Why women don’t haggle, and what it’s costing us

Haggling. Depending on the type of person you are, the very word is likely to send shivers of excitement or fear down your spine.

If, like me, you’re in the latter camp, it might be hurting you financially more than you realise.

Women are missing out

At Mozo we recently conducted a survey on haggling and the results are quite illuminating. Many Australians are missing out on thousands of dollars in savings by being too nervous to negotiate discounts, and it’s women that are losing out the most.

Men are almost twice as likely as women to negotiate over a pay rise, 25% more likely to negotiate over a home loan and 20% more likely to haggle over a new car or property.

Confident vs pushy conundrum

So why is it that many women shy away from haggling? Well, it seems a lot of it might boil down to that old stereotype of the ‘pushy’ female.

Men told us they like negotiating because they feel confident and in charge. Women, on the other hand, worry about appearing pushy or cheap.

When I brought the topic up with male and female friends on the weekend, it became clear that many of us girls were missing out on some serious savings by not haggling more often.

Successful haggling results in savings

The guys reeled off stories of negotiating $200 off a new suit and $100 off a designer watch, based on nothing more than a bit of confident haggling. One guy even saved himself $2,000 a year in interest on his home loan by haggling his rate down.

I’m a fairly confident negotiator in my work life and career, but my version of getting a good deal when out shopping is to trudge around the mall looking for the item on sale. Pretty pathetic really!

Time to try bargaining

Well, this whole exercise has been a big awakening for me. I’ve decided to push my reservations aside and get in on the haggling action, starting with my Christmas shopping. I’ll post back on how it all goes in a couple of weeks’ time.

In the meantime, why not take the Christmas haggle challenge yourself and see how much you can save?

156 Comments

- - mum512198 said
  - 19 Apr 2024
    9:55 am
Don’t want to be seen as a karen!

- - RonnieDe said
  - 13 Mar 2021
    9:31 pm
I will haggle, and not afraid to. You will never know if you don’t ask.

- - mom268263 said
  - 30 Nov 2020
    10:34 pm
It’s also a bit of a skill to bargain well, and some seem to have it a bit more.

- - celebrity said
  - 26 Feb 2020
    12:03 pm
I like to haggle. When I had an extra air con put in I asked if there were any deals. Lo and behold for free he upgraded my other air con to a bigger size!

- - mom81879 said
  - 25 Nov 2019
    5:42 pm
Ahem, I am a woman and I happily haggle. Even down to throwing in an extra dim sim for lunch, I’ll haggle for the best offer/deal

- - becstalou said
  - 04 Jan 2019
    9:47 pm
I’m really bad at this. Dad’s teach your daughters.

- - Melissa89 said
  - 26 Jul 2016
    8:49 pm
Yeah I don’t feel good about haggling, not sure why

- - june11 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    9:55 pm
I have a friend who is fantastic when it comes to haggling. I was so lucky she was with me on separate occasionswhen I chose some new furniture, a freezer, and a washing machine. She asked them if that was the best price they could do. It is often an advantage if you have been a customer there previously even if it is owned by franchises. I saved enough on my 3 seater sofa and recliner to pay for my new mattress. I originally wanted a 2 seater and one ordinary chair. They sold me the 3 seater for only $40.00 more than the price on the 2 seater. Considerring the fact that it is gneuine leather that alone was a bargain.

- - mom81879 said
  - 22 Nov 2015
    9:08 pm
When out shopping with hubby, I’m the one most likely to haggle, he doesn’t think we should. But if I see a price, I like to try and improve it somehow, with a price reduction or a free throw in. Something

- - mom94378 said
  - 14 Nov 2015
    8:33 pm
haggling is fun

- - dannsbuild said
  - 22 Sep 2015
    9:44 pm
Really very good knowledge to know! Thanks for sharing this article!

- - mom117219 said
  - 01 Feb 2015
    2:07 pm
good tips,, women lag in this, should improve in this.

- - mom94125 said
  - 06 Oct 2014
    5:51 pm
these are really great tips!

thank you for sharing!
- mom94125 replied
  
  05 Jan 2015 , 5:43 pm
  haggle or walk away lol but also know when to haggle
- - mom56842 said
  - 25 Sep 2014
    12:36 am
Nothing wrong with haggling, not sure they you say women don’t haggle – I do.

- - rachaelchara said
  - 27 Aug 2014
    12:54 pm
I do shop around for the best deal.

- - BellaB said
  - 21 Aug 2014
    9:41 pm
I don’t haggle well when it comes to my salary, but I’m pretty good with shopping – I think it feels less personal.

- - skbou said
  - 28 Jul 2014
    11:21 pm
Haggling for a pay rise is often met with disdain and outright…. “you’re not worth it”…. last job I had I left…. they offered me a part-time car park if I’d stay, pft.

- - eestigirl said
  - 30 Jun 2014
    2:49 pm
I only am brave enough usually to ask for their best price : )

- - no1ladydj said
  - 05 Jun 2014
    10:11 pm
I got used to haggling when I lived overseas, and it was a way of life, and expected at markets and stalls. It didn’t work in supermarkets of course, but if you didn’t haggle over the prices of most things, the sellers were really disappointed. And despite beliefs to the contrary, haggling is acceptable in many places in Australia. Whether here or overseas, always be polite when you’re haggling over the price of an item, don’t insult the seller by offering a totally ridiculous price, and do be prepared to walk away if the seller won’t agree to a price that you think (and know) is fair.
- ginoula5 replied
  
  14 Aug 2014 , 12:21 pm
  I loved haggling overseas whilst on holidays, yet here can’t bring myself to do it.
- - fizgig said
  - 31 May 2014
    10:40 pm
I LOVE to haggle. It feels so good when you get something that you wanted to buy cheaper than you though you could!