Negotiating Prices with Vendors

jchen129 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 08:48 AM

Negotiating Prices with Vendors

So, not sure if anyone else falls into the same boat as I am, but I stink at negotiating! I'm just wondering do most people negotiate prices with their vendors before booking? I'd love to be able to try and knock off a couple hundred $$'s from the prices that were quoted to me by different vendors, but not sure if anyone ever has any success doing that? (...particular in the photography area?) I guess it doesn't hurt to ask right? Worst they can do is say 'no?'

Thoughts?

GiantsBride Posted: Apr 21, 2008 08:51 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

ABSOLUTELY! I wish I had known how much some people can come down in price, or add things in, when I visited the first two photogs, which I loved! It is hard. You have to know what you can budget and be up front.

jaydan915 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 08:57 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I brought my Mother the Queen of negotiating!!! LOL! We only really did this with our RH and she got us down a bit PP, plus they threw in a few little extras! As for our Photographer and videographer, we asked if we pay cash can we not pay the tax and they both were happy to do that for us! HTH!

Lil83108 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:21 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

You SHOULD negotiate!!! They hike up prices on purpose they know that most couples will try and get them to go down that is why they start off with high prices. Sometimes like for pictures they might even throw in extra things in your package. It's always worth asking!

DCW 2008 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:28 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Definately try to negotiate. I got $500 off of my band. I look at it like this. What is the worse case, they say no and then you are back to where you started. It is worth the try.

roan126 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:35 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I tried. Some you can and some you can't. It doesnt hurt to ask.

Just Cindy Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:49 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I always try to negotiate.

Start by saying you are on a tight budget and would like to know if there is any flexibility in prices.

That always works for me.

If you are going to a vendor who you know other brides have gotten freebies from just mention if they would be able to include those items at no cost (but dont tell them that they gave that to someone else before), just be polite and usually they will work with you.

LittlePup34 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:52 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

always negotiate tell them what you got quoted from the other vendors see if they can beat it or do better

Maria31 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 09:59 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Yes, definitely negotiate!

Also, when you book a vendor at a showcase, they will most likely offer some sort of discount. We booked our limos at a showcase and got an awesome deal!

sweetdoublenn Posted: Apr 21, 2008 10:02 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Bring someone with you that's is a good haggler!!! Get quotes from different vendors and then bring them to the vendor you really want to book. They will want to keep your business and probably will drop prices to make the sale!!!

Hope that helps!

Christine N Ralph Posted: Apr 21, 2008 10:11 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I always negotiate! So far most of the vendors are willing to give you somthing extra and take off some money. All you have to do is ask! The worst they could say is no...

jchen129 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 10:25 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will try my best!! It stinks that both FH and I are both horrible at negotiating!!!

Oh well, like you guys said, it doesn't hurt to ask! So I guess that's what I'm gonna do!

FutureMrsLV Posted: Apr 21, 2008 10:26 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I def negotiated with the RH!
as far as photog.. I didnt, we liked them and didnt get the feeling they would negotiate with us so we just booked them.
As far as the band...we are trying but they dont seem very negotiable either

jchen129 Posted: Apr 21, 2008 10:40 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Oyyyy... I totally did not negotiate with the RH. For some reason we felt like we had very little leverage to negotiate since we were getting married during peak season (granted on a Sunday)... but the Crescent Beach Club seemed so popular that we thought we just had to book at the $$$ they gave. BOOOOOO. oh well, too late now.

bklynbride09 Posted: May 19, 2008 10:48 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Hi!

I'm new to the board, although I've been reading it a bit lately. This is my first post!

Just out of curiosity, how much do you think most halls will lower the price per person from the first quote they give you, and how much of a decrease would you be happy with for your favorite place?

ELluvsMB Posted: May 19, 2008 10:54 AM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

My RH really wouldn't budget with the pricing and we are totally paying a lot more then we wanted to. But they did throw in extras and they cut a lot off of the ceremony fee. That's something you can negotiate with them.

shyavon81 Posted: May 19, 2008 01:25 PM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

As my mother always says 'If you don't ask, you don't get.'

Soon2Bmarried007 Posted: May 19, 2008 01:59 PM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

I think vendors are willing to be more flexible if you hire them during your first meeting. Our photog, Dan Wagner gave us some extras. His prices were really good I know I will get a good rh price for Feb.

DGoldfarb0776 Posted: May 19, 2008 03:48 PM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

Go in with a set budget for each vendor.
One thing that I hated to do was negotiate but it was worth doing.

Also it doesn't hurt sometimes to mention what you're getting from another vendor for a bit less. More times than not the other vendor might price match or even beat the price or add in more to the deal.

Autumnbride03 Posted: May 19, 2008 03:54 PM

Re: Negotiating Prices with Vendors

absolutely! you can ALWAYS get the price down, even hotels!! I admit my FH is better at this than I am, so I let him do it. But never take the first price they give you! It helps to bring in prices from other places/vendors, and at least try to have them match it, if not better it. If not, say you will take your business elsewhere. (it works wonders!)