My first article for my magazine-writing class is going to be about how it never hurts to ask -- great advice from Mom. Here is my query letter, which is supposedly about to be sent to a bunch of editors:
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Dear Editor:
Whether it’s dessert on the house, a great garage sale find or an unexpected discount, everyone loves to get a deal. Beyond advertised sales and incentives is a world of bargains often overlooked by consumers who didn’t realize they needed only to ask.
With a little legwork and a touch of charm, deals are everywhere. I’d like to write a 1,000-word article covering:
- How to turn poor customer service into future discounts
- Why expired coupons and gift cards don’t belong in the trash
- How to get freebies from your favorite companies
- Which standard fees can often be waived
- How simple requests can transform your dining experiences
- How to take advantage of competition among stores
- When negotiating can save you serious money
It never hurts to ask. I’ve taken this admonition to heart and found that the right questions not only will save you money but can improve your quality of life.
Thank you for considering this article. You can contact me at the email address or phone number below.
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So, if any magazine actually pays me to write this article, I will need real-life examples of why it never hurts to ask. If you have a good story of a time you found this to be true, please share it with me!
1 comment:
My examples:
1. We had a really bad experience with H&R Block the first time we had our taxes done. We called the corporate office to explain why we were so unsatisfied (our taxes took about 5 hours to prepare because the lady was totally inexperienced) and how astounded we were that she didn't offer any discount to us even though we had to put up with all that mess and by the next day we had a $100 check in the mail. (Short version)
2. Freebies from companies are easy. Just email them or write the address on the back of the box/bag telling them how much you love their products and ask for a sample or coupon. I do this all the time and they're usually quite happy to do it.
3. Our asking for the repair credit on our house even though the contract said they wouldn't pay for anything. Hey, didn't hurt to ask!
4. For the competition among stores, get something in writing if you've negotiated a salesperson down to take to other stores and see if they'll beat it. Or bring in a circular with that price on it. (Did that first sentence make sense?)
5. If you are a senior, military, or have a child who LOOKS like they're under 12, always ask if people give discounts. Even if they don't usually, they will sometimes cut you some slack. This works at movies, restaurants, and even thrift stores as you know.
6. We had gift certificates to Golden Corral - except they were about 10 years old and from a GC that I don't even think was still open (yes, they were from dad). We took them to the one in Aberdeen and asked if the girl would take pity on us and use them. She said she would because she was new and she could claim ignorance if anyone asked about it. Score!
7. Negotiating - if you need the stories from us I can tell you. We negotiated my car down about $6000, and our big screen TV we talked the guy down several hundred dollars plus he threw in a $500 warranty for free. It's all about walking away!
That's enough for now. I'm starting to feel like a cheapo.
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