Hard times call for haggling, but will struggling shops buy our chat?

Published on Saturday 20 December 2008 18:38

IT'S the most wonderful time of the year… to haggle – or so we have been told.

Faced with the credit crunch, British shoppers are discarding their in-built distaste at indulging in the bargaining techniques that come naturally, and are expected, in the souks of Marrakech.

And with the High Street reportedly struggling for custom as the recession takes hold, what better moment to seize than the Saturday before Christmas, often the busiest shopping day of the year, to test out whether it's possible to strike a discounted deal.

Before setting out into Edinburgh centre, I consulted a retail expert, who declined to be named for fear of encouraging bartering. She said: "I think the credit crunch and drop in disposable incomes has brought about an upturn in haggling at till point.

"This is not for small items such as books and CDs, but for big-ticket items such as electrical goods. There is anecdotal evidence that more than ever before consumers are dropping their British facade of not enjoying bartering and getting stuck into it."

I began my quest in upmarket Multrees Walk where luxury shops rub shoulders with upmarket cafes. Spotting a stylish brown leather handbag in Mulberry at 495, I explained to the assistant how much my wife would like it, but could she possible give me a wee discount.

She explained patiently that it was a limited edition bag well worth the price tag. But when I ummed and ahhed she quickly knocked off 10. Not a lot, but every little helps.

Down the Walk, Sole Trader was already offering 30% of selected shoes. I had my eye on a pair of brown leather business shoes – already reduced by more than 30 – and an identical black pair, puzzlingly priced at 20 more.

"If you give me both pairs for the lower price I'll take them both," I said confidently. It cut no ice with the young assistant, at a loss to explain why the black pair was more anyway. "Sorry, can't discount them further."

Not much luck so far. So, taking the advice of my retailer friend, I decided to go "bigger ticket". A nice watch came to mind and where better than the biggest specialist watch gallery in Scotland, Laing the Jeweller, where prices range from 250 in the Laing Boutique to 50,000 in the main branch.

I chose a very stylish Cartier men's watch, retailing at 4,850. No discounts, said manager Moia Henderson. "People do come in saying we have seen the same thing at up to 40% less. We have to say, it will not be the same quality and value."

In desperation, I tried a carpet seller. In most parts of the world, haggling over carpet prices is the done thing. John Lewis, however, was having none of it with its 484 Pop Art, made-in-India rug. "Come on," I said. "In India you would be sitting me down, giving me tea, and be willing to deal." I got an icy stare. "There's already 10 off this rug; we can't go any lower," the assistant said.

Overall, it has been a dispiriting experience. Fiona Moriarty, head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, believes most shops are not willing to go below the huge discounts already on offer before Christmas.

"From the retailers' point of view they are already trading at the margins so there is not a lot of room for further discounts. The current rates of discounts is unprecedented in recent retail history because they are trying very hard to get people through the door. Many of them have already lowered prices as low as they can."