said that they get people that come in and pick up orders of over $5000 at a time and they don't get discounts. I am happy paying full price knowing that LV has the best in customer service and will take care of me no matter what the problem.
First I would ask were those toys proprietary to LV? I would submit they had no reason to bargain. You had no leverage.I was not referring to the qualities of the store but if it was a reality in the woodworking vendors in light of the economy. I don't fault any of the services of these stores weither it be consumer service or shipping and replacement, but I'm interested in that discounting (or bargaining -whatever) is going on across the board, i.e. new cars, clothing, building materials, high end appliances and wondered if anyone has experienced it first hand. I don't see a whole lot of difference in the wood working vendor industry relative to the other markets and they are laying off people also. Hence the question. These days most stores will price match against a competitor rather than stand on frozen ground. Business is business.Years ago I offered to buy a power unit of some sort from Highland Hardware at the same price as Tool Crib so I could give them the business and save myself the shipping. The were local to me. They declined and proceeded to back out of the power tool market. At the time the floor was loaded with Ryobi, Powermatic, Delta saws and machines of all sorts. I don't fault them, but there was a reason they could not price compete with ToolCrib - not the volume at all (what the in-store customer doesn't see is the huge mail order operation they also have). The chose not to. Fine. It is my prerogative to find the best price which is why the whole nature of this post. (If you go there in person, as Sarge can verify, they never did leave the small tool market completely and just like everyone else - they have jumped on the Festool wagon)Let me rephrase the post.
Has anyone recently successfully bargained a better price from a vendor?
Personally, I don't dicker over prices ! We're talking U.S.A here not Mexico. I really like the Festool approach it is what it is for everybody!! I found a used car dealer that has firm prices and I love it and the service is great.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I can't say that I get a discount every time I ask for it but on the other hand if you don't ask for one you certainly wont get one! I mostly do though and it often makes me a repeat customer and the next time if the salesman remembers me I'll get the same discount without asking.
I'm also sorry to say that I no longer live in the U.S. so all my experience with requesting a discount on tools is local (which is the native custom)
I've also done this many times in NJ where I used to live and I've mostly received at least a 10% discount right off the bat. I must admit though this was on household items or clothing.
I'm sure I did'nt add anything, but if I were you I would definitely ask, it cant hurt!
Chaim
Yes, from Lee Valley.
I called and asked if they would lower the price on some kitchen knobs that I was buying 250 or so. They asked if I was a business. I wasn't at the time. I had banded together with a number of friends to replace the ugly knobs in our homes. At first, she said she didn't think so. I asked if she might be willing to just to pose the question to a supervisor. She said she didn't see why not. After a few minutes on hold. She came back with they would drop the price an additional 10%.
After thanking her, I asked to speak to the supervisor. I complimented both for great service and followed it up with an email to management. I received a thank you email from the management, the supervisor and the woman that took the call.
Another reason why I buy from Lee Valley. Great products, good prices and great service. Remember when that was the norm?Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
There are (were) ugly knobs in your neighborhood?! I'd think that would definitely be against all those rules. ROFL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I still have them. I'd be happy to send them to you.Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
I bet you would! Can't be any worse than what's already in our house, but that's OK, I'll find something local. <grin>forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have gotten previous sale prices on items that were no longer on sale. But the place I have gotten better prices is when buying wood. Some lumberyards have different price lists for different "types" of customers- contractors vs professional furniture makers vs hobbists. I have gotten the "professional" price discounts several times- especially when buying larger quantities. It can make a pretty big difference when buying a lot of bf of lumber.
Jeff
"First I would ask were those toys proprietary to LV? I would submit they had no reason to bargain. You had no leverage."One or two might have been but the rest were tools that I could have bought down the road or from another catalog company.Remember, if we keep squeezing all the profit out of our smaller good companies then we will lose them and be left with the Walmarts, Home Depots and Costcos. But I suppose you'll have a full shop by then and it won't matter if there is only dung left to buy for the rest of the woodworkers.
I have a (not very) local wood sales place that I used to use a lot (when the wood shop was up north) that I still do business with when I need a good amount of wood. It is worth the drive because the guys prices are low to begin with compared to anyone around were I live, and he gives me a discount more often then not (depends on how much he paid for the wood to begin with) and normally he is off by at least 5% on his calculations of the board feet (in my favor) as he does a LOT of rounding down. Why does he do this? I think because he remembers me. I bought my first "good" wood from him (and he knows that) so even though he only sees me once a year or so we still get along very well. The guy is really a mill work shop that also does some furniture and has a large supply of wood he sells to people, but that is not really his business.
So if you get along with someone and are a good customer (not meaning a larger purchaser) He will often get rewarded but this really only happens in smaller places as the big stores have to go way to high up the chain of command to get anyone that can take a discount.
Of course in this case I went back one day (was already a mile or two away) when I realized the guy had made a BIG (I think it was about $50) boo boo in the sales price of the wood. And NOT against me. He seamed shocked that I gave him the money he messed up buy but I was not going to take advantage of him an chance a good relationship over $50. Now days I just call him, and tell him what I need and he normally has it pulled out and hand selected sitting for me when I get to his place. Frankly He is better at picking the wood then I am.
Why do I have this good of a relationship with a guy I only buy form once in a while and then in smaller amounts (well I have done a few large orders)? I don't really know but I do know that I value it beyond just the money. Some places are just good at what they do. And once you find them you need to hang on to them.
Doug
Both Woodcraft and Rocklers will take a club card and give a 10% discount except for the usual things such as power tools.
What is a club card?
A club card is something like a woodcarving club membership card-I use New England Woodcarvers. Another example of a card they take is that of a craft center which I am a member of- The center gives me a yearly membership card when I re-up;I take woodworking classes there. There are other examples they would likely take such as a woodturning club membership card. I discretely ask if they give a discount before I make a pile of goods to buy.
John,
I am past the price of a tool and am willing to pay if I can expect a good product and good customer service. I don't buy anything at Sears or Canadian Tire any more.
I'm not quite at the Festool level though, yet.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I am also past the point of messing about on individual prices on small items. I also want good service and I won't buy were it isn't good to excellent (like LV or LN) but that was not my point. To those who "don't dicker over prices" this is a moot question but that would also seem indicate they pay full retail when buying a car.I used Rockler et al as examples but perhaps wrongly. I wasn't asking about nuts, bolts and cans of finish unless it is in large quantities as one poster indicated."if we keep squeezing all the profit out of our smaller good companies then we will lose them ...yada, yada, yada.My business is to look to my business and it's profits and "smaller" companies will do just fine if they tend to theirs.
Some are under the mistaken idea that its our business and mandate to support other businesses, even more so if they are nice.
Do they pay your kids education or put food on the table or pay your widow after your gone?
PhooeyThe query was prompted by interest in a larger piece of machinery for the shop, where two different companies were offering essentially the same product/same support/same shipping/same everything. Both good companies with pleasant people. One did not only not vary from the company line but actually raised the price by over $500. Both are reputable companies and both have high service and I was dealing with individual "store" locations not owned outright by the parent company. I didn't ask for a lower price but when I told the one of the other's price, it was of little concern. I was not asking about proforma discounts (member cards) and the like but was asking after the general economy and if the general experience of woodworkers was yeah or nay as to "woody" vendors were following suit with the rest of the country. Simple.I wasn't as clear as I could have been at the get go and I apologize.Thanks to all who responded.
I've actually gotten a discounts on a few things from Rockler here in Seattle. Once on one of those Wizard metal finders, once on a bunch of Accuride/slide (what ever) hdwr. and once on a PC Speedmatic router.
Like you said, if you ask, the worst they can say is NO. If you don't ask, they definitely won't offer!
Regards,
Mack
"Close enough for government work=measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk and cut with an axe"
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