Earlier this month, my husband and I celebrated his birthday with a fancy dinner and dancing. Just as I was about to pay, I asked if the establishment honored any discounts. To my delight, the answer was yes and we saved 15 percent on the overall bill!
That experience reminded me that it's smart to always ask for a discount. If you are a member of AAA, the military or another group, you can often save 10 or 15 percent on goods and services. And even if there's not a formal discount program, retailers understand that times are tough and usually will give you a break on the price.
Some helpful phrases that may save you money: "Can you do any better on the price?" "If I buy two of these, can you discount the price?" If you say it with a smile and an open expression, you just may walk away with a bit more change in your pocket.
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As an innkeeper, I always come up with deals for future guests if they ask. And, the AAA card? It works magic sometimes. Apparently you can get a discount on meds at the pharmacy if you don’t have insurance that pays for them.
I agree it is always worth a try to see if you can get a better price. Most of the time, a storekeeper – especially if it’s a mom and pop type of store – is happy to have your business and will bend a bit. Thanks for the good advice – I’d never think to do this with a night out of dinner and dancing!
I’m always terrified asking about discounts. One time, at HomeGoods, my mother and my aunt insisted on trying to get a discount on a piece I was buying because there was a small chip on the side. The woman behind the register and the store manager were both less than forthcoming. I just stood there with a red face, as I didn’t feel I necessarily deserved a discount. Prices are set at a certain price point for a reason!
I was, however, thrilled to learn about all the discounts one could get just for having a AAA card. That was quite the revelation.
I’m a little shy about asking for discounts, but I’m trying to get over it. After all, the worst they can do is say no. I don’t know why I’m so shy about asking; most of the times when I do, I get some sort of discount. BTW AAA also gets you discounts at museums, aquariums, etc. It’s worth asking.
Thanks for the sample phrases–they really help!