How to take on the Grinch this Christmas

GRIM news in the federal budget about the ongoing cost of living pressures, just eight weeks out from Christmas, may have left you feeling like there’s not much you can do about your own budget challenges.

But, there is a good chance you could get more cash back in your wallet, however, it will mean taking on something you’re not entirely comfortable with – negotiating with ‘the Grinch’. We’re not talking about you turning in to Scrooge with your loved ones, instead looking at having different conversations with the retailers you’re about to splash the cash with this festive season.

Australians are very polite, we don’t want to appear rude, or cause a fuss by trying to negotiate a ‘deal’. But that very politeness may be letting opportunities to save money pass you by. Negotiating is not something many of us learnt at school and it’s not part of our culture to talk about money, so it’s no wonder, 87 per cent of people feel apprehensive or uncomfortable about negotiating (Source: salary.com).

So how do we get over our apprehension? In the words of the famous philosopher, Nike, ‘Just do it!’. With a couple of minutes research, a few deep breaths to build your courage,and a willingness to have a crack at negotiating – you might just get what you ask for.

Start by looking at where you shop. Are you even aware if the places you shop are places you could negotiate? Find out if they negotiate – this would likely be on their website or on the wall in the store. Some online retailers are also open to negotiating. Think, if they say “We’ll price match”, surely that means they’ll price beat too?

Now you’re shopping in the right places, let’s consider how you approach the conversation with the salesperson. Let’s say you’re going to buy your husband a bar fridge for Chrissy, you’ve done a bit of online research so you know the ballpark price. When you’re in the store, take a deep breath in, then ask a simple question: “Is that the best price you can do on that bar fridge?” or “Is there anything you can do on the price?”, then wait for their response.

Now, the test is in your patience – you’re in the store, they want your money, and they’re likely to want to do a deal, so that you don’t go to another retailer to buy it from. Be patient and wait for their response.

There are three key possible responses – yes, no, or maybe – so, be ready for that. Think about what you’ll say in response to this:

- If they say yes, you could say: “Great, thanks!”

- If they say maybe, you could say: “Okay, what does maybe look like? Do you need to speak to someone else, a store manager perhaps?”

- If they say no, you could respond with “No problem, thank you, I just thought I would ask.”

At first negotiating may feel scary, but, with the simple scripts noted above, you should feel that it’s possible to have these conversations. By taking the attitude of, “What have I got to lose?”, your budget might just be better off for it this Christmas.

SAM TRATTLES IS COMMERCIAL DEALS NEGOTIATOR AT OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE