Do Research before You Buy

If you know what you want to buy and you know from whom you want to buy, then gather information first. Go with press cuttings, ring around to assess a broad range of prices. Go with printed special offers, go with price lists and say, 'I really want to buy from you; this is the price offered elsewhere.'

Gill Greenwood was buying two office desks. She shopped around and secured some competitive quotes. She rang up her preferred supplier and asked for a quotation. She was given a price of £375. She told the salesman that she had quotes for £275, what could he do? He came back some hours later and said, 'I can offer you a price of £275.' Gill said, 'I can give you the order for another £10 reduction on each.' She got the deal. Doesn't that show how just a few minutes on the phone can save you in this case £110 × 2? Just say you did that four times per month, ten months in the year. You have just added £8,800 to your profit.