Consumer Reports' Money Special Publication: Haggling For Everything is New Rule...

Consumer Reports' Money Special Publication: Haggling For Everything is New
Rule in a Down Economy

Poll finds success rates as high as 83 percent for hagglers who ask for a
discount

YONKERS, N.Y., May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Negotiating for everything in
a lousy economy is the new rule, according to the latest money publication
from Consumer Reports titled "Rebuild Your Finances." Paying the sticker price
for a product or service may be paying too much. In fact, a new poll by
Consumer Reports found that more than 66 percent of Americans have tried to
negotiate for a better deal in the past six months.

CR's nationally representative poll found that most consumers who asked for a
discount were successful. Among those who haggled, 83 percent negotiated
better deals on hotel rates, 81 percent reduced their cell phone bills, and 81
percent went home paying less for clothing.

Hagglers were also able to obtain better deals on other services: 79 percent
scored lower prices on jewelry, 78 percent did better on new car purchases
and on airfares, and 75 percent haggled for better prices on an appliance
purchase.

While it may be a little harder to strike a deal, the poll found hagglers
were almost as successful getting discounts on electronics (71%), furniture
(71%), credit-card fees (62%) and medical bills (58%).

"Now is not the time to be shy. It may feel awkward to ask the salesperson for
a discount, but it's more important than ever to make the most of your money.
Our poll shows there is a very good chance they won't say no," said Greg
Daugherty, Consumer Reports executive editor.

Consumer Reports poll also found that only 28 percent of Americans say they
always haggle or often haggle over prices. Constant hagglers of the past sixth
months tended to be younger consumers -- more than a third (37%) of those
under the age of 35 always or often asked for discounts -- significantly more
than older shoppers.

Negotiating for everything is just one of the new money rules for a new
economy that Consumer Reports tackles in its Rebuild Your Finances special
publication. The guide offers consumers more than 328 smart ways to boost
savings, cut bills, secure their career, pay for college, and move ahead in
the toughest economy of the past century.

Perfecting your approach can boost your haggling success rate. Consumer
Reports Rebuild Your Finances special publication offers shoppers the
following tips to improve their haggling skills:

1. Be patient and be nice. Demanding a discount rarely works. Savvy
negotiators know that a smile is more difficult to resist than tough
talk.
2. Time your haggle. Late in the month, when salespeople are trying to
meet
their quotas, can be a good time to bargain for big ticket items.
Evening
or early hours are usually less busy, so clerks have time to talk.
3. Avoid an audience. Haggle out of earshot of other customers. Sales
clerks don't want everyone else in the store asking for a deal too.
Keep in mind that at chain stores, salespeople often don't have the
power to offer a discount. Try asking a manager or supervisor instead.
4. Know before you go. Research prices and store policies. Bring Web
printouts, flyers, and newspaper ads with you. Mention if a local
competitor is selling the item for less. The store might be willing to
match your best quote. If you can't get a price discount, ask
for free shipping, delivery, or installation.
5. Learn to read the ticket. Price of inventory tags often contain date
stamps that tell how long an item has been in the store, though you
might
need to ask a salesperson to help you locate and decipher the code.
Retailers are often more willing to cut the price on merchandise that
has
been on the sales floor for a long time.
6. Offer to pay cash. Merchants don't like to pay transaction fees to
credit-card companies. Such fees are about 2 percent for larger
retailers
and as much as 8 percent for small ones.

7. Be prepared to walk. The most persuasive weapon you have in your
haggling
arsenal is your ability to walk away and spend your money someplace
else.

For more information on haggling, the new money rules for today's economy, how
to spend less on practically anything, managing debt, improving credit scores,
and recession-proofing your career, check out Consumer Reports Money Rebuild
Your Finances special publication available on newsstands starting May 19 or
visit the bookstore at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports Haggling Poll Methodology

The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of
a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,002
interviews were completed among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place over
April 30 to May 3, 2009. The margin of error is +/- 3.2% points at a 95%
confidence level.

The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not
be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports Money
Rebuild Your Finances is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent
nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe
marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.
To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our
independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test
samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports
itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual
contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

SOURCE Consumer Reports

C. Matt Fields, +1-914-378-2454, cfields@consumer.org, or Rachel Zuckermanm
+1-914-378-2417, rzuckerman@consumer.org, both of Consumer Reports