Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

I’ll never forget the day when pulled over for speeding, my mom asked the police officer if she could get a discount for having her seat belt on. Seriously. Shamelessly.

That day my mother passed down to me the best nugget of wisdom she could have taught a rising shopper: “Never be afraid to ask for a deal.” The worst he could have said was no, but he actually discounted another five dollars.

Of course, my father tells of this incident as the most embarrassing moment of his life.  Although I turned out a lot like my dad, in the battle of ego-saving vs. money-saving, I’m with my mom.

When I was browsing the local baby boutique for crib bedding, I became enamored with a Glenna Jean set. It was on clearance for $150 from $400. It was a steal. I was content with my discount. But when I got to the register, I just couldn’t help myself, “My husband would be so mad at me if I didn’t ask you: are there any other discounts or markdowns on this?” As the words left my mouth, the color left my face. How dare I ask for another discount on an item I was basically stealing?

“I can give you another 10% because it’s on clearance,” the clerk replied before I could finish my thought.

“I’ll take it!” I exclaimed with a smile.

At that moment, I was cured of any pride-saving tendencies for good. During the rest of my pregnancy I asked for discounts, and received them, pretty much everywhere else.

Why ask?

• To receive! If you want to get a discount, you have to ask for it.
• Merchandise is already marked up so much that stores can afford small reductions. It doesn’t make a huge difference to them to give you 10% off, but if you get 10% off of everything you buy, your savings will quickly add up.
• Stores often have deals or coupons that are not highly publicized. If you ask, they may give you a discount even without the coupon.

How to ask?

1. Be polite – Although sometimes you may have to get a manager to approve your price cut, you do not have to be confrontational. Being pleasant will make people want to help you. Simply asking is enough.
2. Use a spouse as an excuse – My husband and I always use each other as the excuse. If we ever shop together, one of us acts embarrassed while the other asks.
3. Mention that you have seen it cheaper somewhere else (if it’s true, of course) and ask them to match the price. Often stores will match the price plus give you another 10%.
4. Try to strike a deal – When we were slammed with our delivery room bill, my husband negotiated with the insurance company that if they reduced the bill by 20% he would pay it in cash instead of installments.

Be creative! The universal discount can happen at any time and anywhere: at the grocery store, the restaurant, or even at the hospital. Stash your pride and go out on a limb.