Time to sharpen up on your bargaining skills
RISING living costs are expected to add to the strain on people’s budgets in the coming months.
So it’s a particularly important time to brush up on your bargaining skills.
Inflation jumped to a two-and-a-half-year high last month, according to Office for National Statistics figures.
And upward price pressures could make it harder for some households to tick everything off their shopping lists.
Many shops still have sales on, but even if the item you want to buy doesn’t come with a discount there may be other ways to shave money off the price.
While the idea of walking into a shop and haggling fills some people with dread, all it really takes is a little preparation to increase your chances of picking up a bargain.
James Walker, founder of Resolver, a service that helps people with complaints, says: “It might seem it’s much harder to haggle for a decent discount today than it was in previous years.
“But there’s a war going on between the high street and their new online competitors, and it’s becoming increasingly brutal.”
Here are some of his tips on how to bag a bargain:
Don’t give up at the first hurdle. Once you’ve got over being turned down, it’s so much easier to try again.
Don’t waste time talking to sales assistants who don’t have the power to deliver discounts. Seek out the floor managers.
Don’t waffle on too long. Explain you’re pushed for time and need a quick decision.
Go independent. You could be far more likely to get a discount from a shop that provides goods from a range of brands.
Be a tease. If you’re after a big discount, be enthusiastic about the product when you first go in.
Less can be more in negotiations. Make it clear you’re willing to spend – but only if the shop offer you what you want, otherwise you will go elsewhere.
Leave a pregnant pause after you’ve asked for a discount. It might feel uncomfortable, but it makes it harder for the other person not to be positive.