Real bargain hunting is an art, a quest and a game--and it can save you a small fortune. If you follow these
strategies, you can sometimes find bargains you never even knew existed.
The greatest bargain hunters aren't shy. They know that the best deals aren't always the ones that are
advertised and often it pays to haggle. Many retailers are surprisingly receptive to this approach.
Strategy: Bargain out of earshot of other customers. The store can't afford to give everyone the same great
deal.
The first rule in bargaining: Explain why you deserve the bargain...
You're buying many items.
The item is damaged. (We look for appliances that have dents in the back where no one can see them.)
You're willing to buy a display item.
You've noticed that the item has been on sale for a while and it still isn't moving.
Tactic: You're in a powerful position if it's the last one of last year's models. That's when you know the store is
dying to get rid of it.
Example: Wal-Mart marked down a single old-model VCR from $150 to $100. Our friend negotiated an even
lower price. He had to go back twice, but eventually he took it home for $50.
You'll pay cash. (This is most effective at small stores.)
SUCCESS SECRETS
Here's how to win the bargaining game...
Be prepared to walk away from a price you don't like. Then come back a few days later and give the vendor
another chance to meet your terms.
Talk to the department manager or, for a smaller store, the store manager, instead of bargaining with the
salesperson. In most cases, the salesperson doesn't have the authority to give you what you want. (If a
salesperson has been helpful, let the manager know so he/she gets a commission.)
Note: Don't haggle during peak hours when the person you're negotiating with is likely to be distracted. Avoid
the Saturday afternoon crush.
Strike while the iron is hot. If you see a great price on a TV that you hadn't planned on buying until next year,
grab it.
Look for closeout items. End-lot sales items are generally in the very back of the home-improvement stores.
Other sales items may not even be displayed. Ask a manager what gems are hidden in a back room.
Example: We once bought a Whirlpool electric range this way. It had no box or instruction manual but it was
brand new and a great deal.
Don't turn up your nose at items that have been returned. That doesn't mean an item is defective, although
the packaging may no longer look attractive.
Negotiate for services, too--not just products. Even a fee from a dentist, doctor, air-conditioning technician or
landscape artist can be negotiated.
Tell a doctor that Medicare will cover only so much of the cost for a particular procedure. Take it or leave it.
Ask your doctor for free samples. You may save on the cost of a prescription.
Tell your mechanic, "I'm a good customer, but your prices are killing me." Do it nicely and you won't ruin the
relationship whether he gives you a price break or not.
Fees that you may think are chiseled in stone are not. When a hotel quotes you a price for a wedding, it
probably allows wiggle room of 10%. You can negotiate with caterers as well.
Go to garage sales. You can find real bargains, especially at moving sales (people would rather leave behind
some good stuff than lug it to a new place) or multifamily sales.
Go early in the morning when the best items are there, then check back at the end of the sale. You can drive a
very hard bargain in that final hour.
Learn about garage sales in the classified section of your local paper or in a Penny Saver.
Attend small auctions. You seldom get great bargains at Sotheby's or Christie's, but you can often do well at a
much smaller auction. Reason: You might be the only person who wants a certain item. Without competition,
you can get a great deal.
During the auction preview, ask if the piece you like has a "reserve," or minimum, price. If that price is more
than you want to pay, even a lack of competitive bidding won't help you.
Warning: Be sure you can take home whatever you buy. Auctions rarely deliver.
GET A CAR FOR THE RIGHT PRICE
You can get a better deal in person than via the Internet. Begin by knowing all the key numbers. Go to
www.edmunds.com (use the public library or a cyber-cafe, if you don't have a computer of your own) to find out
the manufacturer's suggested retail price, the dealer invoice, the holdback (which you subtract from the
invoice
price) and any dealer incentives (which you should also subtract from the invoice) to find out the dealer's true
cost. Do the same for options you want. Now you have negotiating power.
Car buying strategy 1: Go when the weather is bad, so there are few customers. The salesperson will be
more eager to agree to your terms. Go at the end of the month when the salesperson is eager to meet his
quota.
Car buying strategy 2: Pull in a "higher authority." Just as a salesperson will often offer great terms only to be
vetoed by his sales manager, you can turn the tables by repeatedly calling your spouse at home with the
latest
offer. After each time, come back and say, "He/she still says it's not low enough."
CRUISE FOR LESS
If you have the flexibility to leave with just a few days' notice, you can sometimes travel for half price, or even
less, by asking cruise lines about last-minute vacancies.
If you're computer-savvy, you can start by checking the web sites www.expedia.msn.com, www.travelocity.com
for information.
How to Buy Almost Anything For Much Less
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