Haggling confidence is growing

25th February 2019

*** Consumers save £477 each year by haggling***.

*** Nine in 10 consumers now haggle with their service providers***.

Often seen as cheeky and a little bit awkward, consumers have previously shied away from haggling. However, the latest instalment of the Haggling Index from TopCashback.co.uk, the UK's most generous cashback shopping site, reveals consumer confidence is on the rise.

The report shows an 11 per cent increase in the number of consumers who feel determined and a 15 per cent decrease in those who feel awkward while haggling, compared to 2018.

Most people (94 per cent) were able to haggle a lower price while nearly half (48 per cent) got something for free. For more than half (51 per cent) of consumers, at least 50 per cent of their haggling attempts in the last year have been successful. And for 14 per cent, at least 80 per cent of attempts were fruitful.

In uncertain financial times, a need to reduce spending and save money means consumers are becoming more courageous with haggling. The report shows a 17 per cent increase in the number of people haggling because they want to get the best possible price (62 per cent in 2018 and 79 per cent in 2019) while 12 per cent of consumers can't afford the full price and therefore need to negotiate a lower one.

Consumers are also finding it easier to haggle on the high-street with 45 per cent of consumers finding haggling in person easier than over the phone, internet or email.

As a result, consumers are saving, on average, £477 each year by haggling - a £20 increase compared to 2018 and a £62 increase compared to 2016.

Adam Bullock, UK Director of TopCashback.co.uk says: "While seeing consumers be bolder and more fearless with their haggling attempts is great, our report shows only 56 per cent are actively putting their skills to use.

"A sale at a lower price is still a sale for retailers. And with brands finding it harder to attract shoppers to the high-street, and therefore must offer better deals, haggling is becoming much easier. Shoppers need to be brave and try their luck with haggling - the worst that could happen is a retailer says no."

Haggling most fruitful with service providers

Consumers feel the most hopeful while haggling with their service providers, with confidence levels higher while haggling for phone contracts (83 per cent), broadband packages (82 per cent) and energy bills (74 per cent) compared to holidays (54 per cent) and electrical goods (50 per cent).

Nine in 10 (87 per cent) consumers now haggle with their service providers - nine per cent more than last year - and a fifth (20 per cent) say between 90 and 100 per cent of their attempts over the last year were successful. More than half (58 per cent) however, have been fruitful at least half (50 per cent) of the time.

On average, consumers save £235 each year by haggling with providers, which is up £29 compared to 2018.

Adam Bullock says: "Service providers reserve their best deals for new customers in a bid to steal business from competitors. If you continue with your contract without questioning the price you're paying, a provider is rarely going to offer you something better. Saying you're paying too much, or a rival’s deals are better, will put your provider at risk of losing business and will usually result in them miraculously finding you a better deal."

Top five haggling tips

Do your research

Prepare for haggling by being armed with the prices and deals on offer from other retailers. That way, you can play rival brands off against each other and get better deals while they fight it out for your business.

Build a rapport and be polite

Being aloof and stating the price you want to pay will rarely get results. However, building a rapport and telling a story – you want the item but can’t afford it or your partner is not as invested – will help a salesperson warm to you and show you’re prepared to negotiate.

Pick your timing

From shopping at quieter times – during the week instead of a busy Saturday – to finding out when a retailer’s financial year ends, your timing matters. When a retailer is less busy or below sales target, they need to drive sales, even at a lower price. And if you’re looking to negotiate a contract, pop a note in your diary for a month before the end date as a reminder to haggle.

Haggle online

65% of people have been successful in getting a discount after speaking to a service agent on a web chat box. Simply ask a few questions about the product you’re looking to buy and then ask if there are any discounts or better deals they can offer. Haggling online means you could earn cashback too.

Ask for freebies

If you’ve tried your best to get a lower price but the retailer isn’t budging, it’s not the end of the road. While salespeople may not have the ability to give you a monetary discount, they may be able to chuck something in for free like a camera bag, laptop case or free calls on a phone contract. They could even give you a voucher to use on your next purchase.