Ever since I was a young boy, my grandfather used to take me haggling at many of the swap meets and farmers markets in and around the areas of Mississippi and New Orleans, where I grew up. It was early childhood exposure to this odd and electrifying culture of buyers and sellers that’s stayed with me throughout my life. Not to mention that it’s helped me to save a ton of cash.
Travel and Haggle
Over the past few years, travelling the globe, I can’t help but be drawn to these same places of trade. Flea markets and bazaars, thrift stores and farmers markets. There is no better way, in my opinion, to view the best a culture has to offer, than by seeing what the locals literally have to offer... for sale.
These can be intensely personal experiences with their own set of rules and expectations; each different culture has a set of their own. So let me give a few words of advice to help you get a bearing no matter where in the world you want to haggle.
These can be intensely personal experiences with their own set of rules and expectations; each different culture has a set of their own. So let me give a few words of advice to help you get a bearing no matter where in the world you want to haggle.
Haggling is Expected - if You Don't it Could be Dangerous
As a tourist, you are kind of expected to bargain, and if you choose not to bargain out of either respect or intimidation, the locals will most probably laugh at you behind your back. Many cultures actually assume you’re trying to show off how much money you have when buying like this. Potentially, refusing to haggle and accepting the stated price when shopping can even be dangerous for you, because it’s the “rich” tourists that are the targets of pickpocketing gangs.
Haggle For the Sake of Those Who Come After You
Choosing not to haggle, to make sure stall holders receive the price you think they hoped for, can mean that prices will slowly rise for every other tourist, as the stall holder knows they can get top dollar. Some vendors even refuse to ever sell something for the regular price elsewhere, because they know they can get twice that price from the next “dumb” tourist like you who is willing to pay their markup.
The Un-Haggleable
Some items for sale when shopping, however, will actually have a set price, and you can't negotiate these down, but never be afraid to ask if you’re unsure. It’s a good way to learn what is and isn’t negotiable, and if something isn’t, the local won’t be angry at you for trying, if anything he or she will actually respect you for it.
Potentially, refusing to haggle and accepting the stated price when shopping can even be dangerous for you, because it’s the “rich” tourists that are the targets of pickpocketing gangs.
How to Haggle Like a Pro
In high-tourist areas, the starting price can often be twice or even three times what the product is actually worth, but this price will shoot down as soon as you let on that you know how much it's really worth.
My approach here is to ask the seller kindly and in a kind of shocked/questioning manner, “Oh my, is this how much you charge? My friend said he bought this [whatever the item is] here recently, and he got it at nearly half that price.”
Another tactic I like to use is to refer to a tourist guidebook list of common prices that I already have in hand, or a list on a website saved to my phone works too. If you’ve done your homework on what you’re hoping to purchase, t doesn’t take much to make them realise that you know your stuff. Remember that from the seller’s perspective, the last thing he wants to do is to outright lose your business, they’re just doing what’s expected of them. Now you need to play your part.
My approach here is to ask the seller kindly and in a kind of shocked/questioning manner, “Oh my, is this how much you charge? My friend said he bought this [whatever the item is] here recently, and he got it at nearly half that price.”
Another tactic I like to use is to refer to a tourist guidebook list of common prices that I already have in hand, or a list on a website saved to my phone works too. If you’ve done your homework on what you’re hoping to purchase, t doesn’t take much to make them realise that you know your stuff. Remember that from the seller’s perspective, the last thing he wants to do is to outright lose your business, they’re just doing what’s expected of them. Now you need to play your part.
Haggle the Price Down, But Make Sure Everyone’s Happy
Please, whatever you do, don’t try and bargain them down to the point where they aren't making a decent profit. The main point of haggling is to find a price that you are both happy with, not to try and take advantage of each other and take advantage of the process. Oftentimes the areas filled with markets and bazaars are low-income – much lower than you, who is well-off enough to see the world, so be good to the locals. They’re just trying to earn their living.
Over the years, I have made a lot of local friends at markets by travelling like this. People that even now, years between visits, we still remember each other by name. Once I was even invited to an Indian wedding because of a haggling exchange. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Who knows what awaits you if you start exposing yourself to this electric and engaging multi-cultural phenomenon a bit.
Give it a try. What have you really got to lose?
Over the years, I have made a lot of local friends at markets by travelling like this. People that even now, years between visits, we still remember each other by name. Once I was even invited to an Indian wedding because of a haggling exchange. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Who knows what awaits you if you start exposing yourself to this electric and engaging multi-cultural phenomenon a bit.
Give it a try. What have you really got to lose?
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