When purchasing big ticket items

[fishbones]

Most brick and mortar stores will either price match or discount big ticket items if you show them a lower price you found online. In most cases, they want your business and will cut down their profit to keep you from buying elsewhere. I have found that you can save a good deal just by asking. I used to think it was stupid to ask because the price is clearly marked on the tag, but not anymore. I got a very good discount on a plasma tv from a big box retailer because I showed the manager a print out of the same tv with a much lower price from an online site. I'd rather buy local if possible because I want to be able to go to the store and talk to someone if I have a problem.

[Mike P]

Don't forget sales tax. I'm not advocating tax evasion, as one is legally obligated to pay "use" tax on items bought out of state in most places----but how many do, and how strictly are those regs enforced?

[Bishop169]

For big ticket electronic stuff i go here first http://www.pricewatch.com/

[5/0]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Don't forget sales tax. I'm not advocating tax evasion, as one is legally obligated to pay "use" tax on items bought out of state in most places----but how many do, and how strictly are those regs enforced?

Most web site stores charge tax is if they have a store in your State that the goods are delivered to,So in the long haul your paying tax's & S/H.unless you surf around and find a site that won't charge sales tax and has cheaper shipping rates,and if you don't mid waiting.

[EricM]

If you purchase a big ticket item from a big box store, you should know that most likely that store was built with local government support in the form of "tax income financing."

In plain language, that means that the big box store charges you sales tax, but they don't have to hand it over to the government...not a bad deal...if you are a big box store, that is.

I never tried it, but you could try to negotiate down based upon that.

[Joe]

More people are more price-motivated more than any other factor - that's why the parking lot at Wal-Mart and Cabelas is so big - and that's why they seldom close one once they open it.
There are other factors that influence purchasing - but taken collectively, all other factors do not equal the price determinate.