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Zen and the Art of Marketplace Haggling

   
 

BRIAN: How much? Quick.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: What?

BRIAN: It's for the wife.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Oh. Uhhh, twenty shekels. BRIAN: Right.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: What?

BRIAN: There you are.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Wait a minute.

BRIAN: What? HARRY THE HAGGLER: Well, we're-- we're supposed to haggle.

BRIAN: No, no. I've got to get--

HARRY THE HAGGLER: What do you mean, 'no, no, no'?

BRIAN: I haven't time. I've got--

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Well, give it back, then.

BRIAN: No, no, no. I just paid you.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Burt!

BURT: Yeah?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: This bloke won't haggle.

BURT: Won't haggle?!

BRIAN: All right. Do we have to?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Now, look. I want twenty for that.

BRIAN: I-- I just gave you twenty.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Now, are you telling me that's not worth twenty shekels?

BRIAN: No.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Look at it. Feel the quality. That's none of your goat.

BRIAN: All right. I'll give you nineteen then.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: No, no, no. Come on. Do it properly.

BRIAN: What?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Haggle properly. This isn't worth nineteen.

BRIAN: Well, you just said it was worth twenty.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Ohh, dear. Ohh, dear. Come on. Haggle.

BRIAN: Huh. All right. I'll give you ten.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: That's more like it. Ten?! Are you trying to insult me?! Me, with a poor dying grandmother?! Ten?!

BRIAN: All right. I'll give you eleven.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Now you're gettin' it. Eleven?! Did I hear you right?! Eleven?! This cost me twelve. You want to ruin me?!

BRIAN: Seventeen?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: No, no, no, no. Seventeen.

BRIAN: Eighteen?

HARRY THE HAGGLER: No, no. You go to fourteen now.

BRIAN: All right. I'll give you fourteen.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Fourteen?! Are you joking?!

BRIAN: That's what you told me to say.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Ohh, dear.

BRIAN: Ohh, tell me what to say. Please!

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Offer me fourteen.

BRIAN: I'll give you fourteen.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: He's offering me fourteen for this!

BRIAN: Fifteen!

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Seventeen. My last word. I won't take a penny less, or strike me dead.

BRIAN: Sixteen.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Done. Nice to do business with you.

BRIAN: Huh.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Tell you what. I'll throw you in this as well.

BRIAN: I don't want it, but thanks.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Burt!

BURT: Yeah?

BRIAN: All right! All right! All right!

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Now, where's the sixteen you owe me?

BRIAN: I just gave you twenty.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Oh, yeah. That's right. That's four I owe you, then.

BRIAN: Well, that's all right. That's fine. That's fine.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: No. Hang on. I've got it here somewhere.

BRIAN: That's all right. That's four for the gourd.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Four? For this gourd? Four?! Look at it. It's worth ten if it's worth a shekel.

BRIAN: But you just gave it to me for nothing.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: Yes, but it's worth ten!

BRIAN: All right. All right.

HARRY THE HAGGLER: No, no, no, no. It's not worth ten. You're supposed to argue, 'Ten for that? You must be mad!' Ohh, well. [sniff] One born every minute.

  
   
 In any Southeast Asian country, the markets are a must-see. For a taste of local life, there's nothing like a bustling marketplace to offer a glimpse at the colours, flavours, scents, music, and language of the city. Here, a souvenir-hunting tourist can stock up on goods, ranging from delicate antiques to ubiquitous beer t-shirts. For savvy bargain-hunters, a marketplace can be a shopping mecca... IF you know the art of haggling. A novice may feel awkward trying to cut a deal on products that are already cheap by western standards. However, bear in mind that vendors inflate the prices in anticipation of bartering - in most places it's customary, and for a clever haggler, it's half the fun of shopping.  
  
 Below are some tips for a market newcomer. With confidence, practice, and some advice under your belt, you'll soon be boasting about your amazing deals to other travellers.  
  
 1. Choose a quiet time to shop. It's hard to prove that your business is valuable when you're shopping in the wake of a souvenir-hungry tour bus. Shopping during a sales lull makes your business even more desirable.  
  
 2. Don't show too much interest. If you fawn loudly over a pair of sunglasses, the vendor will know you'd rather pay more than walk away. Glance casually at merchandise, keep a poker face, and you'll be amazed how low the price will drop.  
  
 3. Remember that some stock tourist items are sold everywhere. If you see the same silk scarves or DVDs sold in many stalls, take the time to do some price comparison. A simple "the next stall down the street asked for less" is a key line in cutting a deal.  
  
 4. Know your numbers. Many vendors will ask you to suggest a price and haggle from there. Some pros have strict maths policies, to offer 1/3 or 1/4 of the suggested price and pay nothing more. These tactics will depend on the country you're in; in Thailand you may pay 60% of the original price, while in China it can be as low as 5%. In a new country, try to ask around to other travellers, as the vendors' pricing strategies vary.  
  
 5. Don't be afraid to walk away. If you set a price and the vendor won't budge, simply start walking. If they can make a profit, they'll follow and agree to your price. If they don't, you know you've asked for too little, in which case you can always go back.  
  
 6. Know the limits of haggling. Items in shops, goods with labelled prices, and food are nearly always at a fixed price. If you haggle for a service, like a guided tour or custom-made clothing, the low price might be reflected with low quality. Be careful not to undermine yourself by haggling.  
   
 Anne Merritt is Canadian and has an English Literature degree. She has worked as a journalist for a university newspaper. She is currently living in Ayutthaya as an ESL teacher and is sharing her experience of Thailand with KhaoSanRoad.com. 
   
 

Other articles by Anne Merritt:

Crocodile Rockin' in Samut Prakarn - Lopburi Monkey Festival - Saraburi Sunflower Fields - Koh Tao: Island Travel at a Turtle's Pace - Doi Suthep: Exploring Chiang Mai's Spiritual Side - Full Moon Party - The Life of Pai – Northern Thailand's Sweetest Find - Sister's are Doing it for Themselves - Coming Together on Koh Samet - So you want to teach in Thailand? - Halong Bay: Vietnam's Jewel on the Water - Zen and the Art of Marketplace Haggling - Laos Lifts Us Up Where We Belong - Kuala Lumpur: Off the Backpacker Route and Into the Big City - Water Water Everywhere - the Songkran Festival Explained - Da Lat's Easy Riders - Swimming in Sihanoukville - Thailand Books for Travellers; a KSR Guide to the Backpackers' Favourites - Luang Prabang - Volunteering with Elephants - Seeing Kanchanaburi through the Eye of the Tiger - Hoi An - Strolling Through Vietnam's Prettiest Colonial Town - Slowly down the Mekong - Traveling as a Couple; Some Tips in Thailand - The Vegetarian's Guide to Thai Food - How to Meet Local People - One Week in Thailand - Trang Underwater Weddings - Traveling China

 
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