Why do I have to "make an offer"?

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

MAP - Manufacturers Advertised Price - Some vendors require contractuallly that if a price is displayed online it cannot be lower than X. If you call you can get a better deal and sometimes putting it in your "cart" will give you the better price. If you see it everywhere for $449.00 delivered than that is the MAP price. They can always do better for a private deal!

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

Ditto on the rebate thing . . . all states should outlaw them. I once read in the Wall St Journal an article that said retailers like Best Buy use a rebate to be able to advertise their products cheaper and statistics show that they know 75% of buyers don't send the rebate in or not on time.

I've been guilty of this myself because I wait a few weeks to make sure an electronic item is working correctly. I've forgotten to send the rebate in on time. I also hate their ploy of forcing you to cut out the bar code out of the box and then they won't take it back period once you do that . . .

AMEN, I got recently screwed by the rebate game. I bought a laptop for wife's son for Christmas. You get the details of the rebate offer after you've made the purchase. The rebate says, cut the bar code off the box and you cannot return it after the rebate is submitted, and it must be post marked within 30 days of purchase. I have to wait until he opens his Christmas present, decides that he likes it and then have only a couple of days to send it in. $50 more than advertised. Yes, it's a scam. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!...

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

"Cash Price" has nothing to do with sales taxes.

I guess it depends on how you define "cash price".

Been lots of places where they won't charge taxes if I pay cash but will if I pay debit or credit.

Lots happens under the table for cash.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

I buy a fair amount of computer parts at Best Buy. The things that I purchase do not have rebates. While I can sometimes (not always) get certain things for less money online, Best Buy offers the convenience of "right now" availibility, so I like the store.

What I will not do, is to buy complete computers there, since they all involve a rebate. I also tell the managers this every chance I get. I do the same at places like Winn Dixie grocery stores, where a "discount card" is required for better pricing. The only time I shop at WD, is when I need one or two items and can accept the higher prices, as an offset to burning up more gas to get to a Walmart. Once again, WD and stores like it, do not get as much of my business as they would otherwise, simply because I don't like the dishonesty involved in their sales practices.



???

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

What I did on the(used new to me) van I bought was nothing, he told me he wasn't going to give it away so I test drove it looked it over scratched my head and a 1700 van went to 1500 still I said nothing(just small talk) than I said I will think about it as I started down the driveway he says will you buy it for 1350 I said sold.Read in a book several years ago about a guy that open a restaurant and had no prices and people paid 20 to 30 percent more (on average) than he would have charged so I just reversed it .On a side note when ever I do a small jobs for folks I never give prices I let them tell me what the job is worth and the restaurant thing does apply.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

I have to admit, I ordered the exhaust system tonight and saved $150 off the advertised price. What I found interesting was when I called the 800 number a real American answered the phone right away. We spoke, the took the order and verified delivery by UPS this Friday. He said companies like Magnaflow will insist on the advertised price be what they state, but the product can be sold at lower prices. So although it sounds weird to me, I've taken advantage of the lower pricing.

Think I'll call the IRS and make them an offer and see what they say.....

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

I think he means when it would be illegal to give a better price.

I work for an OEM and we also sell direct to the government or to government contractors. Sometimes, third party vendors are invited to make bids for our equipment. If we offer a discount to a third party without offering the same discount to all bidders, then we're influencing who gets to mark up our equipment for sale to the government. That influence is illegal and the third party resellers know it.

Another thing that you may notice is that the manufacturer of a certain product may not typically sell the item at less than list while a distributor may routinely do so. That keeps the manufacturer from undercutting the distributor and removing their incentives.

 

[joed]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

"Cash Price" has nothing to do with sales taxes.

It costs the seller money to accept credit cards and to accept the risk of accepting checks. Cash, provided it is not counterfeit, makes the merchant mor money in the long run. the saving could be passed along, if asked.

No merchant in his/her right mind, would not collect sales tax, if they were required to do so. Saving a few bucks, just to get in trouble with the State Revenue Service, is not a good idea.

Most credit card companies have as part of the agreement with the merchant that the merchant is not allowed to offer a cash discount over credit card purchase.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

Most credit card companies have as part of the agreement with the merchant that the merchant is not allowed to offer a cash discount over credit card purchase.

Local Chinese place does it. 10% for cash, 5% for debit. I never have cash but get the 5% for debit.

But it's a small restaurant so I doubt anyone has ever complained.


But cash price still means under the table to me.

 

[rbh]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

Cash is still king
There is thier price, our price, and your price with cash in hand.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Why do I have to "make an offer"?

I'm not an expert on anti-trust law, but I would imagine that a manufacturer and/or wholesaler can't tell a retailer what price to accept, simply because it would constitute price fixing. Perhaps telling them what price to advertise falls through some loophole in the law, but telling them what to accept, probably wouldn't.



???