Saving money just by asking

Most people have a very difficult time asking for a discount. For some reason here in the US we feel like we have to pay full price for everything. In a lot of foreign countries asking for a discount, or haggling, is not only welcomed, it is often expected, and why not. If someone is willing to give you a cheaper price just because you ask, why not try it out?

Don’t be afraid to ask

Today I called my phone/internet provider to discuss a recent change in my bill. Basically in two months my bill jumped over $17. When I finally got through the automated maze that every company seems to use, and found a human, I learned that my promotional rate had expired and that was why my bill was bigger than expected. When I asked if they were running any types of discounts that would bring my bill back down, I was transferred to someone in the Retention Department. As soon as I heard they had a department called retention I knew something good was about to happen.

I remained friendly and repeated my question. “Are you running any type of discount that will bring my bill back to where it was?” Then I shut up. I have found that just by being quiet, you can often gain an advantage in the discussion. To my surprise, the agent I spoke with didn’t question my reason for asking for a discount or try to explain how the company was being impacted by the economy. He simply said yes. He then started explaining the deal he was about to offer me and said that not only could he get me back to my original bill, but he could get me another $5 off on top of that. All-in-all I was able to save around $22 a month for the next 12 months. That is over $260 just for asking.

The hard part

I think the most difficult part of asking for a discount is getting over the feeling that you are being a tightwad. Most people feel as if they are cheating by asking for a lower price. There are several things you can do to over come the wave of emotion that comes over you just before you ask for a break. First, realize that the person you are talking to isn’t going to lose money on the deal. Every item or service has a price that will cost the store money. You aren’t going to get that good of a deal. Second, stores often use sales to move merchandise because they need the room to bring in more inventory. If you purchase the item (even at a discount) you are doing the store a favor. Finally, the worst thing they can do is say no. If they do, you still haven’t lost anything.

So, the next time you are looking to purchase something or have an increase in your cable or phone service, ask for a discount. You may be surprised by how willing the representative is to work with you.