Native American Collectibles

How can I be firm when trying to get a discount on an item without sounding cheap or rude.?

Sometimes when I go to dress stores, I find the most amazing dress. However, the price is NOT so amazing. How can I try to barter with the shopkeeper for a good price without sounding pushy? Give tips please. Most detailed and helpful answer wins!!

I'll assume you're in the US, where as a rule haggling is no longer acceptable in regular retail stores. So if you're talking about a chain store or a retail boutique, pay the price or wait til it goes on sale. If you're at a chain store, the people working there have absolutely zero control over the price of the product- pricing decisions come down from the corporate powers that be and the people working in the store don't have discretion. If you're talking about a boutique or a smaller store, accept that the price is the price for a reason. If you don't like it and want to pay less, you're free to wait until the dress goes on sale, therefore risking someone will come in before you go back who is willing to pay the marked price. That's the risk you take for wanting a lower price.

If you're talking about a big department store, a lot of times there are coupons that the store legitimately has that week that they keep behind the registers (copies of newspaper or online coupons, usually). I think it's fine when you're paying for an item to ask if there are any coupons you could go find for it. Something to the effect of "I love this dress, but I'd like to see if there are any applicable coupons this week for it. Would you mind holding for me for a night so I can see if there are coupons out there?" Usually at that point a sales person will hunt down the coupon in the store for you. Be friendly, and don't complain about the price- remember, the cashier did not choose the price on that item.

Bottom line, unless it's a place where you know it's acceptable to haggle (which is basically nowhere anymore) or a big chain store that routinely offers coupons, pay the price or wait til it goes on sale.