7 Prices You Should Always Haggle Over

Whether to haggle or not is a question that looms large for consumers, especially when mobile apps make price comparisons simple and online discounts are readily available.

Although downloading a coupon code is easy, asking for a break in person may conjure up feelings of fear and dread. Nobody wants to be shot down or feel embarrassed, but not asking can leave money on the table.

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

“Haggling has always been the case for some kinds of goods, but increasingly there are more things to negotiate face-to-face,” says Linda Babcock, a professor of economics and head of the Social and Decision Sciences Department at Carnegie Mellon University. “Businesses that are not online are more open to haggling than they used to be.” With that in mind, here are seven categories in which it absolutely makes sense to open your mouth and ask for a deal.

1. New cars

When it comes to cars, negotiating a better price is expected and tends to pay off. As of May, the average discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of a new car was $616. That is much lower than the $2,573 discount seen in May 2019, according to data from Edmunds. ​Still, in 2022, people were paying as much as $700 over the MSRP. 

Pro tip: Think about more than the MSRP when negotiating, says Jaime Peters,​ an assistant dean of accounting, finance and economics and assistant professor of finance at Maryville University​. “In addition to the price, you might think about other things that are important to you that the seller may be able to throw in.”

2. Houses

As interest rates rise, homes sit on the market longer, which means you can haggle for a better price. That’s particularly true the longer the house is on the market. Just like with cars, doing your due diligence can go a long way in saving you money. That means understanding the local market, how long houses are for sale and what the average price is for similar homes. Armed with that information, you can make an informed and hopefully lower offer.

Pro Tip: Make sure you do comparison shopping before making an offer, Babcock says. You can do that online or with a trusted real estate agent. The last thing you want to do is insult the seller with an offer that’s too low.

3. Furniture 

Furniture stores have taken a hit from the pandemic and the ease of buying online. That gives you a shopping advantage, particularly if the item you want has been at the store for a while, Babcock says. Retailers want to move older inventory to make room for new furniture and may be willing to give you a deal. At some stores, salespeople and managers have the discretion to reduce prices even if they are discounted. However, they won’t offer unless you ask. ​

Pro tip: “You have to have an attitude that while I might not be successful, what do I have to lose,” Babcock says. “Really nothing. They might say no, but if you don’t haggle, it’s a no for sure.”  

4. Mattresses 

Comfort and achieving a good night’s sleep are usually the main focuses when shopping for a mattress, but saving money should be as well. You can save cash to the tune of about $245 just for speaking up. Consumer Reports recently polled about 4,000 consumers and found only 23 percent tried to negotiate when shopping for a mattress. Of those who were brave enough to speak up, 60 percent were successful, saving a median of $245. And it wasn’t just at brick-and-mortar stores. Sixty-eight percent of people who haggled with a sales representative online got discounts. To score the best deals, consumers in that survey asked for discounts and were willing to walk away if they couldn’t get money off.​

Pro tip: “When negotiating, you have to think about who has the power and is able to negotiate,” Babcock says. Typically cashiers are not empowered, particularly if you are in a big chain store. Negotiating tends to be more successful in smaller, independently owned retail locations. ​