All About Asking

As many of you know, I'm an advocate of asking for a discount. It can save you a ton of money on all sorts of products. Appears that I have company. For instance, Five Cent Nickel recently snagged a deal by asking for a discount. And The Simple Dollar tells us how to have the courage to ask. In particular, he makes this statement that I find quite enlightening:

When you ask for a bargain, the worst thing that can happen is that they say “no,” which is effectively what happens if you don’t ask at all.

So, what's the harm in asking? None really.

TSD also lists a few things you can ask for as follows:

• Ask for bulk kid clothes discounts at a yard sale.
• Ask for soup bones for free (or for cheap) at the butcher.
• Ask for package deals at the pottery store.
• Ask for a lower price and/or for free amenities at the car dealership.
• Ask for extra toppings on your deli sandwich.
• Ask for extra ketchup or hot sauce packets at the fast food restaurant.
• Ask for a raise or more flexible scheduling from your boss.
• Ask for help on something that’s personally challenging to you from a friend.
• Ask for cooperation in repaying your debts from your creditors.

And a few from me:

• Ask service businesses if they match competitors' prices/coupons. I have a certain spot I like to get my oil changed, but they don't always have the lowest price. But I asked, and they do accept competitors' coupons. So we save coupons we get in the mail and use them at our shop.

• Ask for a price break. Recently I had need of a plumber and got a quote. I simply said, "Is that the best you can do?" and they knocked 20% off the price. Cool.

• Ask specialty stores for extras. There's additional margin built in at specialty stores, so it's often easier for them to for something to be thrown in when you make a good purchase. For example: a free bike helmet when you purchase a bike.

• Ask for seconds. Costco. Samples. Need I say more?

How about you? What do you ask for discounts on?

Comments

[Big Cheese]

I'm looking for a job and I received a verbal offer that I am seriously considering. I asked my potential future boss if he'd throw in a signing bonus, understanding that this would be at his discretion. He ended up adding a signing bonus of $20,000. Not bad for 5 minutes of work.

The funny thing was that it was just an impulsive ask. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose.

-Big C.

[Lisa @ Cents To Save]

Ask your healthcare provider (this is if you do not have insurance) what their cash price is. This applies to diagnostic imaging (x ray ultrasound etc) the cash price is usually a pretty good deal. Shop and call around.....some imaging facilities will include the radiologist services in the same fee.

[FMF]

Big --

If my math is right, earning $20,000 every five minutes means you're making $480 million a year!!! Holy cow!!!!

If only it was that easy... ;-)

But still, good for you for asking -- what a payoff!!!

[Big Cheese]

FMF,

Thanks for the comment. I only wish that was my 'normal' earning rate. Too bad it was one of those 'blue moon' moments. But I do agree with practicing on the small things as you mentioned in this post, you never know when the opportunity will come up to negotiate on a bigger thing.

Remember if you are buying a shirt, throwing 5% of the cost of the sale in could mean a free tie. But that same 5% on a million dollar house is $50K! The key is to ask in a way that is not offensive and to have a good enough reason to justify your ask, should you be questioned.

-Big C.

[pink panther]

Ask google for discounts. Sites list current, valid codes for discounts and free shipping at major online retailers.

This week... I got free shipping at LL Bean for an order, and a $5 off coupon (already had free shipping) at Books-A-Million.

(BTW, BAM is slower than a melting glacier at shipping orders compared to any other bookseller, but they really do have the best prices based on my own orders.)

[YoungMoneyTalks]

Another, more expensive place to ask for discounts is in art galleries. If you don't ask, they won't give it to you, but most galleries factor a ten percent discount into their pricing. Ask and you shall receive.

[Kevin]

Big Cheese - that is great return for little effort on your part, congrats!

[Anonymous]

call your phone provider. Tell them you're thinking of switching to cable/VOIP. Ask what deals are available. I got $30 knocked off my combined DSL/phone/wireless bill.

[Dorotea]

If anyone is a student, it's always a good idea to ask for a student discount (sometimes, but not always, this means flashing your student ID). I've found that many establishments, such as restaurants, clothing stores, pharmacies, and auto body shops, do offer student discounts, but don't regularly publicize that fact.

[randomjohn]

Cable company! I got $27/mo taken off just for threatening to go to satellite/dsl. I could have gotten more if I took their VOIP but I tried it once and it was a disaster.

[Mary@SimplyForties]

After reading the recent round of posts on this subject I felt empowered to do just exactly this. I was in Staples buying a couple of reams of computer paper. I took two opened packages to the check-out and asked if they'd give me a discount if I bought the opened ones. They agreed without hesitation. So thanks to all the bloggers who have written on this topic lately!

[Ryan K from Going Carless]

I was just today thinking about this exact concept. I don't even remember what prompted the thought, but then I read your post. You're definitely right! I always ask for the food at places right before they close. I got a garbage full of bagels at dunkin donuts that way.

Thanks for this timely post.

[Pluto]

I always google - sitename + Coupon code before I buy anything online and You will be surprised how many of them have free shipping codes available as well as 10-15% off if its your lucky day.
Recently Domino is trying to promote ONLINE orders, they have outrageous codes for online orders,

It never hurts to ask for AAA discount as well as student discounts

[Daphne]

Very good advice to ask for a discount! I often ask directly if they have a discount or special offer, and if not, I ask if they can throw in a free gift especially if I'm purchasing a relatively large amount. Works more often than you would think! I've received a bracelet, perfume, pouch and all sorts of small but useful items.

Great blog by the way!