Although most people would never think of doing it, it is possible to haggle for things you see in high street stores. The ticket price on most items is simply a guide price that the retailer has put on it so if you think it is worth less then it is within your right to say so and offer less for it. There are a number of ways to haggle on the high street, the most popular of which are listed below, and as the old adage says…you’ll never know unless you try.

Push your Luck and Offer Less
Don’t be scared to offer less for a product you want. You won’t offend the sales person and your brashness may even provoke a positive response. At the end of the day, the worst that can happen is they say no – in which case you either pay the full price or go somewhere else, simple as that.

Mention you’ve been looking around
In today’s economic climate everyone is looking to make a sale so mentioning that you’ve been shopping around and have seen the same item elsewhere for the same price or cheaper is often enough to get the offer of a discount. Most large stores, and especially electrical stores, have a price match policy so make use of it to get what you want for as low a price as you can.

Look for items with imperfections
Clothing stores are great for this type of haggling. If you look closely you can often find items that have small marks on them or makeup stains from where they have been tried on by other people and it isn’t difficult to talk the sales assistants into giving a discount on them. All they need is a wash and they are good as new so point out the fact that no one else is going to want them with marks on them and see how much you can save.

Look for display models or end-of-line products
Stores often want to get rid of end-of-line products to make space for new lines and they will nearly always offer a discount if you actually ask for one. The same goes for display models – they may be a bit dusty and have a few small marks or scratches but if you can get a hefty discount for a nearly perfect model then surely it’s time to get the polish and duster out.

Offer a cash sale
Many credit card companies charge stores a fee for every transaction they carry out however because most people pay with cards today, the stores are willing to pay this fee. Some stores may therefore offer a discount on goods if you offer a cash sale, and this is particularly true with regards to used-car dealers and furniture retailers.

Ask for free delivery
If you are buying a large item and require delivery ask for it to be free. Many stores will agree just to guarantee the sale – after all, what’s £20 delivery on a £1000 item. If they say no then mention that you’ve also seen the item somewhere else for the same price and that you’ll go there instead. This will often change their minds as the last thing they want is to loose your custom, especially if they work on commission.

Shop at the end of the month
Many large stores have sales targets to meet every month and if they haven’t hit the figures by the last week of the month then they will do almost anything to get there. This is the time to mention a discount as they are much more likely to say yes – just to secure the sale.

Some of these haggling techniques will work in some stores while others won’t but there is absolutely no harm in trying. At worst the sales assistants will say no but at best you come away with a really great bargain.