What would you do if you had to go an entire day and not pay full price for ANYTHING?
I read an interesting article the other day, a reporter decided to spend 1 day and not pay full price for anything. She did ok, she got some money off on a cab ride, but then over tipped because she was so happy! 🙂
But, many of the things in the article made me think. How many times do we as consumers, overlook savings. I remember when I was pregnant with my first child my parents were going to buy a rocking chair for me. I had picked out the perfect wicker and wood chair, I was in love with it. So, we go in and look at it and I say that’s the one I want and Dad goes and tells the salesman. Well, they didn’t have any others in and they weren’t getting anymore – this floor model was all they had. So, Dad asked for a discount. I was mortified! This was years before I learned how to save ANY money 🙂 . He haggled with the salesman, I got my chair and he got his discount! I can’t tell you how much, because again, I was mortified!
As I look back now, I realize my Dad and Mom did this a lot. They bought demonstrator model cars at the end of the year and paid cash – considerably less than if they had gotten a brand new model. They paid off their credit cards each month, we were NOT well to do or well off by any means, they just knew what they could pay at the end of the month and stayed within that budget. They were not into paying ANY kind of interest at all! So, maybe some of that rubbed off a little on me.
But, as I said we let opportunities pass us by, mostly because it’s “hard” or “embarrassing” to ask for a discount. Believe me the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I’ve always told my kids: “What does it hurt to ask? If they say no, you’re no worse off than you were before you asked!” Honestly, think about the people who say to you “Wow, that’s a great deal, wish I could do that, or wish I had time to do that.”
One of the things the article pointed out and I keep thinking about is that the merchant has a problem and you have the solution. The merchant needs buyers, you have the money to fulfill their need. If you don’t buy it, maybe no one else will and they will be stuck with merchandise they couldn’t sell. So, you are offering to help them with their problem when you offer what you CAN pay with your hard earned money.
Here are a few ways you can start:
When the Dr. gives you a prescription – Ask for a sample (My Mom has done this for years).
Offer to take the “Floor Model” or the slightly damaged item for a lesser price.
When stores have policies like “if it rings up wrong it’s FREE”, hold them to it. I recently got a pair of jeans for $8 less at WalMart because they were in the wrong display – they were stocked incorrectly. They were $20 and rang up for $20, but, when I accompanied the girl doing the price check I pointed out the mistake, she was reluctant, but, she honored the clearance sign.
If you find a recent purchase was cheaper at another store, go back with your receipt and show them the sales ad and ask for the difference. Many stores honor competitors prices and sales, and will gladly do this, too, within a certain time frame.
When shopping at a local or family owned store, ask for a discount.
When dining at a local restaurant, ask them to honor another restaurant’s coupon.
Sometimes these will work and sometimes they won’t. Most of the time if they can’t do it, they will offer a compromise. Again, as I’ve always told my kids: “What does it hurt to ask? If they say no, you’re no worse off than you were before!” But, you may become a better shopper and saver!
Do you have a suggestion or a “haggling story” you could share? Please do, it will help encourage us all to be better negotiators!
Erika S says
I “haggel” every thing. My best story ever is my mother in laws car. She had a mustang but wanted a santa fe. So off we went to the dealership. We got there knowing exactly what she wanted and how much she was willing to pay monthly and that she had good enough credit to get what ever she wanted. We were at the “table” going over all the financial things and I wasn’t liking what I was hearing. I had the salesman so confused with numbers I made him cry I swear not intentionally! We actually left and went back the next day because they told us they couldn’t do every thing we wanted for the prices we wanted. Needless to say they called the next day and were able to offer some more.
So at the end of it all:
She traded in the car
Got the with out trade in price ($3000 value)
Got a sunroof (they didnt have one with out the sunroof in the color she wanted) ($1400 value)
Got some plastic guard for the back ($900 value)
Got gap insurance included in the price not added on top ($600 value)
$5900 SAVINGS!!!
PLUS I was offered a job by the sr. sales manager! (I didn’t take it although I probably should have)
That was the best I ever did.
Dian says
@Erika S: Awesome! Way to go! That’s a great deal and a great story!
Thanks!
Dian
Shelly @ Coupon Teacher says
I need to haggle more. I will argue over a receipt, but I need to think about bigger purchases. I stumbled this!
Dian says
@Shelly @ Coupon Teacher: Thanks Shelly! I do, too!
Dian
Ron says
I agree with your blog post however…..its not walmarts policy to allow comping on something simply because a former customer put the item back in the wrong place. Anyone can say they found the item under a different sign, put the item in the wrong area on purpose to Try to get a better deal but that doesnt make it so. Unfortunately there are far to many consumers trying to rip off the system as there are honest consumers trying to honestly get the deals. Honestly you lucked out. It could have been a number of reasons for doing so but I wont put it up on a blog for scammers to utilize either. In most cases this wouldnt happen. If its well stocked in that item that means the pricing was correct and being out of place doesnt mean they advertised it that way….it means it was simply was out of place which is not the same thing and no matter how much one raises heck at my store…that wont work for them either with any of the cashiers or management since it happens all to often and walmart and other stores are not out to give away products either. The deal is on the actual item, dont demoralize oneself into thinking a scam should work legally when really it doesnt.
Dian says
@Ron: The pair of jeans was under a sign that said the price I thought they were. There were 4 shelves witht he exact same jeans on each shelf and no other jeans on those shelves. the entire stock of those jeans were placed under that sign.
I went with the manager and we both saw where they were all there and she agreed they were mis-stocked. She removed the sign and we went back to the register.
I have never tried to scam anyone. If you are a regular reader of this site you will find I am very clear about following store rules.
My site is not about finding ways to “scam” stores. In fact, I am always very careful to tell people the proper way to shop so that we all get the deals the stores and manufacturers expect us to get.
THIS SITE IS NOT ABOUT CHEATING OR SCAMMING ANYONE OR ANYTHING. I want to make that very clear. My goal here is to help people save money while following the guidelines the stores and manufacturers have set.
Susan Merritt says
Well, I ask for discounts and I am not embarrassed. If it has a scratch or dent or something, they always will take off 10% or more. Since I know you quite well, I know that you would never scam someone or cheat someone. You are just a smart shopper. Here is another suggestion, always negotiate with doctors and hospitals. I have only had one doctor tell me know and it was his wife that I was negotiating with….ha. I have insurance and so I wait until after it pays and then with the remaining, I try to get 50% off. Normally, for cash, they will take off 25%-50%.
Dian says
@Susan Merritt: Susan thanks for the kind words! I LOVE the Dr. suggestion – my mom always said that and it’s one place I have yet to tread – but, I will! Thanks! Dian
Misi says
I’m not great, but go with gusto when I am feeling confident. lol I’ve gotten a number of free things at Albertson’s because things ring up wrong. I don’t do it intentionally, but when it’s a big difference, I let them know & they check, come back, & take it off my total cost (I usually use self-scan). When I’m getting several things, there is one cashier I always use because she likes to see how much money people can save ~ and does what she can to help people save more. Love her!
Two different times for my son’s birthday, I negotiated with the place where we were holding it. Once was his 4th birthday at a gymnastics/gym place and the other was his 7th using the rock wall at the local Y. The first wanted $250, and I negotiated down because I was bringing my own cake and had our own invitations, thank you cards, and supplies. Down to $125. 😀 The one at the Y, it was similar. He’d recently won a youth membership, so we started that up before reserving space for the party. They had wanted about $175, but since I used my own invitations, thank you cards, and supplies, they knocked it down to $85. 😀
And Erika S….will you come with me the next time I buy a car? lol The last time I was at a dealership was to pick up the “free stuff” that I got a notice about in the mail. They decided to try to sell me a car (I didn’t want one, but decided to humor them). The first guy initially offered me about three times what my car is worth, but that ended up being lowered. If I was getting a new vehicle, it had to seat more than five comfortably and have a lower (or similar) monthly payment than what I had. They wanted me to wiggle on that (no). They also attempted to just put me in a bigger car (still only seating five). They said at 75k miles, I should probably trade in my car, but showed me cars that were over 95k ~ the only way they could keep the payment down. It was kind of fun, though, and was very empowering for me that I was able to walk away without one. I did learn about being a “hardnose”, though, so hopefully I can take that with me when I do buy another car.
Dian says
@Misi: Very nice! I love the stories! You did great on both parties and it IS empowering to be able to resist a sale! You’re apparently a great negotiator!
Thanks!
Dian