Shopping

There are many tactics you can use to get a discount or to negotiate the price of an item or a service. These techniques can also work not only when buying a single item, but also in long-term business arrangements, when working with the same party again and again. There are short guidelines with some useful tips for successful bargaining. Before going shopping, researching prices and competitors might be a very beneficial practice. Before making a deal, don't show too much interest to the seller. If the seller is convinced, you're going to buy from him, you're under his control. Don't hesitate to tell the seller you're going to see if the competitor can offer a better price. Remember that the party who doesn't care if the deal gets done is the one with more power and control. Not everybody has the authority to negotiate, so seek out the decision-maker to increase the chances for a bigger discount. The right timing could also be very useful for successful negotiations. For instance, at certain times of the year, clothing stores are eager to get rid of seasonal merchandise. Or car dealers might push to meet an end-of-month quota. Suggest paying with cash instead of a credit card as businesses can pay up to 3 percent in transaction costs when they accept a credit card for payment. Be friendly, play nice, don't be rude when trying to negotiate the price. But at the same time be firm if you are a loyal and steady customer, because your loyalty should be worth something. And if not, your future business definitely is. Be persistent. Ask about three times if you can get a discount, and if the price is still non-negotiable, don't give up. There are other ways to sweeten a deal, such as a future discount, free upgrade, free shipping, free delivery or installation. Sometimes, businesses are already prepared to offer these concessions, because they are cheaper than dropping the price but still make customers happy.