The Power of Bargaining!

I love a good bargain. If I get to pay less for an item than its advertised price I am in a shopper’s paradise.

It’s not that I don’t pay full price if I am forced but I am always on the lookout for an opportunity to get a few dollars off the price.

What about  those items that are not discounted? Should you still ask for a lower price? The answer is a resounding, ‘Yes’!

Often consumers hesitate to ask for a lower price because they are afraid of the reaction of the store clerk or have a misguided sense of embarrassment if they are denied their request. Retailers are also not really keen on reducing their profit so they will not jump at the chance to reduce the price.

Does this mean you shouldn’t ask for a discount?

No, of course not because you need to remember the most important thing, ‘Consumers have the power.’ In my experience, there are many ways that you can harness the power of bargaining!

The first tip of bargaining is find the person who can give you a discount. The store clerk might want to give you a discount but does not have the necessary authority to do so. So find the manager so that you can plead your case.

The next thing to do is to avoid sounding desperate. This is not an attractive quality as it is much better to appeal to their sense of goodwill. If you shop there regularly then you can make a convincing argument for a discount based on customer loyalty.

It is also a good idea to ask if the store offers customers any discounts  for buying more than three or more of the same item. Although this policy is usually reserved for wholesales, a number of retailers will consider reducing the price if you buy items in bulk.

The best advice is to be polite and pleasant. You would be surprised at how persons respond to pleasantries and reward you with a discount.

Despite the stressed financial situation retailers find themselves in never underestimate the power of your bargaining skills!

How do you ask for discounts? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner Online Writer

Tags: bargain, discounts