furniture winning

Here's the story...

I live just one little block away from Pottery Barn and am constantly trying to avoid going in to prevent the spending of unnecessary monies on things I can't even fit in my apartment. (Note to self,  you better start saving for all 4 beach houses you've already mentally filled with Pottery Barn pieces). But, a few weeks ago, I saw their signs about the massive post-holiday sales they were having and decided to make an exception and pop in for a browse. Almost instantly I fell in love with the coziest, most classic armchair on the showroom floor, the Carlisle.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

What I did not fall in love with, however, was the price tag....$1, 219.00.

Yowza.

Then, much to my delight, I realized they were selling the actual floor model (which was the highest fabric grade and exact pattern I wanted).  The price? Around $600.

Insanely improved, yet still slightly yowza.

I decided that $600 was not really in my trying-to-tighten-it-up 2012 budget and although I could technically make it work, it wasn't the best way to spend my money at the moment. I sighed, bid the chair fair well and exited the store.

But I couldn't stop thinking about this chair!  It was exactly the piece I felt I was missing to fill in the last remaining "living room" space in my home and I was consumed with thoughts of snuggling up to read and drink tea in it.

Eff it, I thought, I am so buying this chair.

But as I excitedly entered Pottery Barn 2 days later I was met with an awkward exchange from the store manager; she herself had already purchased the chair! "I mean it was just too good to pass up", she said.

That little snitch stole it from under my nose!

It was gone!

I waited too long!

My humble dreams of tea and book reading were crushed, dashed, obliterated like the fruits and veggies of my juice fast days!

Man, I thought, I guess it wasn't meant to be.

...or was it? There has to be another way.

(is the suspense totally killing you?)

The manager was kind enough to do some searching for other Pottery Barn locations in the Bay Area selling the chair. After a few phone calls I learned that just 25 minutes away was the exact same piece, though slightly damaged. Someone in their warehouse had dropped the armchair and busted one of the legs, rendering the chair practically un-sellable by Pottery Barn standards. I was told I was welcome to come and take a look at it to see if it was worth potentially buying at an even greater discounted price.

I grabbed my most bold negotiator friend, Jenny, and off we went...me visualizing the tea and book scenario the whole way. I know this chair is mine!!

Here's where I'll wrap the story up. After seeing the piece and deciding I could 100% fix this chair on my own or with the help of a friend, Jenny and I took a walk around the block to discuss our negotiation tactic.

Me: I'm so nervous. I don't know what to offer them.

Jenny: I'll do it. $100 and we'll take it off their hands.

Me: Really?! Oh my gosh. I can't even look at the guy I'm so uncomfortable.

Jenny: Pats, I got this.

Jenny then marched right up to the manager and simply said: $100 and we'll walk out the door with it.

PB Manager: Sold! Take it, hunny. All you had to do was ask.

You'll see on the far leg that the fabric is a bit gnarly still, but don't worry! I have access to a staple gun that will fix that little guy right up :)

Hooray to saving monies! Lots and lots of monies!

So, what did I take away from this scenario (besides a bad ass piece of furniture)?

A) It pays to keep visualizing what you want, even if it is something as silly as a cozy new armchair, so long as it is well intentioned.

B) A delay is not necessarily a denial.

C) Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.

Happy Friday, friends.

In Gratitude,

Trish