My most favourite way of doing things now when meeting girls for the first time after number close. I had already developed this before I found this site, but have refined it far more since.
Benefits:
1. You can avoid spending anything on her. At most, you might buy a coffee or an ice-cream etc etc.
2. You get her emotions working by engaging in a what is for most women a pleasurable activity. She's also doing you a 'favour' by helping you out. (she's investing time in you, so is more inclined to keep on going rather that let you go - a weird aspect of female psychology which most guys fail to take advantage of)
3. Ample opportunities to discuss fashion, culture, music and avoid logical/intellectual topics, which will shut her down. Kino is so stupidly easy it's untrue, as long as you know what you're doing - think subtle touches when going through doors, when sitting down, when you want her to feel the texture of the clothing, when you try aftershaves etc etc.
4. Rejections are few. I've only ever had one. And that wasn't even direct. She was genuinely busy, but the way she said told me she was very glad to have an alibi. There was no counter-offer from her. I haven't spoke to her since.
Negatives:
1. She might not think it's a date. (that's happened to me twice. one time the girl brought her boyfriend along. That event is one of my snapping points to try and figure out why I couldn't handle women beyond number-closing.)
2. You might get friendzoned by this action. This is linked to point 1. (happened to me once, probably down to no kino, engaging in 'boring' stuff, not being sexual etc etc) Reduce this risk by keeping up kino, jokes, sexual talk etc.
3. Flakes happen far more, at least in the UK. The girl might not reject you, but she can 'clear' her conscious by thinking that you'll be shopping anyway, and not show. When this happens, do not show emotion. Quite the opposite. You want to show her that since she does not value the opportunity to be in your presence, you don't give a **** about her anymore. My favourite way of doing this is text or call that night and tell her I found something really cool, it's a shame she'll never get to see it. (With 'real' dates, I've only been flaked on once. With this tactic, I've easily had a half dozen flakes, though only 1 since finding this site)
4. You might spend too long on the date. She'll lose interest and get bored. Bad move. [Keep it short and sweet. My usual routine is to do 30 mins of shopping, then 30-60 mins in a coffee house or a food hall/market, then another about an hour shopping. Depending on the date and the degree of response from her, this can conclude with more coffee, moving onto a bar, club or music hall, both of you going home together (not manage this yet, but I'm getting there) or you both part.]
In all, my most favourite way of doing things. Sure, sometimes you'll still feel the pain of flakes and rejection, but turn-over is high, the opportunities are huge for good game if you know the score and you can maintain dominance and control, again, as long as you know what you are doing and have confidence in yourself.
Some sidenotes:
Keep it 80:20, 80 being for you. She's tagging along and helping you. And when you do some shopping for her, do it in the same store as the one you're shopping in, and with ample game opportunities - something you can diss or neg her on, kino (think about what you can do if she tries a perfume on?).
And as the OP said, when you ask her, it is not a question. It is statement of intent and purpose. " Yadda yadda small talk...I'm in town tomorrow, going to get myself some new shirts for the summer. You should join me, a female perspective (I can trust [I say this depending on how long I've known her]) on my choices would be great! [Wait for response, act to it] Yadda yadda, end of convo"
You are not on the phone for any longer than 10 minutes tops. I'm normally on the phone for like 5 minutes. Maybe that's my downfall? I don't know, I shall wait and see.