Do you haggle when you get a quote?

ie, some landscaping work. If they said the job would cost $2500, would you counter with a lower price? If so, what do you say? Do you ask them if they can do it for $2K? Or would you say, we were only budgeting for $2K...or would you say "We were hoping to spend a little less" Basically, how would you say it? Also, do you handle it or does your SO handle it?

TIA

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

we usually say "If we pay you cash what can you do for us? What is the best you can do?" Sometimes it's DH, but I def. do it a lot. I always ask. And if you only have a certain budget you can always ask them to work within your budget. Asking never hurts. GL!

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

We usually get more then one quote and use that as a bargaining tool. So-and-so said they could do it for (insert the price you want to pay) but we would rather go with you if you can match that. Even if you're fibbing a bit.

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

I never do... I'm just not good at it. I try to have my DH there or brother when i'm getting a quote cause they are good at things like that. They usually just say "We don't quite have that in our budget... is there any way you could do it for $___?"

My DH has actually called a company back after I got a quote because I agreed to pay way too much lol.

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

DH is WONDEFUL at this, and thank God, because I hate doing it!

Like PP said, he usually uses the "so and so is doing it for X amount. If you can beat that we'll go with you."

Or he'll flatout say, "Can you do it for X amount?"

Message edited 7/31/2010 6:47:35 PM.

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

I usually will get a few estimates and go with the cheaper one...

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

I'm not good, but the one time I was, I had a number in my head that I did not want to go over (after researching average cost). When it came in $400, the look of disappointment on my face must have said it all, b/c the guy asked how much I had planned - he gave it to me for that.

this was for granite counters.

so maybe convince yourself that you can't spend anymore and it will help with the bargaining.

Re: Do you haggle when you get a quote?

I do this at work ALL DAY LONG.

Youre best bet is to play vendors against one another, like the above poster stated.

And if you dont have a lower bid, say you do.

Do NOT tell them the cost of your lowest bid though, bc they may have planned to drop their price even lower than that. You dont want to let them know what your go to price is. Tell them you got a lower bid, ask them if they would like the option to rebid. If they do, again, dont tell them what your lowest bid is, just say something like, you were significantly beat by another vendor or you were approximately 15% higher. If they agree to rebid, ask them to come in with their BEST offer.

If they do, and their best offer is STILL higher than you lowest bid, then tell them what they need to BEAT (not match) in order to secure the work.

Message edited 7/31/2010 11:06:51 PM.