Want a better deal? Ask

One of the easiest ways to get a discount on products or services is to ask for one. Yet few people do.

I’m not by nature a haggler, so asking for a discount doesn’t come easily. But I have found that just saying, “Can do you any better?” often nets a lower price.

Here are four types of transactions in which you can often get a deal:

• Hotel rooms: There is almost always a discount for AAA and AARP members, so if you belong to either group, be sure to ask. If you’re traveling on business, you can sometimes get a corporate or government rate. And if the hotel isn’t busy, you can often get a significant discount regardless of affiliation.

• Rent: With more apartments than qualified tenants, it’s a renters’ market in South Florida. If you have good credit and references, ask if the prospective landlord will knock $50 or $100 off the published rent. If you’re thinking of leaving your place for something cheaper, see if your current landlord will negotiate. A $100 rent reduction may cost her less than having the unit vacant for a month or two.

• Damaged merchandise: I once found an end table I liked at Target, but it had a small chip in the wood. When I asked the cashier for a discount, she checked with a manager, and gave me the $70 table for $60.

• Clearance merchandise: I found a few dilapidated boxes of beautiful glass tile in the clearance section at Home Depot. I called over a clerk to find out how much tile was in the boxes. I hesitated a little, and he asked if I’d take them for half the marked price. So instead of getting tile for a kitchen backsplash at 50 percent off, I got it for 75 percent off.

Asking straight out for a discount often works well, but if that’s not your style, try engaging the clerk in conversation. Mention the flaws in the item, your indecision about purchasing it, and see what happens. Sometimes the discount will be the vendor’s idea.