Top 5 Times to Haggle for a Better Deal

This story was originally published on AOL on June 16, 2008.

TO GET A BETTER deal on your next purchase, all you really need to do is ask.

Thanks to a slowing economy and a subsequent decline in consumer spending, haggling has become a lot easier. "Practically everything these days is negotiable," says Mary Hunt, founder of consumer advocate web site Debt-Proof Living. "Retailers want to move merchandise, even if it's at a discount." And you don't need to do any fast talking. Most deals can be had with a little research and a few simple tricks.

Here are five expenditures worth haggling over:

Pay cash upfront. Doctors may offer you the same lower rate that they charge insurance companies, if not an even cheaper fee if a patient agrees to pay them at the time of the appointment, says Pletzke. Then the patient can later file a medical claim with their insurer. Say your insurer covers 80% of a $650 root canal (or $520). Negotiate a $450 cash fee before filing the claim, and you've cut your out-of-pocket costs by $40. An uninsured consumer could save $200.

Compare costs. Check your provider's rates against those of other doctors in the area. (You can find local rates through your insurer, or via patient posts at Outofpocket.com.) Often, doctors will lower their fees in order to stay competitive. A New Yorker going for an eye exam and contact lens fitting, for example, could pay anywhere from $45 to $69 depending on the eye doctor they visit. Potential savings: $24.

Read our story for more tips on cutting health-care costs.

Point out flaws. Floor models, sale items and products with visible damage (like a scuff or missing button) are ripe for discounts. "Most sales associates can offer at least 10% off without a manager's permission," says Hunt. Ask for a bigger cut if the item's problem isn't easily fixable, like a stain or dent.

Be flexible. Substantial flat-out discounts aren't always possible, so ask about extras like free shipping or an extended warranty. Hunt says she usually initiates negotiations by asking, "Is this the best price I can get on this?" That leaves it to the employee to start suggesting possibilities.