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Top ten high street stores to haggle at

publication date: Sep 27, 2012
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author/source: Martin Lewis
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Martin LewisThe top ten high street stores to haggle in:

Retail chain success rate
retail chainsuccess rate
1. Comet78 per cent6. Asda60 per cent
2. B&Q78 per cent7. Tesco58 per cent
3. Currys/PC World78 per cent8. Wickes 56 per cent
4. Homebase69 per cent9. Sainsbury54 per cent
5. John Lewis63 per cent10. Debenhams53 per cent

2,544 people were polled and only retailers where at least 100 people attempted to haggle are included. It is likely that supermarket haggling is on non-food items, for example electrical and garden furniture.

Doing your research is key to haggling – you need to know what a really good value price is before you start.
  • Pick your time. If the store's busy, you're less likely to succeed.
  • Don't go for someone too junior - they've no discretion - or someone too senior, as they've no time. A supervisor is great.
  • If it's already discounted, even just on sale, the door is open to reductions, so why not ask?
  • If it's the last one left, offer to "help them clear their shelves for restocking".
  • If it was on sale, but that's ended, you know they're willing to accept that price.
  • Buy counter-seasonal. Barbecues are often easy to haggle on in November.
  • If they say no to a discount, ask them just to throw something in.
  • Spot flaws in products to massively boost haggle power.
  • Play stores off against each other.
  • Be friendly, but firm. You're more likely to get a result if the staff member empathises with you.
  • See if they'll give a discount if you get a warranty. You've a cooling-off period after to cancel it.