How to Negotiate Prices at the Store and Save Money

If you’re trying to save money in this tough economy you’re probably looking at cutting costs wherever you can in your life. Driving less, perhaps, to save on gas, eating out less, to save on disposable income, turning off lights to save on utilities, and maybe even cutting services like cable out completely. All of this is great in helping you to avoid an emergency need for cash, but there are other ways of saving money – generally unknown ways by most, and one of these ways includes negotiating prices at a retail store.

Store Managers – All Power is Theirs

When most people go into a retail store, like a food store or a clothing store, they assume that the price they see on the shelf or on the tag is the price for that item and that’s all there is to it. After all, this isn’t a 15th century bazaar in the Middle East, this is civilized society and prices are set by big conglomerate powerful companies headquartered thousands of miles away from where you are actually shopping right?

Not quite.

The truth is, that when it comes to retail shopping, a good deal of power for the prices set in the store comes from the manager. Wal-Mart, for example, does not set a single price for goods at all of its stores across the country, that would be absurd when it comes to competing if you set the price for a can of tuna in New York City as the same price for that can in Wichita Kansas. The prices are set regionally, and then flexible, within meeting budgetary goals by the store managers. That means that it is entirely possible (and they have codes in their head to do it at the register) for a manager to discount an item any percentage (yes, up to 100%) that they want. A wise shopper will recognize this fact and use it to their advantage. Here are some tips that can help you with in-store negotiations for good prices:

• Don’t waste your time talking to clerks - They typically don’t have the power to do anything but look at you with incredulity when you suggest paying less for something than the marked price. Politely ask to speak with a manager once you have the item(s) you want to negotiate on.
• Look for items that are already discounted - Further discounting items that are already on sale is easier than discounting those items that are full-priced, or brand new to the market. In this case, remember that beggars can’t be choosers.
• Look for slightly damaged items - A slight rip in a shirt on the rack, a dent in a can of chili, a chip in a glass vase, all of these are a great excuse for you to take the item to the manager and ask that you be given it at a reduced price. They are very likely to agree to your request as long as you are reasonable.
• Don’t get greedy - Seriously, you can negotiate a lower price for a bottle of laundry detergent without much trouble…taking a full shopping cart full of groceries to a manager and demanding 20% off isn’t going to get you very far at all.