Talking to the manager

[BigguyZ]

Ok, there's a HD in my area that has a few items open box that I'm interested in. What I'm curious is how you guys go about talking to a manager to get a lower price.

Do you load up the item and bring it over to customer service, and then ask for the manager? Or do you just go over the CS desk and refer to the item?

I keep hearing about you guys talking them down into some great deals, and I want in on that action!

Thanks,
Travis

[rockybrown]

i tried to get them to discount a ridgid flip top stand that had been sitting in the clearance section for over a week and they wouldn't budge- it was kind of funny.

hope you have better luck.

rb

[MBG]

Don't know if this will work for you but my Lowes usually won't budge on the price. One day I hit the store early - about 6AM. There was a different mgr. in charge and he had no problems doing a $50 price match on a Biese fence.

I had the item at the check out counter.

Mike

[cgallery]

Hit or miss on dealing w/ managers on this stuff. I suspect that sometimes they will recognize an outstanding non-stock deal and refuse to sell them except to friends and family.

I'd say something like, "Hey, I know you're busy and it shows because you run a nice store with everything in its place and always have stock of the stuff I need. But some of the other stores are blowing these out for $50 and it seems they are classified as non-stock. Any chance of you giving me that deal since I'm a great customer?"

[kevincan]

I have not had any luck dealing with the HD near me. They have had a old display model of the Ryobi AP1300 planer sitting on a shelf for months. A couple weeks ago they moved it to the clearance section. It still a price tag of $249 on it. I went to the customer service desk and one of the people looked it up and told me they would sell it for $199. That is the same price as a new AP1301 planer. I tried to see if I could get a better deal since it was a display model and missing a few items but they would not budge.

In hindsight I should have asked to talk to a manager instead of one of the people in CS.

Kevin

[tedkitch]

I use two different strategies to get things marked down.
1. Go in towards closing time. The manager on duty is more worried about getting out than anything else and this one has worked 100% of the time that I have done it.
2. Talk to the section person and get them to agree with you that what you are asking is fair. They then become your advocate when talking with managers. This works most of the time.

Last thing, make sure that you learn the names of the managers and remember the ones that you can't get anything out of. I keep a note on my phone with the names and locations so that I can say, "So and So has done this for me before", etc.

Hope this helps,

[Woodwerker]

I use two different strategies to get things marked down.
1. Go in towards closing time. The manager on duty is more worried about getting out than anything else and this one has worked 100% of the time that I have done it.

You got my #1 trick....
Works like a charm, the later the better

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I'd say something like, "Hey, I know you're busy and it shows because you run a nice store with everything in its place and always have stock of the stuff I need. But some of the other stores are blowing these out for $50 and it seems they are classified as non-stock. Any chance of you giving me that deal since I'm a great customer?"

That, my friend, is a GREAT approach! It empowers them to be the good guy. Getting non-stock in there is great. Definately a Lowes "Bingo" word.

Never really had to deal with HD as I strongly prefer Lowes biz model, tools, prices and materials.

[footprintsinconc]

very interesting ideas, got to remember to use them next time. thanks all.