How cheap are you?

[GirlinContempt]

Poll question: How cheap are you?

:P
When you go in to a store to price something out, and it turns out it is beyond your budget for the particular item, do you:

Write in question:
If you personally cannot afford something, do you then think it is over priced and/or not worth it's ticket value? How do you make those kind of value judgments? No one likes not being able to afford the things they'd like, but does that impair your judgment of value?

[tjwmason]

1. Mostly 1, occasionally 2.

Haggling is utterly beyond the pale for most Brits (myself included) but it is a part of antique and car sales. In those cases (only experienced the former myself), I would start a "what's the best offer you can make on this" routine...in other cases I'd wander off.

I don't do making a scene.

[GirlinContempt]

2. It's amazing how many people

think they can make deals. Cars and vehicles are often the exception.
I found a good comeback, though.
"Oh, and where do you work? You're a bartender? So, I'll come in and get some free drinks from you!"

If done properly, most people see they're being silly and back down.

[pscot]

3. Depends on whether the Garage Sale

has just started, or is windong down.

[GirlinContempt]

6. hah

[Ohio Joe]

4. Other

I don't really worry about money, even when I don't have it.

[GirlinContempt]

7. So you never buy things?

[Ohio Joe]

9. I buy stuff all the time

I just never really worry about the cost. If I want something I just go get it, I almost never price compare. Even when I made little money I just never worried about it, I always seemed to find money for what I needed. Now, I make a good salary and just never give the cost of things much thought.

[GirlinContempt]

10. Okay, cool

Sorry I just wasn't quite sure what you meant :) I know people like you. Hell, I'm like that when I have the money sometimes.

[Ohio Joe]

12. Many of my friends tell me

That I would probably be very rich if I found a girlfriend that knew how to handle money and would stop me from going overboard like I do. Problem is, I kind of like living like I do and I'm not even sure I want to get involved with someone right now. Besides, someone like that would feel more like a mother then a girlfriend and the last thing I need is another mother.

[Nicole]

5. Pay it anyway because I can't be bothered to go anywhere else

I do that for most things. I'm not going to waste time & gas to save a few bucks.

If it's a large item, like furniture, then I will go elsewhere to comparison shop.

[GirlinContempt]

8. I'm often the same way

I remember people driving from downtown to the nearest wal mart (which was at least 15 mins away) at back to school to save 5 cents on erasers. No joke.

[Nicole]

14. I know people like that

They never understand that the money spent on the gas they used would have paid for several erasers.

[GirlinContempt]

15. Not to mention time

My time is worth something, to me at least.

[Momgonepostal]

11. Depends...how badly do I need this item?

If it's something that I have to have, right then, I just suck it up and buy it. It's not the clerks fault if it's over priced, they just work there.

If it's something that I really don't need, I don't buy it.

If it's something I'd like, and think I can get cheaper elsewhere, I go do that.

I recognize that sometimes the issue is with me...that I may not have money. It's not the clerk's fault if my income is lower than I'd like it to be. Other times the store may be over priced, but again, that's not the fault of the person at the register. (Can you tell I've worked retail?)

[GirlinContempt]

17. hah I can tell

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Depends what I'm buying...

If it's clothes, I just go to the local skate shop and get my friends there to give me discounts. (20% off on my new coat? Damn straight.)

If it's food, I don't shop around or anything, I just buy what the store has for the price it is.

If it was something big like an amp or something I'd probably just get my dad to try and haggle the price down (which i'm working on having him do for me, haha). He's good at that stuff.

[GirlinContempt]

18. Oh, Mr Bigshot. I see.

[ghostsofgiants]

20. I got my hook-ups.

Holla if you hear me.

[GirlinContempt]

21. ...

[Left Is Write]

16. I'll price shop for big-ticket items.

At least enough to know quality/cost differences and about what I *should* be paying for something.

If I personally cannot afford something, that doesn't mean it's overpriced. It just means I don't have enough money to buy it. To determine whether we can afford something, my husband and I look at whether we can pay for it on the spot or pay the bill in full when it comes in. If we can, great. If not, we wait.

[GirlinContempt]

19. Sounds sound.

:)

[GirlinContempt]

22. still curious

[Kali]

23. I'm pretty much like number 11.

I live near a small town and usually just suck it up becasue the alternative is 30 or 40 miles further and an all day sucker.

I gripe to myself a lot at the local Safeway. ex: yesterday Folgers regular coffee was 9 freaking bucks - usually aroung 5 "on sale" - that kind of crap pisses me off. As do "2 for 1" specials. Maybe I don't have room in the fridge for two gallons of milk, why can't I just have one gallon for half price? (which is bullshit, anyway as the "original" price was jacked just for the "special".

I don't make a scene but sometimes I wish I could say this crap to corp headquarters.

Edit to add: for big ticket items I do internet and consumer report research, then try to go local if the differences arent too huge, otherwise order by mail.

[Corgigal]

24. Funny I'm dealing with this type of issue now

I'm attempting to purchase my son his playstation 3 for Christmas. How much will I allow myself to be ripped off and still face myself in the mirror. Normally on big ticket items I check online to get prices before I even enter the store. I'm sure most DU'ers do that. It's those secondary market items that kill me.

[NMMNG]

25. If it's a big ticket item I look elsewhere or wait until later (or maybe go without)

If it's something small I may just go ahead and get it where I'm at rather than waste gas going from place to place.

[EFerrari]

26. I don't usually shop in stores unless I need an evening walk

and then I hike over to the grocery store, pay what they're asking and walk home. :shrug: