Wheelin' and Dealin'

Well, Steve and I had our last FPU (Financial Peace University) class today. It has been fun and really helped our finances. October was the best month, financially speaking, that we have ever had. We have been wanting to do it for years, so when Steve's company offered it to employees for free we jumped at the chance.

Last Saturday we applied one of his techniques when we bought another couch to match the one we got in August. We paid $300 for that one and I was hoping to get 10% off this time. We found the couch and saw that the sales price is now $342. A salesman found us and I told him about the couch we already bought and asked him to match that price. He said he couldn't and gave the typical salesman pitch about how everything costs more now...blah...blah....blah. He also told me that they have never sold that couch for $300. I wish I had known that I needed to bring my receipt with me. I told him he would have a cash sale right now if he would sell it to me for $300. He said he would talk to the manager and left for a minute.

When he came back he said the manager had never seen the price that low and they couldn't give us that kind of discount because they were already taking a loss on it. About that time, Steve sits down, pulls our a wad of cash and starts fanning it out and counting it in front of the guy. I wish I had a picture. The salesman then offered to split the difference with me and when I walked away to think about it he started following me like a little puppy. I said that was unacceptable and talked the manager about it. I asked if he really wanted to lose a sale over $20 bucks. He said there was nothing he could do so we left the store empty handed.

We went to a couple other furniture stores where they were selling almost the exact same couch for $500-700. After seeing what I had to work with, we agreed that $321 was a reasonable price and went back to the store to purchase it. I felt a little defeated, but very proud of myself that 1) I negotiated a better deal, and 2) Had the strength to take me emotions out of the deal and walk away. Now I have two awesome couches (without debt) and no buyer's remorse.