How to bargain
We’ve gotten so used to walking into a store, picking up an item, and paying for it that we sometimes forget that the price listed on the item is usually just a suggestion.
Don’t believe me? Have you heard the car ads that mention MSRP? That’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, or the suggested list price for the car. Most goods have a suggested retail price on them, but usually the store can discount the price to a certain extent if they like, so it pays to bargain.
I don’t mean standing in the market screaming like a fishwife either, like you see on old TV shows. Most of the time all it takes is asking “Is there any way I could get a discount on that?”. Many times the cashier will say yes, or dig near their register for a percent-off coupon that they can scan for you. If that doesn’t work, you can ask if they will throw in a related item for free. (Throwing in a related item seems to be especially successful in smaller stores or when you are buying a big ticket item such as electronics.) Sometimes they will also let you know when the item is going on sale, if it’s soon. Just remember that it never hurts to ask.
