And you may be able to close the price gaps you do find by bargaining. One bargaining strategy is to ask the store to match a competitors' advertised price, which many chains pledge to do . But be sure to have the ad in hand, and don't necessarily expect an exact match. If you lack help from an advertisement, you'll need to rehearse a line. Make that figure a realistic one.
Stores often prefer throwing in or discounting extras rather than reducing the item's price.
But before you begin haggling, consider which add-ons you really need. You're likely to get the best deals on audio-video in spring and fall, when the previous year's models are being cleared to make way for new offerings, and before the holidays, the heaviest sales period. Don't wait too long to buy, since supplies can rapidly dwindle once the sale signs go up. These models, returned to the store by their original owners, generally work well but may have cosmetic blemishes. They usually carry the same warranty and return terms as the item sold new.