HOW TO BARGAIN LIKE A PRO

There’s nothing like the feeling of feeling like you just scored BIG!  Customers have bargained with vendors for a better price of goods since the dawn of commodity exchange. Yet in America and many parts of the Western world, we have grown to accept the vendor’s set prices as the final say on the matter, and we fear being shuffled out of the store if we dare ask for a little better.

This in turn leaves us behind the eight ball in other parts of the world where bargaining is not only standard practice, but is looked upon as a healthy form of mental sparring.  Bargain well in some parts of the world such as South East Asia and the vendor will not only give you a smile of approval, but may actually compliment your skills as they hand over the goods at your price.

What if you could cross off half your Friends/Family Souvenir List for under $30 in a single great performance at the night market in Swaziland?  What if you could return home with a one-of-a-kind art piece that you got for a fraction of what you were willing to pay?  Here is a crash course in bargaining to get you rolling back the prices in no time…

 

THE RULES

 

8. Do your research.

If you see other tourists wearing the African mask you are interested in buying, ask them what they paid and where. Look around a couple days before you plan to buy and get an idea of the fair price range. 

7.  Set a target price in your mind ahead of time.

Know the price that you are comfortable with and working towards before you begin.  If you meet it– great, and if you don’t then feel comfortable walking away.

6. Try to buy in bulk.

Don’t buy one here and one there if you can help it.  If you plan to buy multiple items or a lot of one thing like T-shirts for instance, find a vendor that has the most of what you want. First get their best price for one.  Now say “Tell ya what…what if I buy 5?” and offer the vendor the price of three.

5.  Smile, Be courteous, and Enjoy Yourself!

You would give the deal to someone you like and stick it to the jerk.  Some tourists treat foreign vendors as if they are dealing with convicted con artists.  Creating a stuffy, bad vibe is not going to get you the best price or leave a good impression of your country.

4.  If a vendor accepts your offer… you must buy! 

Never make an offer to purchase and back out once accepted.  Major faux pas abroad as well as anywhere.

3.  Play a Good Game! 

Many foreigners approach bargaining for goods like a friendly game of tennis-someone comes out on top but both parties enjoyed themselves in the process.  With cunning, technique, and good sportsmanship you can best the vendor, and in some parts of the globe he or she will literally congratulate you after the sale is made.  Yes I have been congratulated.

2.  Never Telegraph Your Move.

If they can tell you’re going to buy it anyway, why would they lower their price?  A rooky mistake is to pick up a souvenir, walk around the store with it for five minutes, and then ask for a discount when you go to pay.  Try not to look like you walked in the store with the intention of spending bucks- you’re just casually passing the time.  Ask for the price as if it was an afterthought, shrug at the response with a carefree attitude, and keep moving.   

1.  Be willing to walk away! 

The vendor wishes to maximize his price, but not at the risk of losing a potential sale.  Go for the door and watch the price come crashing down.  Some vendors will actually follow you out onto the street spouting lower and lower numbers.  And if they don’t, you can make a last stand tomorrow.  

 

HOW TO PLAY…

 

You: Hi how are you?  (bonus points if spoken in their language) Whats your best price for this? 

Vendor: “$X”

You: [Grimace or chuckle then put it back as if no longer interested] 

Vendor: [probably offers a better price immediately at the sight of you putting it back.] 

You: [Take your time/scratch your head with disinterest then counter back with half of the current price.]

Vendor: [May try to bluff you now by restating his price but will probably lower price again]

You:  “C’mon…(restate your offer or just slightly higher depending)… this is a good price.”  [produce the money and motion to finalize sale]

Vendor: [should either agree to your price or come down again off his previous stated price] 

You:  [Depending on the situation... you can accept, restate your offer or slightly higher for another round of bargaining, or politely withdraw from the contest and walk away] 

Obviously each situation is different and with a little experience you will begin to feel when you have reached the best price your vendor is willing to offer and when you have more room to negotiate.  A very generic goal for night markets is somewhere between half and two-thirds of the initial price.

The Smoking Gun – Bring a local!  Make friends with a native or two, and offer to pick up their lunch tomorrow if they will come shopping with you.  Locals will know where to buy, what to watch out for, and will always get you the best price!

A final note… A fairly common scene in the markets abroad is a tourist haggling for a $3 T-shirt and then producing a wallet busting at the seams with big bills when going to pay.  It takes a little forethought, but consider humoring your vendor and having only the correct amount visible after whittling them down. 

–CM