The week before Christmas I went to the grocery store looking for a sale on some Christmas items. They had kept moving some of the perishables, and I couldn’t find the chestnuts or the special Panettone bread we buy each year – but I knew they had them somewhere!
So I asked a clerk where the items had been moved to, and then I asked about Christmas items going on sale. They got the manager and put the items on sale right then – on the spot – just for me!
Of course this won’t always work, but asking for items at a reduced rate or when/if they will be going on sale is a tactic that often brings immediate results.
A month or so ago I asked about Shrimp and when it would go on sale, and the fish manager pulled some out of the freezer and told me it would be going on sale later that day, and gave me the mark down price instantly!
I love asking for deals.
At some thrift stores, (an obsession I’ve got to give up in the New Year), I sometimes ask if things will be marked down even more. This will not usually work in the large chain stores, but in the smaller, church run or charity-organized stores they might mark an item down even further for you.
We all ask for deals when buying an automobile – what’s the difference?
You can also use this tactic for purchasing large items, but you must be more prepared.
One key when asking for deals is to be sure you know the value of the item before asking. Do your research first using internet auction sites, watching sales and checking the newspaper.
Tips to remember:
- Don’t be shy. Find your assertiveness gene, but be friendly and smile. Ask when items are going on sale or if you can negotiate a deal.
- Do your research before heading out to find a deal. Know what the true retail and discount price is on an item before you try to negotiate.
- Be prepared to walk away if you don’t feel good about the item or the price isn’t right. If you have buyers remorse you haven’t got a deal at all.
Optional reading: