Bargaining in shops

[KyushuWoozy]

Just bought an aircon and having spent the last 15 years in Indonesia couldn't resist asking for a discount. Was amazed to get 10%, about ¥16,000, because I never imagined Japan as a bargaining price kind of place.

It got me wondering what other kind of shops I can ask for discounts?

 

[Glenski]

Car dealers, fishmongers, computer stores, etc. It just all depends.

 

[Mike Cash]

You can ask anywhere. Big box electronics stores are usually willing to knock a bit off prices on some things. That is especially true when the clerk gets a commission on sales and would rather loose a bit of it than risk having a customer go to another store or be snagged by another clerk. You can usually tell by watching the clerks if they're on commission or not. They hustle and they make sure to accompany the customer to the checkout to make sure they get credit for the sale.

 

[KyushuWoozy]

Glad to hear car dealers are on the list - that's next on my list.

And yes Mike, you're right - he did escort me right through to final sale at the cash register.

It's all good info, thanks - though I might skip discussing the price of fish with a Japanese for now.

 

[kurapan]

I've always found this bit about Japan quite surprising. Bargaining in a shop seems to me as something which is done in developing countries such as Egypt, Turkey, China, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked you out of the shop for being a rude customer if you tried to bargain in my country.

 

[KyushuWoozy]

I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked you out of the shop for being a rude customer if you tried to bargain in my country.

What's your country?

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

I always try to bargain on big-ticket items here in the US. I wouldn't dream of buying a car without haggling for an hour or so. And I usually manage to get some kind of discount on items like TVs

There are some high-end goods sellers won't bargain on. Apple computers, Swarovski optics, Sage fly rods, and the like. The manufacturers protect their brand's cachet by controlling prices charged by their dealers. I try to haggle anyway. Sometimes you can get a good deal on discontinued products.

The OP's experience is interesting, as I was told Japanese merchants won't bargain on their prices. I'll file this knowledge away for possible future use.

 

[KyushuWoozy]

The OP's experience is interesting, as I was told Japanese merchants won't bargain on their prices. I'll file this knowledge away for possible future use.

Just closed the deal on a new car. First I got package price (car, accessories, various taxes and other sundries) then managed to get 14% discount on the lot. It was more than I expected. Hope you and others can file this info for future use and try to get the same or better.