Comments on: Rage and Spite Can Save You Money

By: How Building Relationships Can Improve Your Life | Personal Finance Firewall

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:30:28 +0000

[...] mentality now is, You don’t need them and they don’t need you. There are no relationships built with businesses today. That is why mom and pop stores are such a [...]

By: Jesse Michelsen

Jesse Michelsen — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:49:30 +0000

Thanks David, I appreciate the support. I have previously been too chicken and/or loyal to walk out when someone has taken any time to help me but I guess I have become more bold since I began actually tracking my money and I see that I could save in so many places if I apply myself.

I recently read an article about seeing through the snake oil salesmen tactics used by retailers and the most common way to combat the tactics was the walk out. We just have to remember there is almost always a better price/service/product so dont settle for what is right in front of you.

By: David

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:52:29 +0000

A great example of using spite to save money –

I was recently shopping for a car with the wife. We had done our research, and found the car we wanted at a reasonable price.

However, the salesman was pushy, obnoxious, and refused to give us the information we asked for. Instead of continuing to try to negotiate (we had already invested about 2 hours in this place), we walked, and went somewhere else.

At the next place we went, we were able to get the exact same car for more than $2000 cheaper than the best offer we could get at the previous place.

If that’s not a good example of how much spite can save, I don’t know what is.

By: David

David — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:48:01 +0000

Good for you for walking out. Too often, we forget that we can vote with our dollars when it comes to the businesses we support.

Also, it’s puzzling that so many businesses still have terrible customer service in a down economy. Improving CS is one of the few things that businesses can do for free that will help their profitability.

By: Jesse Michelsen

Jesse Michelsen — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:00:24 +0000

Yea I dont really know what his problem was but I have lost all respect for that auto part chain. There are far too many options out there, cheaper, faster and more helpful for me to waste time with service like that.

By: Debt Ninja

Debt Ninja — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:19:39 +0000

Two words to describe salesguy… douche bag. Good job on trying to support the local business, but I guess sometimes it just isn’t meant to be.