Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Best deal EVAR!!!1

Best deal EVAR!!!1
Thread Tools
Railroader
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 01:40 AM
 
I wanted to buy my brother a cheap laptop for Christmas. I figured for $500 I could get him something to surf the internet on, load pictures from his camera (he'll never edit them), and write a resume on. I wasn't too happy with what I could find online, plus I wanted to give it to him early during a visit this Thanksgiving. Didn't want to wait for shipping.

So I cruise the usual suspects: Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears, Sam's Club, Costco, Circuit City... everything they have is $600+. No love.

I was driving home dejected, a little discouraged, and unhappy. Drive past a HHGregg. Think to self: "Do they even sell computers in there?". I decide it's worth the risk.

Park the car. Walk in. And lo and behold, they do sell computers. And they have some laptops too. And they even have one for $579. Close, but not underneath that magical $500. Hemming and hawing over buying it when a salesman comes over. He says, "can I show you something?"

On a whim, I say, I'll buy this laptop if you'll sell it for $550. I always hear about dickering and dealing, but I am often too busy to bother. Well, he says: "let me ask the manager."

He leave, I wait. 5 minutes later he comes back, with a slight frown on his face, I am thinking the manager told him something like: "We'll sell it for $579, but we'll throw in a free laptop bag (or some other high profit item).

But he opens his mouth and says: "We'll sell it to you for $499."

My jaw drops.

"Sold." I say, little too loudly.

I ask "what's the deal?"

"Nothing, it's new in the box, never been opened, we just want to sell it tonight" he replies.

I pull out the debit card, he swipes it, I walk out with a new laptop for my bro.

I'll admit, it's nothing special. A Compaq. It has a DVR+-R, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB HD, 802.11 b/g.

Froogle lists it at ~$600

I am happy.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 01:54 AM
 
Haha, well done. Although I'm not sure that salesperson knows how to haggle correctly.
     
shifuimam
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The deep backwoods of the PNW
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 02:04 AM
 
HH Gregg is the best place to buy electronics and appliances. They work on commission, so you can get great deals.

I managed to convince a TV salesguy there to give my now ex-boyfriend a 52" Sony rear-projection (LCD) grand wega for $1299 (MSRP was like $1699 at the time; it was on sale for $1499), since that was the price we found on Frys.com. They don't normally price match internet pricing, but the manager in charge that night was in a good mood.

I always try HH Gregg first.
Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
     
TheoCryst
Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 02:13 AM
 
What's an HH Gregg? Apparently not something that exists in Arizona... is it like a Fry's?

And no, that salesman was not a very good haggler.

Any ramblings are entirely my own, and do not represent those of my employers, coworkers, friends, or species
     
goMac
Posting Junkie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 02:30 AM
 
I wish Seattle had cool stores like that. We used to have just Best Buy and CompUSA, and then CompUSA left. Now pretty much the only place for electronics besides Best Buy is Fry's, and they're probably a 30-40 minute drive from here.
8 Core 2.8 ghz Mac Pro/GF8800/2 23" Cinema Displays, 3.06 ghz Macbook Pro
Once you wanted revolution, now you're the institution, how's it feel to be the man?
     
Aquataris
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tulsa, OK
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 02:40 AM
 
Here in Oklahoma, it's just Best Buy, CompUSA and Circuit City.

I'd like to know what was said to knock it down to $499.
If I had a signature, it would be better than yours.
     
Railroader  (op)
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 03:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by Aquataris View Post
Here in Oklahoma, it's just Best Buy, CompUSA and Circuit City.

I'd like to know what was said to knock it down to $499.
"I'll buy this laptop if you'll sell it for $550"

That's all i said.

Seriously.
     
Chuckit
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 03:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by Aquataris View Post
I'd like to know what was said to knock it down to $499.
Probably the battery is about to be recalled or something.
Chuck
___
"Instead of either 'multi-talented' or 'multitalented' use 'bisexual'."
     
Railroader  (op)
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 03:16 AM
 
Originally Posted by TheoCryst View Post
What's an HH Gregg? Apparently not something that exists in Arizona... is it like a Fry's?

And no, that salesman was not a very good haggler.
HHGreggs are bare-bones warehouse electronic stores. Very little in the way of accessories or fancy decorations. At least the one by my house is.
     
Railroader  (op)
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Indy.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 03:17 AM
 
Originally Posted by Chuckit View Post
Probably the battery is about to be recalled or something.
Sweet, I get a new battery too!
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 08:26 AM
 
think of ABC Warehouse if you have one of those; or if you remember Highland Appliance or Fretters.
     
MacosNerd
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 08:42 AM
 
Wow congrats. I wonder why he didn't just say - ok we'll take 550 for it instead of lowering it further. Seems kind of weird.
     
TETENAL
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 10:35 AM
 
Dumbest manager ever.
     
Mastrap
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Toronto
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 10:37 AM
 
Laptops: Two for $400. And you'll be doing good.
     
Weezer
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Syracuse
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 10:40 AM
 

Imac Core Duo 1.83/1.5 GB/20 inch cinema, ibook G4 1 ghz
     
Kevin
Baninated
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: In yer threads
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 11:03 AM
 
Originally Posted by TheoCryst View Post
What's an HH Gregg? Apparently not something that exists in Arizona... is it like a Fry's?

And no, that salesman was not a very good haggler.
No HHGregg's here either. But then again we didn't get Wal-mart till 1992.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 11:36 AM
 
Asus Eee PC
     
residentEvil
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Detroit
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 01:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by Weezer View Post
that didn't meet the OP's guidelines; of course you could get a sub $500 online.
     
shifuimam
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The deep backwoods of the PNW
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 01:47 PM
 
According to Wikipedia:
hhgregg has 80 stores in eight states: Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.
They started in Indianapolis. It's an appliance and electronics store. They mostly sell large appliances and high-end home electronics (big TVs and high-end home theatre equipment), but they also sell other stuff. For as long as I can remember, we've always bought our appliances there. Their biggest store is on the north side of Indy and has a huge scratch & dent appliance section.
Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
     
mduell
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 02:02 PM
 
Newegg has 10 laptops (5 in stock [3 new, 1 open box, 1 refurb]) under $500... my pick would be the Eee.
     
shifuimam
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The deep backwoods of the PNW
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Nov 19, 2007, 04:01 PM
 
The eee's great and all, but it would be useless for one of the purposes Railroader mentioned - loading digital pictures onto it. You'd have to buy an external USB hard drive along with it, which ups the total cost by at least $100.

I'd love to have an eee PC, but it definitely is a supplemental sort of laptop - not primary machine material.
Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:46 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,