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Regular price on two Liberte Organic 750 g Yogurts?
$10.98 ($5.49 each)
Price I paid this afternoon?
$0.00!

There was no coupon stacking or doubling involved. I used one coupon per yogurt. Want to know how I did it?

I asked them to mark the price of the yogurt down. And they did!

I had an epiphany about 4 years ago that has saved more money that I can begin to calculate.

I was at the grocery store one day and saw a couple of near-expiry organic milks marked down. Bonus, I thought, and I scooped them up for making my homemade yogurt!

About a month later I was at the store, with that recent experience lingering in my mind. I checked for any discounted milks. Shucks. Nothing to be seen.

But wait… there were two that were a day from expiry… you don’t think that maybe if I asked them nicely? The answer was yes, and the milks were promptly marked down to 70% off.

The rest is history. I learned that the price can sometimes be negotiable.

I now do this all this time! I was out shopping with a friend from out of town last weekend. We needed strawberries, but cringed at the $4.99 price on the organic cartons.

I picked them up, and looked them over. They were starting to go a little and near their expiry, although if eaten immediately (which we planned to do) they would still be just fine. I found a staff member, asked, and received them for $1.99 each. Meanwhile, my friend’s jaw dropped and she excused herself to gaze intently at the nearby potatoes. She was still shaking her head in amazement when we left the store!

The yogurt today was another wonderful example. I know that this specific store has higher prices, but when they mark something down, they mark it down well. I went in to grab sour cream for some special Father’s Day nachos, and decided to just peak at the organic dairy section while I was there.

Both yogurts had an expiry date of tomorrow (but we all know that yogurt lasts far beyond its date and besides, we inhale it around here). I asked politely and they were both discounted from $5.49 to $1.00.

Well, wouldn’t you know that I carry my coupon binder with me at all times now and I had two $1/1 coupons off this very brand? I like free yogurt. I like it very much.

A few tips when asking for a markdown on food:

:: Be reasonable. Don’t ask for a discount just because you see a bag of apples with one teeny bruise. Look for dates that are within 1-2 days of expiry, or produce that is honestly a bit past its prime.

:: Be polite. Yes, you are the customer, but you are not entitled to have your food discounted. It is entirely up to the store. I have occasionally been told no. Be gracious and say thank you either way.

:: Be discerning. Choose to ask someone who will actually have the authority to do so, like a supervisor or some type of manager. The teenage boy stocking the shelves will most likely be unable to help you.

:: Be bold. You never know if you don’t ask. It’s always worth a try, right?

:: Be savvy. If you can get a markdown on a product that you have a coupon for, the deal is all the sweeter!

Have you ever asked for a markdown? What was your experience?