"Dont get done, Get Dom" - Has anyone seen this programme?

['chelle]

I can't remember which channel its on, but its on at about 9.15am and its a programme which helps consumers to get the best deals when shopping, and helping them not to get ripped off.

On one part of the programme he regularly goes into various shops to see how much money he can get knocked off various things just by asking. He claims that this is good practice if you want to save money.

My problem is this: He always seems to target small shops where no doubt the income from that shop is the owners livelihood, and he doesnt strike bargains (eg if I buy a few can you discount), he just sees how much he can get the shopkeeper to bring the price of an item down. nor does he do this for essential items, last week he went to a tattoo parlour and bartered a £300 design down to less than half price.

I wanted to throw this question open to other self employed people and see if you feel the same as me: If this guy came into your salon, asked for a manicure, nothing else, and then tried to get you to bring the price down quite a lot, how would you react? Personally I would consider negotiating if he was booking a course of treatments and paying in advance, but for just the one treatment, the price would be what it says on my menu, not a penny less. Last week after I had covered my business expenses, my wages were less than £50. I do not have credit accounts with suppliers, and I am a small trader so I do not have the buying power to negotiate prices with my suppliers.

I would refuse a discount politely the first time, but on this programme the guy is quite assertive, and I cant help feeling that if he did that in my salon, I would be explaining my reasons above to him in no uncertain terms and asking him to leave.

I know times are hard for the consumer, but they are even harder for the self employed with small businesses. Am I alone here in feeling that this bloke is a bit short sighted in his attempts to save people money??

 

[loubylou]

I totally agree with everything you have said and if it was just for the one treatment i too would show him the door if he was not willing to pay the price on the menu :hug:

 

[min11]

I'm glad it's not just me. I'm uncomfortable enough when Stuart has on rare occasions stood in a huge electrical chain store and bartered. Even he winces though when he watches Dom, or the people he helps on the show, go into small independant shops and force the prices down. I cant comment on the beauty side of it although I know I would say no but I do know that I have had to say no more than once to jewellery clients who have asked if they can have the items for x amount if they dont have the box or come and pick it up and pay cash.

 

[Lynne Baker]

People would do well to remember that the best deal is not necessarily the cheapest. The easiest way to sour a relationship with a supplier (and in this instance that's us!) is to attempt to devalue their services by haggling a much reduced price. I used to get very cross when the FD would harass our IT suppliers into giving us a heavily discounted price because I knew it would be me as the project manager who would have to manage the relationship, which has been tainted right at the off. Would you be prepared to go the extra mile for a client who had haggled the price down? Would you fit her in at the last minute? not charge her for a no show?
Of course we need to charge a fair price - I bet they wouldn't dare try to harass their dentist into giving them a discount!

 

[izzidoll]

I never watch this programme as I just find him so irritating.

However, I did catch it today, and I was appalled at the way a woman was being instructed to barter down the price of some sports equipment. The business looked like an independently owned shop, and all I could think of was the shopkeeper was giving away his mark up with no guarantee of repeat business. Shocking!!!

He ended up taking about £150 or possibly even more off the price.
I just hope customers of this shop didn't see it as they will all be in there demanding discounts, and then, yet another small business will go under!!!

If I were still running a salon then I would be the same as you Michelle...the price is the price!!


I can't see me ever watching this programme again Dom is not just irritating the whole concept makes my blood boil!

 

[Zingara]

Intersting thread! Personally I can't stand the show, and think that attitudes like that are very damaging to small businesses. I wonder if the business owners involved have to give their permission to partake though?

Just another angle to add to the mix (not necessarily an opinion, just a question).....

If you were sat there with no client booked in for the next hour, and someone came in and said "I will have a manicure now, but I would like a discount, as you otherwise you'll be sat there doing nothing", do you turn them away and earn nothing, or do you negotiate, but run the risk of having to give future discounts?

 

['chelle]

ooh interesting. I would negotiate, but it would have to be to the benefit of my business. If it was for a one off treatment, I would insist on the full price because when word starts to spread that you are a discount store, you will be forever doing cheap treatments and I think it damages your business in the long run. The here and now of having a customer just isnt worth it for the long term health of the business.

Having said that though, if you are sat twiddling your thumbs, its good to try and get bums on seats as it were, so I would negotiate, but the client would need to be prepared to meet me half way. For example, if it was for a manicure, I would offer a reduced rate if they also bought a nail enamel, hand lotion and solar oil, or perhaps I might offer a free manicure if the client booked a course of manicures and paid up front.

I do believe in buying power, so if you are buying several items or treatments I think its reasonable to see if you can get a good deal, but by going into a shop for one item, no repeat business, where's the incentive there for the owner to give a discount?

 

[~Emmsybabes~]

If you were sat there with no client booked in for the next hour, and someone came in and said "I will have a manicure now, but I would like a discount, as you otherwise you'll be sat there doing nothing", do you turn them away and earn nothing, or do you negotiate, but run the risk of having to give future discounts?

Ooooo tricky one !
Pro....you earn some money and relieve some boredom....you may gain a new client for life, and all of her recommendations (or HIS of course)
Neg....You may gain a client for life who ALWAYS haggles, and makes you feel like rubbish.....and horror of all horrors.....all of her mates could be just the same

:green:

 

[Ruby]

does he do this for essential items, last week he went to a tattoo parlour and bartered a £300 design down to less than half price.
:lol::lol::lol:




are the makers of the programme living in the REAL world ????
We occasionally get people come in to our Tattoo Studio and ask for cheap Tattoos
we just send them down the road to the cheap studio that does not practice sanitisation and sterilisation Re uses needles is filthy and cannot Tattoo for toffee .
we do not allow bartering At our studio LOGANS-CAVE Tatooists are Artists and the customer gets what they pay for AWARD WINNING TATTOOS

the same goes for NSS nail and beauty salons they can have the cheap people I keep the customers who want quality and perfection



Logans Cave - News

Ruby x

 

[essentia]

Hi I have seen this programme and I wonder if the cameras are hidden or not. It may be hard to refuse him if the staff know he is from the TV. I feel perhaps the best way is to have a discount policy in place even if you do not advertise the fact and if you are quiet and someone asks for a discount you know exactly what response will be and you will not get caught on the hop.

The trouble is with discounting is that it can become the norm and your overall profits suffer. I find that clients who phone up and want the treatment do not tend to be bothered with offers or not, so I would steer away from them although I intend to do package deals when my website is up and running, thus indicating to the client that there are savings to be made when buying more than one service.

 

[xAnnaBannAx]

doms not all bad....he often helps someone sort out a utility bill problem for example....i think most of us at some point have had the frustration of trying to sort something out...phoning a major company up is often a nightmare...you get passed from pillar to post...often you cant understand their english! (no offence to anyone!) if you want to speak to someone higher up...its nearly impossible..most people just give up...it was only a couple of weeks ago someone had had some problem with her mobile ( cant remember details but it wasnt her fault) she had ended up with a debt and a big black mark put on her credit file..stopping her from starting up her new business....dom waded in and sorted the whole thing out! He often highlights important and useful advise which can save a lot of people from getting ripped off!

As for haggling the price with shopkeepers...they dont have to give a discount if they really dont want to do they! At the end of the day..you have to think about number one...you cant blame anyone for trying to save money!

 

[min11]

doms not all bad....he often helps someone sort out a utility bill problem for example....i think most of us at some point have had the frustration of trying to sort something out...phoning a major company up is often a nightmare...you get passed from pillar to post...often you cant understand their english! (no offence to anyone!) if you want to speak to someone higher up...its nearly impossible..most people just give up...it was only a couple of weeks ago someone had had some problem with her mobile ( cant remember details but it wasnt her fault) she had ended up with a debt and a big black mark put on her credit file..stopping her from starting up her new business....dom waded in and sorted the whole thing out! He often highlights important and useful advise which can save a lot of people from getting ripped off!

As for haggling the price with shopkeepers...they dont have to give a discount if they really dont want to do they! At the end of the day..you have to think about number one...you cant blame anyone for trying to save money!

I totally agree about the problem solving, any one that can sort problems for some one is good to see. Asking for a discount is different though. In my case it's easy as they are usually via email so I just reply saying no, sorry. In person though I dont find that nearly so easy which is funny as if you met me and you said something I didn't like I'd tell you what I thought :lol: When someone asks for a discount face to face your left knowing if they say no they might walk away. For all we know some of the companies on that program are struggling so any custom is needed. I think it's the quite aggressive persisten haggling that I would find intimidating.:hug:

 

['chelle]

Oh dont get me wrong, there are some things he does that are really good. I saw one when he helped a woman who needed a flat roof repairing, and when she went to the builders merchants they saw a woman who didnt know what she was talking about and used loads of builders jargon to make the job sound complicated and bump the price up. He helped he to see past that and get a realistic price.

Its just a shame he spoils it with this persistent and often quite aggresive haggling he does. He makes the shops out to be the big bad guys who want to rip everyone off. I know some are like that, but he paints a picture as though all shops are like that.