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Don’t ask, don’t get is the closest I have to a life motto, and it’s put money back in my pocket more than once.
This is episode six of my Instagram series, and it has grown into something bigger than I expected. People now tell me they think, “What would Meg do?” in certain situations. Others say they have asked for things they would never have asked for before. Some say it has helped them save money.
Here are five things I asked for recently, what I said, and what happened. One of them did not work. I have included it on purpose.
Why asking costs you so little
Lots of people assume the answer will be no. Others assume the person on the other end won’t want to help. So they say nothing, and the chance disappears.
Here’s the thing. If you ask politely and explain why you’re asking, people usually want to help. If they can’t, you haven’t lost anything. You are in the same position you were in before you asked. If they can, you could end up better off.
That is why I keep asking. You will never end up worse off, but you could end up better off.
Five things I asked for recently
A missed return deadline on a faulty item
I bought an item that did not work. By the time I knew I had to send it back, I had missed the return deadline. I could have shrugged and lost £16.99. I couldn’t just let it go.
So I messaged the retailer’s chat and said the item did not work, I needed to send it back, I could do it that day, and asked if they could extend the return. It turns out extending a return deadline is part of their system. A bot did it for me.
One small note. I was talking to a bot in that message, so I skipped the pleases and thank yous. With a person, I’d always use them. I’m not rude!
Your own situation may be simpler than mine. A shop’s returns window and your legal rights are two different things. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets a minimum of 30 days to reject faulty goods. The clock starts the day after the goods are yours and delivered. If your item is faulty and you are inside that window, you may have a right to a refund and not just a favour to ask.
This is general information, not legal advice, so check your dates first.
An expired voucher
I had bought a voucher, and it had expired. I messaged and asked if it could be extended. I said I believed they had told me it would be honoured, and I asked them to double-check using my phone number.
They honoured it. I still need to use it, though!
There is no guarantee with this one. Which? says your chances of getting an expired voucher extended depend on its terms and conditions and the retailer’s own policy. It also says you are bound by the terms that applied when you bought it. That is why I’d check the expiry date the day a voucher arrives, and ask early if I’m running out of time.
A free ice lolly after paying the bill
We had paid the bill at a restaurant when our daughter asked for an ice lolly. So we asked if she could have one. They gave it to us for free.
How easy would it have been to think “no, we’ve paid the bill now”? We would never have known what the answer was.
If you eat out with children a lot, it is also worth checking the kids-eat-free schemes across the UK before you book.
A 20% off billboard that didn’t apply
Starbucks opened a new store with a huge billboard saying 20% off. The discount did not come off my bill automatically. I didn’t think to ask at the till because I had my hands full with two kids.
So I emailed afterwards and asked for the 20% equivalent in points on my card. Starbucks thanked me for giving them the chance to make it right and added 1,200 stars to my account. That was £12 worth of points.
I don’t go there often, but I’ll use them at some point. If you spot an offer like this, take a photo of the advert. Proof makes the email much easier to write.
One I didn’t get: extra pay for a market research study
Not every ask works, so here is one that didn’t.
I did a market research study that paid £200. That was already amazing. But I had been put in the wrong group. The right group should have been paid £500. I only realised after they paid me.
So I asked. I kept my message light. I joked that I hoped the interviewer liked me enough to be nice on a Thursday, and I said it was fine if it couldn’t happen. They couldn’t honour the extra £300. Boo!
But I asked, and I was no worse off than before. That is the whole point. If you want to try paid studies yourself, I show how they fit into a low-effort plan to make £500 before Christmas.
How to ask for a discount politely
My biggest rule is to ask with kindness. Be polite, and explain why you’re asking. People are far more likely to help someone friendly and clear.
Four of my five asks happened by message, not in person. Chat and email work well when you notice a problem after you have left the shop. A message also lets you choose your words and keep proof to hand.
Keep the message short. Say what happened, what you would like, and why. Here is how I’d shape the return message if I were talking to a person:
“Hi, I missed the return deadline on my order, but the item doesn’t work and I need to send it back. I can do that today. Could you please extend the return deadline? Thank you!”
Say thank you, whatever the answer is. A friendly “no” costs you nothing, and it keeps the door open for next time.
Things to ask for to save money
My five examples give you a starting list. You can ask:
- Whether a deadline you missed can be extended, like a return or a voucher.
- Whether an advertised offer should have applied to your purchase.
- Whether something small can be added when you are already paying, like an ice lolly.
- Whether a payment that looks wrong can be put right.
None of these is guaranteed. Four of mine worked and one didn’t. I share more everyday ways to save money on the blog if you want to keep going.
What to do if the answer is no
Stay friendly and say thanks. You are in the same position as before, so you have lost nothing but a few minutes.
My market research ask is a good example. I did not get the extra £300, but I still walked away with the £200 I had already earned.
Questions about asking for discounts and refunds
Is it rude to ask for a discount?
Not if you do it politely and explain why you are asking. There is never any harm in asking that way. People usually want to help you, and if they can’t, you haven’t lost out on anything.
Can a shop refuse to extend a returns deadline on a faulty item?
A shop’s returns policy is its own, but your legal rights for faulty goods sit alongside it. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you usually have at least 30 days to reject faulty goods and get a refund. After that, your options change, so check the details of your situation before you give up.
Can I still use an expired voucher?
Maybe. Contact the retailer and ask. Which? explains that the answer depends on the voucher’s terms and the retailer’s policy. Mine was honoured, but yours might not be.
My take on don’t ask, don’t get
Asking is free. Out of my five asks, I saved £16.99 on a faulty item, got £12 in points, got a free ice lolly, and had a voucher honoured. One ask didn’t work, and I’m still glad I asked.
Have you asked and received recently? Tell me in the comments. For more ideas like these, join The Savvy Spender newsletter.
