Most stores that have many branches are setup in such a way that there is very little room to negotiate. The sticker price, plus tax, is what you pay. However, there are at least three areas where price can be negotiated:
- Display items
- Damaged goods
- Open packages
First you have to take a close look at these items and determine whether your need (actually, your want) will be satisfied with an open/display/not 100% percent item - remeber that these usually offer much more value. Next, you speak with the department or store manager. Be cordial and, if there is no discount, ask for one, and if there is one, ask for a larger one. The managers are much more interested in customer satisfaction than regular associates and they want to move merchandise. So, their interests are aligned with yours.
While some people get a kick out of this negotiation and it is of value in itself, others may be shy. Since people won't really change, the shy person's approach should be that he is asking for help in getting the best price.
It takes a little more effort to get this kind of discount, but the rewards can be significant.
