Unhappy? Don't be afraid to speak up—gently

Ever buy an expensive shirt at a high-end store only to find that it came apart after two washings? Or been disappointed that the hotel room you booked looked at a cement wall and NOT the ocean, as they advertised online? Sure, things happen sometimes, but I’ve learned that the key to getting your way when you’re not completely happy after spending your hard-earned money is to be assertive, but in the most polite way possible.

My ShopSmart friends were surprised to learn that I’ve received refunds a bunch of times because I quietly spoke up to the right person. Don’t get me wrong—sometimes it took more than one try. Here are a few tips that I’ve learned along the way that might help you as stretch the value of every dollar:

1.) Jewelry. I received a new ring to replace one that I got for Christmas because the diamonds in the band fell out twice … in less than 30 days.
• Keep your gift receipts in a safe place. I used to toss my gift receipts once I decided that I was keeping the present, but I needed the receipt when I brought the ring back to prove when it was purchased.
• Read the return policy carefully for pricier purchases. The store would not replace the ring the first time I brought it back because their policy was not to exchange a ring if it had been re-sized.
•Ask for a manager. When I went back after the second diamond fell out, I asked to speak with a manager. I calmly explained the situation to her. She looked over all my paper work and ordered me a replacement on the spot.

2.) Gardener. Our gardener switched back to last season’s plowing prices after we contacted him because we noticed he raised his prices when we received our monthly bill.
• Write a quick note. I included a short and informal note with our payment and requested that he let us know in advanced when he planned to raise his prices. We saved $30 this winter as a result of a handwritten note, which took five minutes to write.

3.) Online travel. I Googled the travel company’s name and “promotion code,” and ended up saving an extra $10 per person on an upcoming trip to Las Vegas.
• Search for deals. I didn’t realize this particular company accepted promotion codes because I didn’t see a spot on the Web page where they calculate the price (it wasn’t until the very end that the discount was applied). An extra 30 seconds saved us a total of $40 for our weekend getaway. Viva Las Vegas! (Go here for more advice on promotion codes!)

4.) Hotel room. A South Beach hotel recently refunded me the full price of one night’s stay (including the taxes and resort fee) after I e-mailed them to let them know we were dissatisfied with our accommodations.
• Send a polite and prompt e-mail. We were having terrible problems at our hotel (limited hot water in the shower, a few fruit flies as roommates, and a leaking ceiling!), so the front desk switched us to a new room, but they didn’t offer to refund us any money. I e-mailed the hotel when I returned home and complimented them on their beautiful grounds and courteous front desk staff and mentioned that I was a returning guest. I also described our first two nights in our less-than-stellar room. A manager called me within a couple of days and offered us a refund. 

I don’t have success every time I speak up—I recently was unable to get a lower rate on our heating oil even though I called and asked politely and mentioned that we wouldn’t renew our contract since we were dissatisfied with their prices. Even so, don’t get discouraged if you’re not successful every time—and I’d love to hear about any great deals that you’ve scored after you took the extra effort and spoke up ...