With the economy taking a dive, many consumers are now trying to haggle for everyday items–much like the way car buying has traditionally been. The Chicago Tribune has more:
Their ranks are growing. Half of consumers surveyed in April by BIGresearch reported they have started haggling over auto repairs and appliance and electronics purchases. More recently, nearly 60 percent of Britons surveyed said they are now more likely to try to negotiate discounts than they were a few months ago.
That doesn’t surprise Margot Bogue, senior vice president at Chicago advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt. “People are saying, ‘Oh, my God! What is happening?’ Their confidence has become rocked,” said Bogue. Cramer-Krasselt is recommending its clients adjust, too, by adopting more flexible- or tiered-pricing systems to give customers the psychic and economic payoff they crave.
Are you a haggler? Can a well-respected brand (or store) survive if customers decide the true value of an item is much less than what’s being asked? Is America turning into a third-world street market?