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How to haggle on the High Street: Most wouldn’t dare ask for a discount at Boots, M&S or Tesco, but TOBY WALNE sweet-talked his way to 50% savings – here’s how YOU can get money off and the tactics that work for each store
A Daily Mail reporter tested whether shoppers can haggle for discounts at mainstream High Street chains, visiting stores in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, to see if polite requests could cut prices. Despite British reluctance to negotiate outside markets or car dealerships, the experiment found that staff at major retailers do have discretion to knock money off certain items, particularly those with cosmetic flaws or approaching sell-by dates.
At Tesco, the reporter secured a 40 per cent reduction on a dented tin of olive oil after asking a sales assistant, and was directed to a section of "unloved" fruit and vegetables with bruises or blemishes, where prices were cut by up to 50 per cent; strawberries dated for that day were also reduced. At Marks & Spencer, staff said a 10 per cent discount could be offered on clothing items with marks or minor damage. The piece frames these as replicable tactics, encouraging readers to ask staff about imperfect stock or items nearing their best-before date to secure similar savings at supermarkets and other High Street retailers such as Boots and Waterstones.
In short
- Reporter haggled discounts of up to 50% at UK High Street chains.
- Tesco cut 40% off a dented olive oil tin; more on "unloved" produce.
- M&S offers around 10% off clothing with minor marks or damage.
Explained simply
Most British shoppers assume prices at major retailers are fixed and rarely attempt to negotiate, unlike the haggling common in markets or when buying cars. However, a new investigation has revealed that staff at mainstream High Street chains do have the flexibility to offer discounts in certain circumstances, suggesting that polite requests might actually work.
The reporter's visits to stores like Tesco and Marks & Spencer found that shoppers can secure significant savings by asking about items with minor cosmetic damage or approaching sell-by dates. At Tesco, a dented tin was reduced by 40 per cent, whilst the retailer also designated a section of bruised fruit and vegetables where prices were cut by up to 50 per cent.
The findings suggest that these tactics could be replicated across other High Street shops including Boots and Waterstones, offering customers a practical way to reduce their spending without necessarily receiving formal promotions or sales. For many households watching their budgets, knowing that staff have the discretion to adjust prices on imperfect or ageing stock could unlock real savings on everyday purchases.