Save Money by asking for a Discount
Have you ever walked into a store and seen something you want, really want for that matter only to realise it is only marginally outside of your price bracket? Well maybe you need to step outside of your comfort zone and attempt to negotiate or in easy terms, ask for a discount.
If you have never asked for a discount before, you may find it a real challenge. You feel as if you will get shut down within seconds, but something many people don’t realise is that stores have the ability to compromise on price quite easily, so asking should not be seen as a stress. Just give it a go and see what happens. Remember that it is your hard earned money, so how can it hurt to ask?
It’s them or the competition
Have you ever heard the saying “Ask and you shall receive?” – remember this as it also applies to shopping. Remember that businesses spend millions on advertising every year; they want you in their shop and will very rarely turn down a good offer that is marginally under the retail price they are tagging it at as they are aware you will just go to the competition.
How much can you save?
Asking for a discount can save you anywhere from $5.00 to thousands depending on the item you are after. Retail stores like Bing Lee are great for this as they heavily advertise that they are open to negotiation with pricing, straight away informing you of your right to request a discount. Stores like ‘The Good Guys’ also offer heavy incentives for cash purchases. This is basically telling you they are willing and ready for you to haggle with them; it is what separates them from smaller Australian chains that cannot be as flexible on prices.
Remember that you are not limited to just one store, try multiple outlets and larger suppliers, your savings can vary from store to store. It is also good practice to get the first store you visit and request a discount from to write down the price on their business card – that way you can show the next shop they have put the offer in writing.
If the item you are after is the last one, this is your chance to shine! If I see a last item in the store I automatically ask for a discount and I always get one, they want to push the stock and replenish old with new.
How to ask for a discount
There are different ways of asking for a discount. Here are a few ideas and examples of ways some of our readers have suggested;
- You can take the item you are after to a sales representative and tell them you are ready to buy, only if they can give you a better deal on price. This shows that you are willing and ready to buy; all they need to do is give you a push over the line.
- You can also attempt to get them to throw in a sweetener, which means you are after multiple products and hoping to get something extra thrown in for free. This could be a warranty, extended service, batteries or something required for the product.
- Another method is to tell them that the price is more expensive than you were after, let them know your maximum price and tell them that if they can match it you will buy on the spot.
It’s time to ask for a discount
So next time you go shopping remember to always ask for a discount. Dont feel guilty like most people do. An easy way to overcome this feeling of guilt is by making light of it and making a joke, for instance;” I only have $45 dollars on me – would you accept this amount?”. Sales staff are used to this kind of haggling and are more than willing to help you with the negotiation. They will likely need to get permission from their manager, but will almost always come back with a response that will save you some money.
What’s your best haggling question?
We want to hear from you! Tell us the best way to get a discount or request a price drop, we would love to hear!
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