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My Experiment: Asking for a Better Deal

February 11, 2008 RSS Feed Print

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If just asking a question could put money in your pocket, would you do it?

According to Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, authors of the new book Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want, many women miss out on higher starting salaries, store savings, and other benefits because they fail to make simple requests.

The power of "asking for it," they say, can result in everyday lower prices, as well as a significant increase in lifetime earnings. In fact, Babcock recently told me that while she was out shopping for jewelry, she asked for a lower price and ended up making the purchase at a 20 percent discount.

Initially, I was somewhat skeptical of the "ask for it" approach, especially when it comes to shopping. Perhaps at farmers' markets, but I assumed most large establishments would set their prices and stick to them.

To test my theory, I did a little experiment. For a minivacation, I wanted to go away for the weekend with my husband to a hotel near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Hotels there can go for $300 a night or even more, but I wanted to spend around half that amount.

So I decided to ask for a better price. I called the hotel of our choice and asked if I could get a discount. (Well, I admit: Following the stereotype described by Babcock and Laschever, I did not feel comfortable making this call, so I tried to get my husband to do it. He declined.)

Almost as soon as I asked for a better rate, the receptionist replied, "Oh yes, we can give you that room for $160." I was shocked. I accepted on the spot and immediately told my husband how brilliant I was.

Babcock and Laschever are onto something. Sometimes paying less and saving more come down to simply asking for what you want.

• Readers, have you ever gotten a better deal simply because you asked for it?

• Check out this week's Carnival of Personal Finance for tips on a cheap but romantic Valentine's Day and other money-saving strategies.

Tags:: prices,; personal finance

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I once walked into a strange bar and casually said to the bartender, "I'd like a vodka martini on the house." He gave me one and didn't charge me for it. !!

Mike Kupietz of CA 12:18AM March 08, 2009

When I was getting married some 11 years ago, I got very good at asking for discounts.
Eventually, I would walk into stores, and say "I am getting married. Is there anything you can do for me?"
I usually got 10% off.
As every couple who has paid for their own wedding, we are now experts at how to put on a "country-club" style wedding at (almost) a backyard potluck price.
I asked one wedding venue salesperson about discounts, to which she replied "our prices are our prices," but called me back within the week, and offered 20% off.
We also used individual decorated cakes as centerpieces, saving about $1,000.00 in flower costs. My husband's relatives still talk about those cakes at every big family get-togethers. We used one individual cake for our cake-cutting ceremony.
The trick is to spend money on things that make a great party : open bar, good food, and a great band. Flowers do not really add anything to a guest's enjoyment.

Hope Heyman of NY 5:24PM March 04, 2009

I have also received discounts just for asking. Most recently, I received a 30% discount on teeth bleaching from my dentist just by asking. Since I was already spending approximately $1,500 on all of the services I was having done, I thought "why not ask?" and the answer was yes.
One area that people don't take advantage of is in asking for discounts in exchange for paying in full up-front. This doesn't just apply to car insurance; it also applies to rent (I worked at a college, and a lot of students I advised paid for their rent by the semester; when I told them to request a discount for doing so, they came back and told me they were given the discounts).
I personally have received discounts for paying up-front for services that typically require insurance, then sending the receipts to my insurance company for reimbursement. Most medical care providers would rather give a discount in exchange for payment the day of service instead of waiting 45+ days for billing and processing of payments. This typically works ONLY if you plan to max out your benefits. I.e. if you have a $2,000 limit on braces, and they cost $4,000, you come out of pocket $2,000. If you pay up front for a discount of $300, the braces cost $3,700, your insurance reimburses you $2,000, you come out of pocket $1,700. This saves you $300.
I even asked for a discount for paying for a settee up-front (from a national furniture store). Since it was a custom piece, they typically charge 50% up front and 50% once the product is shipped (which typically takes a minimum of 5 weeks). By getting the payment up front, they don't have to spend $$ hunting down delinquent customers, have earlier access to the money, etc.
Discounts are also available with car repairs and other services. And of course reducing credit card interest rates (just had my Visa interest rate lowered to a fixed rate of 9.9%).
Just make sure you're not crossing the line between being a good bargainer and being obnoxious.

A. White of GA 3:52PM July 09, 2008

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