Furniture negotiating?

[THE SCUD]

Hey CP,

Looking to buy some new furniture, nothing fancy, just fill up a few empty bedrooms in our new place.

I have heard that the guys at Leons/the Brick/Ashley/random big box furnishing co are able to move around pretty seriously.

I enjoy negotiating (I do the deals for friends cars, etc) equally for the 'thrill' as well as for the savings. Having never negotiated for furnishing I thought I'd ask the great CP collective what they usually do, negotiation-wise, when buying furniture sets from these sawdust-vendors.

[Sliver]

Low-balling has saved me tens of thousands over the years. I low ball on everything.

[ken0042]

Furniture has some pretty big margins; especially mattresses.

Keep in mind that bigger ticket items will also have more room for them to move. A $2500 sofa set will have a real cost to the store of around $1200. They will have a "cost" price in the computer of something around $1900. This is really a "cost plus" so that sales people think that's what it really costs the store. While the $1200 price may not include shipping from the factory; it really is their bare cost.

However if you are looking at a $500 sofa; you probably won't get it for less than $400.

The other thing to keep in mind; some salespeople will refuse to take an offer to their sales manager because when they discount they also lose commission. Insist that they present your offer; or ask to speak to the manager yourself.

[THE SCUD]

I am looking for a basic bedroom set around a couple thousand - so an offer of 25% off is a reasonable place to start?

I really appreciate the advice Ken, I had no idea there was that much markup on furniture ( I did know about mattresses - funny how everyone seems to know that for some reason).

[surferguy]

I build my own furniture so I offer nothing other than shameless self promotion

[Caged Great]

As someone who has worked in a furniture store before, their break even cost is about 35-50% of the retail cost. Typically interior designer discounts are 20 or so % over sale costs (varies).

Go nuts.

[You Need a Thneed]

You should always negotiate for furniture. Really anything more than a couple of hundred dollars.

[darklord700]

Furniture is something you should never pay retail for.

[THE SCUD]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the comments.

[Byrns]

Reading this thread has made me slap my forehead in shame.

[BurningYears]

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by surferguy

I build my own furniture so I offer nothing other than shameless self promotion

So do I. Do you use cardboard and newspaper too?

[Winsor_Pilates]

I bought a new sectional yesterday.

Step 1: Spend a few days researching the type you want. Material, colour, shape, size, where it's made. This will put you into a price range that those types of sofas will be.
Knowledge is power in negotiating.

Step 2: Go shopping. I went to about 8-10 different stores, various online stores with pricing. and wholesale type places that sell sofas out of warehouses without store front overheads.

Step 3 (most important): Make your offer based on comparables. Offers are strongest when they're supported by research and other options. Lets the seller know you're exploring other options, have good reason to walk away if the price isn't right, and why they need to adjust to make this work.

Simply throwing out random offers makes a seller think you really want this product only, don't have other options in mind, and are just throwing out a desperate effort to save yourself some $. You've already emotionally committed to the product.
I love these types of offers when selling houses.

The type of sofa I wanted was ranging from $1500 - $1900 in pretty much every store/website I looked at. I found one place that had it reduced from $1599 to $1188 +HST which was already a great price for the style I wanted.

The guy bring over a piece of paper with $1188 at the top & $1400 at the bottom; the price it comes to with 12% tax and $70 delivery. Asked me what I think is a fair offer between those. I offered $1100 all in, lol.

A couple more back and forths, me requesting the leather care kit, and I ended up at $1148 tax in, shipping in, leather care kit in.

Considering the 8-10 other sofas I looked all were at least $1500 +12% HST to start; I feel pretty satisfied with the price I got. It wasn't a huge move from their sale price, but knowing that it was already priced sharply meant it didn't have to be.

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Reading this thread has made me slap my forehead in shame.

Because you have been paying the asking price or because my thread is ######ed?

[THE SCUD]

Where would you guys recommend for a decently price king-size bedroom set (6 piece+) ?

[FlamesKickAss]

thanks for the thread, I really had no idea you could negotiate things like that.

[Inferno099]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

Because you have been paying the asking price or because my thread is ######ed?

Probably because of paying asking "sale" price.

TBQH, I've always negotiated when buying cars, but for whatever reason never even thought of negotiating for furniture.

I appreciate the eye-opening thread...

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

Where would you guys recommend for a decently price king-size bedroom set (6 piece+) ?

No idea what your style is, but check out Cricklewood for traditional/transitional, Sojourn for modern, Modern Country for, er, modern country, Birchwood also has a ton of high quality stuff, MacArthur's if you spend money like water (but very traditional). Lazyboy/Kinkaid for modern/cheesy/traditional, Lane for traditional/transitional. Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware for new-American.

Bracko Brothers is the best for custom furniture.

Chests should have screwed-in backs, no particleboard anywhere, drawers should have English or French dovetails with a spine down the bottom.

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by Shazam

No idea what your style is, but check out Cricklewood for traditional/transitional, Sojourn for modern, Modern Country for, er, modern country, Birchwood also has a ton of high quality stuff, MacArthur's if you spend money like water (but very traditional). Lazyboy/Kinkaid for modern/cheesy/traditional, Lane for traditional/transitional. Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware for new-American.

Bracko Brothers is the best for custom furniture.

Chests should have screwed-in backs, no particleboard anywhere, drawers should have English or French dovetails with a spine down the bottom.

You sir, are my new personal home furnishings consultant.

Mods -feel free to have his custom user title reflect this

[Shazam]

My first bit of advice:

Don't take the wife.