It’s O.K. To Negotiate, It’ll Save You Money

Here are 6 things that you should negotiate on.  I'll be honest with you, I didn't think you could negotiate the price on some of these items.  Think about the money you could save.

#1.)  Credit Card Rates. After the economy tanked in 2008, and the credit card reform bill went into effect in February of last year, it was a lot harder to get a good rate on a new credit card.

--But in the third quarter of last year, 1.2 billion credit card offers were mailed out, which is three times the number sent out in the third quarter of 2009.

--And since there's more competition now, credit card companies are more likely to give you a better rate, because they want your business.  All you have to do is say you have another offer at a lower rate, and ask them to beat it.

--According to a study done a few years ago by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, more than half of the people who ask for a lower rate get one.  And their average APR drops from 16% to 10.5%.

#2.)  Mortgage Rates. Mortgage lending is a lot harder than it used to be, so lenders are more willing to reduce certain fees, or even waive them completely.

--So the best thing to do is compare the rates at a few different mortgage lenders, then ask each one to beat the best price you found.  And you can spend less out-of-pocket money if you ask for discounts on all the fees they make you pay up front.

#3.)  Home Improvements. According to the executive director of Consumer Reports, business is still slow for contractors, and they're willing to do more work for less money.

--In a survey done last year, 80% of contractors said they were willing to lower their prices to get a job, compared to 43% in 2008.  Of that 80%, half were willing to drop their prices by 10%, and almost one-quarter said they'd drop prices by 20%.

#4.)  Major Appliances.According to a study by Consumer Reports, 75% of shoppers get a better deal if they negotiate the price on appliances, and the average savings is around $100 per appliance.

--But don't go in the middle of the day when it's busy.  If other customers can overhear you, the manager is less likely to offer a good deal because he'd have to offer it to everyone else who asked too.

--And if they won't budge on the price, you can still negotiate a better deal by asking for free delivery.

#5.)  Medical Tests and Procedures. The price varies depending on where you go.  For example, a recent study revealed that having an MRI done on your knee in Washington D.C. costs between $400 and $1,500 depending on where you go.

--And if you know what one hospital charges, you can use that to negotiate a better deal with another hospital.  Sometimes, you can save 50%.

#6.)  New Cars. Negotiating the price of a car isn't just acceptable, it's expected.  And you can save over a thousand dollars on a new car if you do it right.

--All you have to do is shop around and find the best deal you can, then ask dealerships to beat it.

--And instead of negotiating down from the sticker price, ask what the INVOICE price is . . . which is the price the dealer paid for it . . . then negotiate UP.  You can find the invoice price for most new cars at the website Edmunds.com.

(CBSMoneyWatch.com)