I've found the general design discussion here useful, but this may be off topic, pardon me.
in these...interesting...financial times, I've only been able to wrestle a 20% discount (plus free freight) off list prices for high end furniture. Another dealer offered 25% off today but I've already ordered.
15% seems to be a standard trade discount, so it doesn't seem like I've accomplished much at 20% off.
for future reference, what sort of deal should one expect, especially when buying about 30k (list) usd in furniture?
wow, nothing? This is a...
wow, nothing? This is a difficult negotiation that design enthusiasts go into blindly as most b&b (and the like) is bought by large expense accounts/lavish celebrity & corporate exec funds so the discount doesn't even matter.
guidance for the common man is appreciated.
getting a dsicount
The Deep,
Shopping is like any other job, it is easy with practice. These are some of the guide lines I use:
!. You have money that the retailer desires and they must work for your money.
2. Never allow emotions or personal feelings to cloud any decisions (if you don not get the first one you will get the second - do not fall for the get it before it is gone trick).
3. It is not the amount of money (30K) that is spent is the frequency of spending that a retailer remembers (in other words 30K in on sale is not as memorable as $1,000.00 spent every week for thirty weeks - keep them wanting more).
4. Make your buying pattern wide (my playground is the entire US - the internet provides the source and telephone calls are inexpensive).
%. Always deal with upper management (they are able to make deals that an ordinary employeee can not).
6. Ask about floor samples.
7. Do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer directly (ask about samples from their showroom).
8. Pay them the landed cost (generally less 50% plus inbound freight) to order prodcut that they can not or will not stock to use as a floor model for a business quarter (90 days) and then the product is yours at the end of the quarter (should they get lucky and sell the item they will order another and they have everything to gain).
9. Search for retailers that are short on funds or in financial trouble and pay them the least (15 cents on the retail dollar) for what you desire. Do not feel sorry for them. It is only business.
10. Start low and offer less the second time.
This is a good beginning. I shop every day and my "average" cost is 20 to 25 cents on the retail dollar.
Good luck and remember that the person with the money is in charge not those who want money.
AoDA, your advice is great,...
AoDA, your advice is great, but seems geared toward a design professional. An average person cannot purchase a sofa a week. =D
seriously though, I'm outfitting my entire house in one go. I cannot spread the term over a year. I also require very little, just a few high ticket items. My 30k purchase is two sofas, two armchairs, and a bed.
you say landed cost is 50% of retail + freight, yet you also pay 20% of retail on average, meaning below cost. This is the mark of a professional. I'm not in that category, I'm just a average person with an average income who saved for years for these items, and am only now finding out what a racket it is.
pay less for more
The Deep,
Okay, I understand.
Locate every Cassina and B&B Italia dealer in the US and make phone contact with the highest level employee available. The dealer with the least inventory is the best prospect. After checking to determine their reliabilty, offer them cost (less 50%) plus 10% and inbound feight paid upon order entry. The more people you contact (to be a good map maker a person should show his map to other map makers) the higher the probability of success. It is a "win win" situation. They get 10% immediately for passing paper you you get what you desire at less 45%. Good luck.
thanks AoDA, this was my...
thanks AoDA, this was my initial strategy. As soon as I started, however, I ran into the ridiculous dealer agreements signed by the retailers---they can't sell outside of their 'area', nothing more than a standard discount, etc. This seemed pretty uniform across the board (I called about five shops, maybe I should have called fifty) It seems like the game is rigged, possibly even illegally.
wait for the magic
The Deep,
I heard the same story when I prchased my Antonio Citterio, Domus '00 for B&B Italia case piece several years ago. I ignored everything except my objective. The best advice I can give is to look in the south east territory as some modern dealers are under capitalized and are on dangerous ground. Space Moderm in Atlanta recently closed and Moooi was less 70% (there are several other poor performing dealers in this town). There is a weak Fiam retailer in Alabama. People in need of cash are everywhere. Someone somewhere can not sell a five dollar bill for four dollars and you must find them. Once again good luck.
below cost
The Deep,
Here is your answer to "below cost" question you previously asked. This afternoon I purchased the Charles and Ray Eames, la Chaise for Vitra® as a "showroom sample" in perfect condition for $2,000.00. Based on the current price of $9,475.00, this is 0.211081794 on the dollar (less 788918206%). In reality their cost was $2,700.00 (less 50+10 on $6,000.00 retail) and the true differential is 25.92593% below cost. This is why the deal was acceptable to them and good for me. It all depends on how you look at the numbers. The game is not rigged, it is just a matter on knowing the rules and how to play. Based on your stated budget (that I believe to be above average in this current economy) you should be able to get more for less. Somebody out there respects your budget and and desires your patronage. Do not give up. Spanky, sorry for the stock image, but I know this is better than anything I could take.
Good for you
Ark! I haven't purchased anything at retail since the 80's. Yes, it is a "game", but one in which it is well worth learning the rules. For those of you who do not have the magical wholesale purchasing numbers, I highly recommend buying "showroom samples" or googling the phrase "cash and carry".
it is a game
Riki,
You are correct in that a person can get a great deals safely and easily at many other venues including eBay and Craiglist (I have secured a great many Philippe Starck Bubble Club pieces for my sister for next to nothing - about 0.10 on the dollar - on Craigslist). I collect a great many things and for me acquiring is similar to a game and I enjoy playing. In this last case my girlfriend will have the benefit of a great chaise, as I have no need for this unit.
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