Bargaining can be time consuming, intimidating and downright frustrating, but it can result in better deals.

Some tips to make the process easier:

_ Do your research. Comparison shop for the best deal, said Anne-Marie O'Neill, deputy editor of Real Simple magazine. Consider all the factors. Are there taxes you avoid by purchasing the item online? Is it more convenient to buy it in a store?

_ Talk to the right person. The sales person probably does not have the authority to give you a discount. "The closer you get to someone who is actually making the decision, the better luck you have," said O'Neill.

_ Express brand loyalty. Businesses like repeat customers. "`I come here all the time. I really like your store. Is there something you can do for me?'" said O'Neill. "People respond really well to that."

_ Use silence to your advantage. "If you don't quickly respond to the offer the seller is giving you, you're sort of at a psychological advantage," said Susan Spencer, executive editor of All You magazine. "The seller may sweeten the deal to close the silence."

_ Be reasonable. If you get the discount you want, don't ask for a bigger one, said O'Neill. "If this is an ongoing relationship, especially if it's a small store, when you get what you want, be happy with what you got."

_ Be able to walk away. "If you are not getting anywhere in your negotiation, if you don't feel the seller is going to come down to your wish price, then you have to walk away," she said.

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