Just Ask

Good Morning,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a nice week. My goal is to be helpful, so I’m excited to share today’s concept. When implemented, it can absolutely change a person’s life - work life or home life.

It’s so simple and yet it’s ignored at an astonishingly high rate.

Ask for what you want. Just ask!

Okay, I’m sure you already know how powerful this is. But it’s worth mentioning because sometimes we forget; often salespeople become unpaid consultants just by forgetting to ask for the sale.

But this advice applies to more than just sales. It can save you money, get you a job or rekindle a relationship. I’m living proof and I’ll give you some little examples in one of my favorite areas – saving money.

Here are three easy money-saving “asks” I’ve used just within the last week or so. You can do these types of things too, if you’re not already way ahead of me on this. And if saving money isn’t your main objective, then think of it as good practice for requesting the big things you want – the things that can change your life if you ask. Sure, getting a deal doesn’t always make or break my pocketbook, but it always makes me smile. Examples:

Drugstores - Don’t have the loyalty card? (I hate signing up for those!) Don’t get ripped off, get the sale price anyway – just ask if they have a store card they can swipe for you. (By the way, you can get lots of deals at all kinds of stores just by asking.)

Airlines - This week I booked a morning flight with Delta; then it turned out I needed an evening flight instead. I called the airline the next day and explained this to the agent who said, “Certainly, and there’s a $150 change fee.” I said, “Is there any way I can change this ticket without paying the fee?” She said “No.” I said, “That’s really disappointing. Is there any OTHER way I can avoid the fee.” She said, “You can cancel the ticket and rebook it instead of changing it.” I said, “Great! Let’s do that.” (I’ll refrain from commenting here about how ridiculous this change vs. cancellation rule is and how they were going to have me do this the expensive way until I asked twice.) The point is that they’re not going to offer – you have to ask.

Credit Cards - If they raise your rate or charge a fee or do something else you don’t like, call them and ask for what you want. Or if you just feel the itch for a lower rate, call and ask. One of my credit cards recently screwed up an online transaction and it appeared to be a big mess, but following the principal of “just ask,” I called the credit card company and even I was amazed when they straightened it out in my favor.

By the way, with stores you only have to ask once, with the airlines it’s usually twice and with the credit card companies you can count on having to ask at least three times with three different people, but the savings can be worth the phone call.

In business or in our personal lives, what keeps us from asking? Perhaps we forget, or perhaps it’s fear. Whatever stops us, we need to get over it if we want to get ahead. Should we be strategic about how we ask? Of course – think strategically and then ask. Sometimes the results come so easy it’s funny. We all know the downside of asking, the terrifying “no.” But if we’re afraid of that little two-letter word, then the jokes on us.

So ask for what you want. If you don’t, it’s like holding a lottery ticket without checking to see if it’s a winner. Try it. You’ll be amazed at what can happen if you just ask.

Have a Sunny Day!
Clarity

P.S. Here's another tip - whenever possible, book directly with an airline or your travel agent. They are your friends. Third-party websites are not. Sure – find the deal on the travel website, but then book with the airline directly so you’re better protected if anything goes wrong with your trip, such as missed layovers.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
www.MetroMichigan.com