If the last item left to buy is the floor model, ask for a discount. We recently purchased a microwave to hang above our stove (after our countertop microwave bit the dust after 10 years) and the only one left was the display. We asked for a discount and saved $30. It never hurts to ask!
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I did the same thing recently with the model of a microwave after ours went out and the store would not give it to me – It was Wal-Mart – Oh well…we went to another Wal-Mart up the road and they had one on sale so we bought it…
Also, if an item is damaged in any way, always ask for a discount. I once bought a beautiful red dress at Macy’s that had a pen mark on it in an area where it would be unlikely to be noticed. With the discount, I decided it was worth buying. Without it, I might have left it on the rack.
Funny story … my husband and I were at the outlet malls in San Marcos, TX a few years ago and wanted to buy some display items at the Pfalzgraff store. They were these adorable penguin mugs, and only the display was left. They didn’t have the box or anything, so we were sure they’d agree to a discount, but they said they’d only do it if there was a scratch or something on it. So my husband very carefully looked over each mug until he found a scratch … and we got the discount. Seriously, when you don’t even have the box, you shouldn’t expect full price!
I second this. I used to work at Crate & Barrel and when the seasons change, we were taking the old furniture off the floor and bringing out the new stuff. Sometimes we couldn’t sell the floor model if it was a current item and orderable, but once the item was discontinued, all bets are off and they just want to get rid of it to save space!
Agreed. I got my treadmill that way at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I was saving for a nice one. I had about $800 when I noticed a $2,000 model on clearance for $900. I asked and they said they only had the floor model and offered it for $800. I was hesitant, because who knows what people had done to the display, and the manager came up and told me he would sell it for $600. Score! I still had money in my pocket.
I wouldn’t buy the floor model for a television, even though you can save a lot at the start. I bought a floor model TV, and it only lasted a couple years. I think since display TVs are on all the time to show the picture, they get worn out a lot faster. Our dryer was a floor model, and it has been going strong for years.
I second the comment about asking for a discount for dirty items. I once got a beautiful silk dress from Ann Taylor for $40. They marked down that much because it had dirt on it (really dust, not rubbed in dirt) – I had asked for a discount and was floored that they marked it down that much since I was sure I could get it out. Dry cleaning got the dirt right out, and I had a beautiful and not very expensive dress to wear to my wedding rehearsal.
We got a $1000 futon and $1200 memory foam complete twin bed set w/headboard for $500 total, that included delivery, set up and old mattress removal, all because they were the floor models and had a tiny bit of surface damage.
Target usually (at least in our area) puts all there new clearance stuff out on Weds. So I always make sure to shop on Weds. Don’t forget to ask for discounts on already clearanced items that may me out of the box and floor models. I once bought patio furniture that was marked 75% off. It was out of the box and I still asked for a discount. I got an extra 20% off!
I bought a 2200 dollar stainless French door fridge off the floor and only paid 1499! I was stoked!
We bought our washer as a floor model and got $50 off. Also we bought a top loader- I know the front loaders are all the rage- but seriously our top loader cleans the clothes just fine and it was WAY less expensive.
i ask for a discount on floor models all the time. or if a package is ripped open and re-taped. sometimes you get a discount, sometimes you don’t. but, it never hurts to ask! i even ask for a discount on clothes if i see an item has a spot on it. consignment stores can give you this discount, too. i purchased a shirt from a consignment store that had an ink spot on it. the shirt was already on sale, and they gave me a discount on top of that. luckily, i got the spot out. if not, the shirt was cheap enough that i could have done something with it!
I have asked to buy the mismatched or ripped package mattresses and received discounts..they are usually glad to see them GO