| License to bargain Most people assume that bargaining should be limited to homes, cars and silly tchotchkes you buy on vacation. |
Noooooo, say expert hagglers.
When it comes to haggling, everything and anything is fair game-from flat screen TVs to MRIs to your next mani-pedi.
Name your price
According to a 2009 survey, 66% of people said that they’d asked for a better deal at least once in the previous six months-and of those, 88% said they’d scored a discount. This ABC News article, which follows bargain hunter Teri Gault through several live haggles, illustrates the core secret of a successful haggle:
Ask.
Gault asked for a discount on a $169 stool in a high-end store. The clerk said no; the manager dropped the price by $40. Because… she asked.
And don’t stop at the small stuff. In her new book, “Save Big,” Good Morning America reporter Elisabeth Leamy found that you can save thousands on big-ticket items, like “junk” closing costs (e.g. document fees) when you buy or sell a home.
Bottom line
- Do your homework. Every price has a range.
- Offer to pay cash. It’s a strong incentive.
- Don’t assume “No” means no. Ask for a manager.
- Be nice. The fate of the world isn’t at stake.
- Walk away if you don’t get your price.
Via our beloved money saving sisters at DailyWorth.com; DailyWorth is a free daily personal finance email for women. They deliver practical tips, empowering ideas and the occasional kick in the pants.