TigerChef

For me, “SHOPPING”  is probably my biggest pet peeve. I’d rather sit at home and stare at the walls or out the window than go shopping. In no way do I look forward to a shopping trip as an enjoyable outing on a day off. I always come home with a big head-ache, starving and dead tired. I absolutely hate it! ( My husband loves me for that.) However, there are times when you have no choice but to face the music. Like when the children have outgrown their clothing or when an appliance decides to kick the bucket on me or when a household product goes dry. And now, with the holidays approaching… shopping stares you straight in the face.

With the economy down in the dumps and the sky-rocketing prices, it has become pathetically expensive to shop. Therefore, here are some courses of action you can  take to make shopping a somewhat more enjoyable experience.

Barter, haggle, negotiate, bargain… I too would love to just get over with it, but close your eyes for a moment and imagine that sensation of coming home with a steal.

Here are some bargaining tips that just may make you rich one day:

1. More often than not, stores will do whatever it takes to beat the competition. All that is required of you is proof of a better deal elsewhere.  A deal will never be handed to you on a silver platter unless you open your mouth.

2. Never  let the salesperson in on how strongly you’ve fallen in love with an item.  If you do,  you just messed it all up and slimmed your chances big time on a good bargain. Now the salesperson knows you’ll buy the item no matter what the price so why give you a bargain price?

3. The economic downturn can actually be a help for a shopping trip. The stores have to sell their products. Cut out the shyness, square your shoulders and ask if perhaps they have something better to offer you than the asking price. But, before you take a shot at the question,  make sure to get on the sales person’s “good side” by making some small friendly talk, which is sure to raise your chances of getting a positive response.

4. Depending on the type of item you’re showing interest in, cash may very well talk louder than credit, especially in smaller,  family run businesses.

5. Bear in mind never to take a “NO” from somebody who is not in authority to say “YES”.  Ask to speak to the supervisor and negotiate with him/her - politely.

6. Not comfortable with speaking up? Just remember that you are not the first and won’t be the last to ask for a discount. It’s part of running a business and the sellers are expecting and practically waiting for the customer to ‘pop the question’. Asking for a discount is a way to play wealthy since usually, it is the wealthy people who are the ones to bargain (and therefore, they have the wealth).  The least you can do for yourself is ask and the most they can do to you is say no.

A friendly reminder- your loss is someone else’s gain. Go for it- I’ll be here cheering you on!

Filed under: General • Holiday Guides • How-To • Cost Savings

Tags: bargaining