10 Essential Tips When Haggling Abroad!

How to grab a bargain in a foreign market.

Weaving through a treasure trove of handicrafts, you duck beneath rows of colourful stained-glass lanterns and tip-toe around towers of fragile decorative pottery. Rich, aromatic spices form towers in wicker baskets, creating a heavy musk in the air. That’s when you see it. It is absolutely perfect, and you know you just have to have it…

Despite getting this far, many people then struggle with the most crucial part of any market purchase, the haggling! Don’t worry, this vocal dance is bound to feel unnatural for those who are unaccustomed to negotiating, but with these top tips, you will be able to come away with a great deal.

It is important to realise that most of the world welcomes haggling with open arms, seeing it as an important skill in society, but there are some cultures that will not be as flexible in their prices as others. You will be able to get a flavour of the customs wherever you are just by wandering around.

1. Do Your Homework.

· If you are after something in particular, do some research into how much the item should cost. Try and visit a few shops to compare prices, or see if anyone else has bought anything similar. That way you go will into the negotiations with the best knowledge possible.

· Know the currency conversion before you shop, so you are aware how much you are actually paying. Sometimes you will get a better deal for US dollars or Euros than the local currency, so consider having some of that up your sleeve too.

2. Get The Timing Right.

· Most merchants have a certain commission they are required to achieve each day. For the best deals, try and shop later towards the end of their day. Sellers are sometimes more desperate to make a sale later in the day, or may have already made their commission and so are not so worried about the price.

3. Be Friendly And Have Confidence!

· Be friendly, chatty and likeable. Treat the seller with respect; you want to make it almost impossible for them to say ‘no’ to you!

· Have confidence! The seller will be less likely to negotiate with you if you seem nervous, and may take advantage of your lack of forcefulness.

· Try to make statements, rather than questions. For example, saying “I think that £10 is a good price for this.” is far more persuading than asking “Would you accept £10 for this?”.

4. Walk Around The Whole Shop First.

· Shopkeepers may follow you around their store, picking bits out to show you. Don’t be offended by this, it is partly because they want to be of great service, but they are also looking for a sale.

· If you see something you like, look briefly at it but do not spend much time there and appear relatively uninterested.

· Make sure to walk around the whole shop while you think about the item, before returning to it at the end.

5. Ask For The Best Price.

· You need the seller to make the first offer. Even if the price is written on the item, ask about the “best price”, so you immediately know the upper price limit.

· When you show interest in a product, the seller will likely say the famous words “Good price, my friend”. This is a perfect opportunity to open negotiations with “…and what would that be?”. Be casual when you ask, as if you are not totally interested- they are more likely to try and sell if they are worried about not making any sale at all.

6. Don’t Insult The Seller.

· Remember that the seller has a livelihood to maintain. By offering 10% of his price straight away, you are hugely under valuing his products which can be very offensive.

· Depending on the store, start at least 20% lower than what you are actually willing to pay. Normally offering about ½ to 2/3 of the recommended price is reasonable to start.

7. Buy In Bulk.

· You will often find the best deals when buying multiple items. Don’t haggle over each individual item, but the whole package. I generally like to take about 20% off the total price and then round up to a whole number.

· Even if you can’t get the price down on one piece, you may find that the seller is willing to throw something small in as a gift. Accept this as part of the negotiation, not separate to the original purchase.

8. Don’t Give Away Your Upper Limit!

· Don’t ever tell the seller your highest offer, even if they ask you to! If they simply refuse to sell at your price, then you can always increase to your upper limit towards the end.

9. Walk Away.

· The ultimate trick is to walk away. Don’t do this until the end of the negotiations, and only if they are proving particularly difficult! Say ‘thank you but no’, or that ‘you want to see what other stores have to offer’. Normally, this will result in the seller giving in to a final low price. It is now your final decision whether you accept this or not.

· Be aware that some places may actually let you walk away, so if you really do want the item, you may have to return for it and pay the higher price, with much less negotiating power.

10. Don’t Go Back On A Deal!

· Sellers take a deal very seriously. If you agree to a price, it is considered a formal agreement, so don’t try and haggle further afterwards. You will be fully expected to buy the item then.

· Have lots of smaller notes and spread them out. This way you are not opening a wallet full of cash to the seller, after you have spent a while knocking the price down! While the item is being processed, it is not rude to just turn around and get out the exact cash if possible.