Yes, you can negotiate at grocery stores
The idea of negotiating a lower price at the grocery store is often something shoppers shy away from. Whether it’s the fear of rejection or embarrassment, negotiating is rarely used as a way to save money.
Well, I’m here to tell you that if you know what grocery items to look for, and have the proper negotiating strategy in place, it can be successfully done.
Keep in mind that, in the end, you’re actually doing them a favor, as it takes time to mark down these items, and they run the risk of having to remove them from the store if unsold.
Meats
The biggest key to saving money is to know what day and time your grocery store marks down their meats that are nearing their “sell by” date. Most do it on weekdays before 10 a.m., but just ask and they’ll happily tell you.
Once you know, shop right after their markdowns and then ask for a quantity discount when buying multiple cuts. Remember, it’s only a “sell by” date and not an expiration date. Plus, the cuts are still great for freezing and using later.
The key to making this work is to politely ask for a discount when buying at least five or more items that are nearing their “sell by” date. Most butcher counters are happy to clear out these items at an extra 10 to 15 percent off, as they want to get rid of them quickly before they take a loss on them.
Cases of wine
My local grocery store will happily sell a case of wine, typically 12 bottles, for a discount. While I’m not a wine drinker, I’ve seen several customers get discounts ranging from 10 to 15 percent by purchasing in bulk.
The key to your success is to look for wine that may be overstocked, or on sale, as those are the vintages the store probably wants to clear out to make room for new inventory.
If your grocery store refuses to discount, check specialty stores like BevMo!, Total Wines, or a local beverage retailer. They’ll usually happily offer you a case discount.
The keys to negotiating at the grocery store are always to be polite and have a friendly conversation rather than be demanding. Throw in a legitimate reason to ask for that discount, and you stand a great chance of saving money on your next trip.
This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website.
All contents © 2016 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
