Four Words That Will Get You a Discount

Ali Wentworth

If you think the only place for bargaining is at a flea market, think again. Mark Ellwood, the author of "Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World," stopped by "Daily Shot" to share his best secrets to scoring a great markdown.

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Mark says there are four magic words that will set you on your way to smart shopping: "Are there discounts today?" "Ninety-nine percent of the time, someone will say, 'Yes, of course,'" Mark says. "And it will work almost anywhere if you do it the right way." The author recalled a skeptical friend who immediately received a 15 percent discount after asking the question at Pottery Barn.

"At almost every store, a sales assistant has price flexibility because they know they want to make the sale," Mark explains. "For example, Bloomingdale's in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami gives 10 percent discounts to visitors, but the 'visitor' is defined how the sales assistant wishes."

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So what are the worst wallet-friendly months to save while shopping? "October is when retailers are looking to bank more profit before they have to slash prices in November," Mark says. "The other month that you should really be wary of going shopping in is April, because we all feel rich in April. That's when our tax refunds come."

Mark says, "The best time is always January, straight off Christmas," for those looking for a steal.

How can bargaining be good for your health? Mark explains in this episode of "Daily Shot."