Laundrette List your must-haves and nice-to-haves: For example, your must-haves could include; drum-size. Is energy-efficiency important to you? Does it need to be integrated?
Your nice-to-haves could be a delayed start feature, variable spin etc.
Look at products that have all your must-haves and some or all of your nice-to-haves.
Do the ground work: Research the outlets and offers available by scouring magazine, radio and newspaper adverts. Also plug the make and model into www.google.co.uk as well as price comparisons sites such as www.kelkoo.co.uk and up will pop up a plethora of prices.
Limit your choice to two or three that are on, or around, your budget.
Know what you want to achieve, and have three outcomes in mind:
Ideal - the best you would hope to achieve (e.g. your opening offer).
Good - a decent reduction and/or added value.
Walk away - if you don't achieve this then you will go to another store.
Approach the stores with casual grace: Washing machines are often an urgent purchase - when it breaks down many people are reluctant to sit in their local laundrette watching the incessant spin of the drum (and it's likely to cost more in the long run!), therefore feel the need to go out and purchase one immediately. Don't inform the salesperson of the woes of your machine packing up. Remain keen but not committed, otherwise they will know you HAVE to purchase.
Use your research to your advantage: approach a senior member of staff and put your preparation to good use. For example, the price on the internet or a competitor may be £399 NOT including delivery and in your local shop for £425, INCLUDING delivery. Say you have seen the same machine on offer for £399 but your budget is £370. You would be happy to buy now IF they do it for £370, including recycling your old machine.
Buying from them now will be more preferable than you walking out of the store empty-handed, if they are still making a profit.
Get the hidden extras included: Before you agree the deal, make sure the price quoted includes everything, for example; recycling of your old machine and delivery of a new one, as these can be costly added extras.
* Marc Lockley is a negotiation coach who writes for the Guardian online and is the author of 'How To Pay Less For More: the consumer's guide to negotiating the best deals - whatever you are buying'. Marc's opinions are his own and for general information only. Always seek independent advice.