DISQUS

Kelly · 2 months ago

Well done!
You were extremely patient.
Since most of my shopping is done with kids in tow, I rarely have time for in store negotiations, but I should. It would be valuable for them as well.

Neal@wealthpilgrim · 2 months ago

I like the methodical approach you took.

I think just walking in knowing you had a system you were going to use gave you lots of strength.

Flexo · 2 months ago

I wish I were organized to have devised this plan before entering the store. This is an observation of what I ended up doing. While i didn't have a plan, it did seem like a natural progression. I made at least one mistake: I asked how many they had in stock while I was getting ready to leave rather than at the beginning. Although the salesperson said, when I said I was going to leave, that he knew I wouldn't be coming back, the question about how many were in stock might have tipped him off that I'd just return at a later time if I couldn't get the deal I wanted -- I really needed that computer.

Jason · 2 months ago

" Most of the computer’s specifications were excellent, but the only drawbacks were a 5400 rpm hard drive — too slow for audio recording — and an integrated graphics chip. "

No offense Flexo but 5400rpm hard drives are certainly capable of recording audio...especially podcasts. I've been doing multitrack recording for years including with 5400rpm drives. The Macbook Pro I'm using right at this moment does just fine as well and its got a 5400rpm drive in it.

Jim · 2 months ago

I was going to make the same point as Jason. 5400 RPM drives are just fine for most purposes. Its not the fastest drive out there but its more than capable of audio recording. You can get bandwidth of 100MB/sec performance from a 5400 RPM drive. CD quality audio is under 200k/sec. So the drive technology is theoretically about 500 X what is needed for audio.

Flexo · 2 months ago

Well, you're right, 5400 rpm is probably fine for most one or two-track recordings. I've done limited audio on my laptop with a 5400 rpm drive and haven't had any problems. However, I've never met an audio professional who would recommend a 5400 rpm drive for audio recording, editing and mixing. In fact, I've used 5400 rpm drives (someone else's equipment) for more complicated real-time recording and mixing and we discovered the drives won't perform well in those situations. Reading multiple audio tracks from the drive while recording another track... that is something I would not entrust to a 5400 rpm drive. The podcast is a bit simpler, of course, but who knows what else I'll be doing with the computer later on.

Jason · 2 months ago

Like I said....I've been doing multi-track for years with Cakewalk's products....no problems. I also bought better drives. I obviously can't speak for whatever equipment you've used in the past but higher density drives with bigger caches always seemed to work for me, and I'm not even talking about SATA here. That being said....I wouldn't choose 5400rpm over 7200 ;)

No Debt Plan · 2 months ago

I can't stand haggling for large periods of time... the whole "let me go check with my manager" multiple times thing would drive me nuts. I'm not against negotiating -- not at all! -- but I don't want to get the run around from someone either.

I would have been more inclined to say something like "You get one shot at this" and then if it didn't work, leave. Should cut the waiting time down quite a bit (admittedly at the risk of not getting the deal).

Financial Samurai · 2 months ago

I agree, it never hurts to ask. We don't have a culture of bargaining in America, which is the COMPLETE opposite of people in Asia.

Bargain away, and bargain aggressively!

kenyantykoon · 2 months ago

have you noticed that you can do very few of these things in online stores?? just a few ways that the Internet steals our freedom and inhibits money saving. i agree with you that one should do their research before going to buy anything, particularly the electronics. a gadget salesman can smell an ignorant customer and they normally bleed then for all they can get. ignorance is expensive

Tom Dziubek · 2 months ago

"The podcast is a bit simpler, of course, but who knows what else I’ll be doing with the computer later on."

When are we going to start shooting videos? LOL

GeekMan · 2 months ago

I know it's too late for you, but if anyone else is ever reading this looking for a computer you might want to keep in mind the smaller, boutique PC makers. Places like Maingear, Falcon NW or Velocity Micro have some great options for computers, they build to order at a plethora of price points and have the best customer service you're likely to ever receive from a computer manufacturer. As long as you can afford to wait a few days for delivery, they can usually get you EXACTLY what you want, without all the bloated extra software installed by the big vendors.

GeekMan · 2 months ago

Sorry for the extra post, forgot to add that I don't work for a computer company, I just make my living working with computers (graphic design). I've owned dozens of computers and so far the best one I've ever had came from a boutique vendor, and no, it didn't cost me a boatload of money. It was less than $1,300 and I've been using it for over a year without a single issue. No crashes, no lockups, no extra software I didn't want, no inexplicable driver conflicts. Nothing. It just works and, better yet, the help phone number I was given when the machine arrived goes directly to the computer technician who actually built it. That's worth a tiny price premium to me, and I'll bet it would be worth it to many others, as well.

Tzcttwit · 1 month ago

Mmmh....

If you earn around $50 or $60 per hour I really question if bargaining for such amount of time for such a small amount of money is cost efficient.

I would bargain fro no more than 10 minutes and get an small discount which once the value of your time is considered, would feel like time well spent.

Flexo · 1 month ago

Even if you earn $100 per hour at your job, you're not earning that money for every hour you live. Most likely, you're doing your negotiating when you otherwise wouldn't be earning money. I think your analysis is good if you are facing a choice between either (a) working for an hour and earning money or (b) negotiating for an hour and saving money, but that is rarely the case. In addition, even if you want to do a straight comparison like that, you should take the tax consequences into consideration. Saving $80 in one hour might be better for your bottom line than earning $100 in one hour. In other words, even if you earn $100 an hour at your job, your down time is not also worth $100 an hour.