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If the pricetag on that giant plasma seems excessive, guess what? You might get a lower one just by asking for it.

"A bargaining culture once confined largely to car showrooms and jewelry stores is taking root in major stores like Best Buy, Circuit City and Home Depot," reports The New York Times. The slowing economy is one reason. Another is the internet, which offers a wealth of comparative pricing, arming consumers with information before they even set foot in the store.

One pair of consumers got a thousand bucks knocked off the price of Sony TVs by offering to buy two. Another smart shopper used one store's quoted price for a Canon camera to get another store to lower its price--and bought at the second store because it offered a better warranty.

A former salesperson for Best Buy was quoted as saying that one-quarter of customers attempt to bargain--and the cash registers at his Minnesota store are set up to reset prices at checkout.