Have you ever found yourself driving all over town to find an item at the best price? Then finally giving in and buying it at the second stop to save the hassle. This is a common situation where we start off with the best intentions to save money and then the traffic or the swift salesperson throws us off.
The phone is your weapon in defense. A crafty salesperson can’t convince you to buy and you can cover more ground much quicker. Using your phone for product research can benefit you whether you are buying school supplies or a car. Simply pull up a chair, grab the phone and the phone book, then away you go!
To be the most productive, give yourself some time to make all these calls in one sitting. You will then have an easier time comparing what each store tells you. It is also good to have a notebook and pen handy.
Start by making a list of what exactly you are looking for. This will enable you to give specific details to the person answering your call. For some items, it can also be beneficial to search ads for price matching. Both the local newspaper and the Internet can be great places for your hunt.
Once you have formulated what you want to buy and set a reasonable price range, then you are ready for that first call. I always prefer to start with the place that is closest to my home for ease and gas saving reasons. Then you can work outwards from there. Gradually weighing any cost savings vs. driving distance.
In addition to some of the basic questions, like is it in stock and what is the price, you may want to also ask:
• What is your return policy?
• Do you match competitors’ prices?
• What is your standard warranty?
• Are your prices negotiable?
• If the item goes on sale, do you make a price adjustment? And, if so, in what time frame?
• Delivery or set up fees? This is most important for larger items.
Take advantage of the ease of the phone to call around for the best deal on whatever you buy.
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