Make a deal with discounts

I'm a fool. Even in a global recession, I pay the full price for everything.

I'm too uptight to ask for a discount. But one day, the high street went into meltdown.

The biggest of retailers cut prices by 50 per cent to lure shoppers. And one announced a half-price closing-down sale.

So can consumers name their price now? I spent the day in west London, trying to find out.

More than 50 per cent

From major departmental stores to boutiques and markets, the idea was to see how much discount I could get on top of the half-price bonanza.

At first, I was far too apologetic. But eventually, something fired in the blood. Discount Britain is the big news story.

I spent £597 (Dh3,126) and saved £171 (Dh895).

Go independent. Two out of three shops agreed to discount. I got £10 (Dh52) off two glass necklaces and £8 (Dh42) off two framed textiles.

Call in loyalty. Having bought two dresses at full price in LK Bennett recently, now was the time to get discounts.

A dress I had lusted after was £149 (Dh780) (down from £199, or Dh1,043). At another shop, I got a deal.

Spend more than £100 [Dh524] and I get an offer for a free brooch or ring worth £35-£50 [Dh184-Dh262].

Look for “invisible flaws''. A mason shift dress was at half price for £70 (Dh367). Examining it, I found a “design fault'': the pockets had been sewn up. Result: A further 10 per cent off.

Establish intimacy. Don't start off aggressively. Tell your story, smile and build up a relationship: “This is nice.

Pity I can't afford it.'' That gives the manager a place to negotiate from. I got a long pearl necklace reduced from £111 to £95 (Dh581 to Dh497).

Lurk around promotions. A shop was doing a demonstration on haircare products in the arcade.

Having confessed to being rubbish at blow drying, I got £10 (Dh52) off on a baby set of hair straighteners.