Shoppers can save up to 20 per cent by haggling on stores’ web chat services say watchdogs
From knocking £195 off a Dell laptop to slashing a mobile phone contract by 14 a month, Which? magazine reveals how to cut online shopping bills
SHOPPERS can save up to 20 per cent by haggling on stores’ web chat services, watchdogs have said.
IT giant Dell slashed £195 off a laptop when asked for a better deal.
O2 knocked £14 a month off a phone contract for three months. Clothes retailer Boden offered 20 per cent off and The Perfume Shop ten per cent, consumer campaigners Which? found.
They urged bargain hunters: “Build rapport, show interest in the product and mention better deals elsewhere. Be friendly, mention how useful the chat service was and joke how useless you are at online shopping.”
The group also suggested asking about the product and saying you want it but it is just outside your budget.
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It added: “Staff are more willing to cut prices if you suggest you’re ready to buy.”
And Which? highlighted the benefit of pressing staff over better discount codes and prices seen elsewhere. It said: “Boden gave us a 12 per cent discount code. We mentioned a friend had used a 20 per cent code.
“This prompted the staff member to reveal this code.
“Dell cut a laptop’s price by eight per cent but reduced it by 12 per cent after we mentioned a competitor’s cheaper deal.”
