Mid-contract bill hikes and annual broadband prices are standard practices in the industry, especially with established providers like Sky and Virgin. They’re now charging some customers up to 10% more for the exact same download speeds. Who said being bigger was always better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plus, customer loyalty doesn’t pay. A survey by Which? found that the longer you stay with a broadband firm, the more you pay compared to new customers. You could say these companies are taking you for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let’s put them to the test. Let’s see if they really value your business by asking for a cheaper deal or discount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could end up saving you \u00a3100s a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what’s the worst thing that can happen? They say no? Then you know it’s time to take your business elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haggling goes back to the dawn of civilization, and it’s still around today; we just call it negotiation. In the most basic terms, haggling is when you try to persuade someone to sell you something for less than what they think it’s worth – or what they’re pretending to think it’s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haggling is about finding the best deal possible and getting more for your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Haggling works; it’s why humans have been doing it for thousands of years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recent Consumer Reports study shows how a little haggling goes a long way. It found that less than 15% of customers are willing to haggle when buying something from a high-street retailer. But those who do receive some kind of discount, special offer, or exclusive deal 59% of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These rules and ratios apply to broadband customers willing to demand more for their hard-earned money. MoneySavingExpert challenged its readers into a haggle-off with their providers. Here’s what happened:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I rang Sky and said I wanted to move my phone and broadband to Plusnet. Sky initially offered free broadband and \u00a350 credit, which I didn’t take. I called back later and was offered free broadband for 10 months and \u00a310\/month line rental for 10 months. I eventually managed to extend the free broadband to 12 months,” reported one happy haggler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We know that haggling works. So how do you become an expert haggler? Here are a few tips to help you take charge of the conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t get emotionally involved in the idea of \u2018rejection\u2019 or \u2018failure.\u2019 If they say no, then who cares? You tried. You haven’t lost anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Put the salesperson in a position where they’re forced to make a difficult decision: lower your price or lose a sale. But don’t bluff; have a solid alternative you can present to your current provider, like a better deal from a rival firm. This is like a magic trick for making ‘special deals’ appear from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t open negotiations if you’ve just signed a new contract. Unless you’ve experienced technical or customer service issues, you’re wasting everybody’s time. A few months before your contract expires is the ideal time to start haggling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You do catch more flies with honey. Be firm and confident, but always polite. An aggressive or pushy approach will automatically put the salesperson into a defensive position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their first offer won’t be the best offer. Never accept the first deal on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salespeople often create uncomfortable silences. This is a classic (and effective) sales technique designed to make you feel awkward and say yes to a deal. But hold your nerve! Make them fill their own silence with a better offer. Think of it like a game; whoever speaks first loses. Then it becomes fun, not awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every haggle ends in success. But you can still learn something from a ‘no,’ namely that your provider doesn’t really care about your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then it’s time to do the sensible thing and vote with your feet. Walk away and find a better deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n