B&M discounting

[Upgradable]

This is an onging frustration of mine. Does it happen to you?

I''m admiring a piece in a B&M jeweler, have an associate pull it out so that I can try it on, I check out the price tag and they immediately say, "Don''t worry about what it''s marked. Let me see what we can do on price for you."

How much do they discount? Why put prices on at all? Does the discount change from person to person?

 

[Skippy123]

I have never had that happen. Maybe since the economy isn't the best and they need to hit sales they can do that or there is a certain profit margin they can work with?

 

[tyty333]

Yep, it always happens to me. It never is the price on the tag...its always a certain percentage off...
sometimes they tell me the percentage or somethimes they just go calculate the price. I''m not
sure if I could ever pay the price on a tag because I''m so use to that not being the real price.

 

[purrfectpear]

Divide by 3 and you typically have their cost. Add 10% to that and you often have their employee cost. Anything above that is what you can expect to pay. That''s why you see 50% off sales all the time. They still make plenty. I used to own a jewelry store many moons ago.

 

[tonyc2387]

see my little store anecdote here, post #3 ... they'll always give you "their best price" and "they'll never be able to touch it again" ... at least not till their next sale in 3 months. i've even had "district managers" try and sell me uncertified diamonds for "hundreds off" saying "i can only do this today".

personally, i'm no longer worried about price when i go to b&m. much more concerned about knowing *everything* about what they're trying to push on me, and whether or not i want it. even then, don't say you want it... as they'll negotiate and renegotiate till they get you to bite. use it against them

ETA: purrfect, that's some interesting info, and some great perspective. thanks! (although i'm sure thousands of B&M managers don't appreciate it nearly as much...)

 

[HVVS]

Date: 11/7/2009 7:15:30 PM
Author: purrfectpear
Divide by 3 and you typically have their cost. Add 10% to that and you often have their employee cost. Anything above that is what you can expect to pay. That''s why you see 50% off sales all the time. They still make plenty. I used to own a jewelry store many moons ago.

A local one here showed me their trays full of semimounts and said they all sell for 50% off the tagged price. It''s interesting to know what the store''s cost might be on them. Thanks.