How To Bargain, For Beginners
“If I have any applicable skillsets for the job force, it’s my ability to bargain…”
One of my favorite parts about traveling is the markets. The different foods, fashion, and items on display are like nothing you’ve ever seen before in the United States.
I’m a huge street shopper over regular shopping malls. I like deals, I like saving money, I like fast-paced shopping and I LOVE to bargain. Luckily, I’ve learned from the legends (AKA my Aunties and Mom) on how to negotiate and if I have any applicable skillsets for the job force, it’s my ability to bargain prices down no matter what country I’m in.
Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that a lot of my fellow Americans just aren’t very good at it. I usually end up bargaining down prices for my friends if we’re abroad together, but since I can’t be there for all of you at once I’ll share some of my tips here.
Now if bargaining gives you anxiety or you just like Zara and Name Brands, that’s okay too! Shop wherever you want, but if you want a unique experience then bargain.
STEP 1) CONFIRM IT IS APPROPRIATE TO BARGAIN
Make sure that bargaining is appropriate for the country/setting you’re in, you don’t want to be rude. In China, you MUST bargain but in some Asian countries, it is not appropriate. In chain stores, you should not bargain and in Japan, it’s not allowed. But anywhere with a street market is your place to shine and when you get better it is so much fun! Also if you’re learning a language, bargaining is a GREAT way to practice! I honestly think my fluency in a language goes up when I’m bargaining.
STEP 2) ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL GET RIPPED OFF
If you’re at a street market just know you WILL get ripped off. It’s inevitable, they are going to give you a higher price. Especially if the store you’re in doesn’t have prices.
A good friend of mine, who is also a genius, gave me some really great tips when I was shopping in Senegal:
“If the store is really clean and organized, you’re going to get ripped off. They make the store like that so foreigners come in.”
Vendors have typically been doing this longer than you, more often than you, and most importantly better than you. They know what they’re doing and selling items to doe-eyed tourists is like taking candy from a baby. You want better deals? Go to where the locals shop and take a local friend with you so you know when you’re getting a fair deal. Anything else and you most likely won’t be getting the best price. How would you know what a fair price is? You don’t! So ask people who do. You don’t need to get the lowest price for it to count as a good deal so acknowledging ahead of time that you won’t, will help alleviate the pressure from yourself.
STEP 2) RESPECT
Would you give a discount to someone who just marched in and started arguing for lower prices? No, probably not. Follow all the culturally appropriate greetings and behavior. It helps if you can speak the language, it’s a sign of respect too and your likability goes up. Even if you don’t speak the language fully, you can learn prices and how to ask how much, too expensive, lower the price a little and that will work. At the very least, learn how to say ‘hello’. People are usually more willing to work with you if they don’t think you’re a jerk and that’s the truth no matter where you are in the world.
Being polite though does NOT mean being a pushover. Vendors can be really pushy so you need to push back. Stick to the price you want to pay and don’t let anyone pressure you into buying things you don’t want.
STEP 3) POKER FACE
If you struggle to hold a poker face under pressure then I suggest you start off trying to negotiate for items you don’t want that bad. Ask for the price and just remain quiet and look like you’re thinking about it, sometimes they just start dropping the price, but if you look like you REALLY want the item then they’ll be more likely to hold out at the higher price. You don’t need to be emotionless but just know when certain emotions at the right time.
STEP 4) BARGAIN
Depending on what you know or want, you may want to negotiate in different styles.
If you want multiple items: If you like a few different things from a store, then you’ve got a bit of leverage. If you’re shopping with a friend who also wants to buy things at the same store, then that’s even better. Combine items and ask “what’s the price if I buy two? three? item A and item B?” Have your calculator out if you must to run the numbers, but buying more items means more discount possibilities.
“How about X of these for Y dollars?”
If you have a price in mind: Usually, you want to give out the first price due to the power of the ‘pivot’. Whoever gives out the first number is where the negotiation will take place around so if you have a price in mind then give a bit lower than that, because they will push it up. If you know for sure the price you want is fair then stick with it and keep pushing. Most vendors sell similar things so check with a few booths to see what the item is going for and then use that as leverage, by literally telling them you can get it for lower at another booth.
“No thank you, I can get this for X from a vendor over there”
No price in mind, nor any idea of what a fair price is: Ask for the price, and work around it. If the price they give you is too high for you (which it usually is), take the price they give you and slash that in half and that is now your negotiation number. Then look solemnly around the store and ask about items that are in a small range around your negotiation number. This will make them realize you’ll buy it if they set the price lower, and they’ll lower it. If it’s still not low enough, then you gotta walk away as if it’s not working and state that you won’t pay higher than your number.
“Oh darn that’s too expensive, do you have anything here for X dollars?”
Comment on Quality and Price: This is something I picked up in China and it’s more aggressive so I don’t do it unless I’m in China, but I’m sure there are other markets you can use this. You can ask why the item is so expensive, or how come the price is so high for low-quality material. It’s definitely not the most polite, but like I said it’s only for aggressive areas.
“That’s too expensive, I’ve paid less for better quality”
Give your ultimatum: If you have a price you want but the vendor is not quite sold on it and you’ve been going back and forth for a bit, then give the ultimatum. Let them know you will buy the item for sure if they agree to give you the price you want. Only use this if you are serious you will buy it for that price. If at this point they won’t give you that lower price, then you have to think about if you’re willing to pay their price or not. At this point, I usually walk away to think with a clearer head whether or not I actually want that item for that price.
“Auntie, if you give it to us for X then we will for sure buy”
There’s never a guarantee of which way a bargain will go, but the most important point is that you ask for what you want. If you never ask for a lower price you’ll never get it. Bargaining is part of the experience and the best way to stretch your travel money is by not getting ripped off at the markets.
If you do end up paying more for your items, it really isn’t a huge deal and you shouldn't let it ruin your day or trip. I honestly believe tourists should always pay a little more. You shouldn’t get ripped off, but when you come to countries where street markets and bargaining are a thing, the money you spend goes to feed a family or put a child through school, it’s not a mass consumer chain like we have in the States, and they work very hard every day.
No matter what the outcome, just have fun with it and be happy you got some cool items and experiences from your travels!
