If you buy something in your local supermarket, you generally pay the price for the label – simply. But in places such as Turkey, Vietnam, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, China and West Africa, prices are not always determined in advance. You may be having the costs for souvenirs, products, taxi rides and more.
It is normal to feel uncomfortable, maybe a little fearful, about an unknown practice. Overpaid she? Do you drive too hard out of a bargain? Is that anything at all that a conscientious traveler should do? And if so, where do you start?
Here are some tips for negotiating a price in which everyone feels good.
Be brave, but respectful
Before shopping, ask the hotel staff or a local guideline whether haggling is normal in your destination and about fair prices for important articles on your wish list. Or simply watch local buyers and reflect your negotiation approach and how much you pay. Feilschen is most common in markets, bazaars and tourist districts, said Ozcan Kaya, 27, who has sold carpets in the shop in Istanbul for a decade.
If you have come onto the market, don't be shy: dealers will expect you to negotiate this, and it is not rude to do this, especially if you learn a few negotiations in the state language.
Remember that both sides win in a fair business. The seller should earn some money and you shouldn't feel fleeting.
Jill Moser, 49, an artisan and frequent traveler of Fort Worth, said she was working hard to achieve the right balance.
“I'm fine if I only pay a little more than a local,” she said. “But nobody wants to be exploited. It's about mutual respect.”
Shopping
If you recognize something you absolutely own, make a comparison first. You can come back at any time when the article is unique.
Determine a mental price limit when surfing so that you are not put under pressure for overpayment and bring enough cash to small bills. You can also benefit from the fact that you first practice your haggling skills on a cheaper article without which you could live.
Merchants in high errors such as Istanbul's Grand Bazaar usually pay higher rents, explained Kaya. If you check the side streets, he said: “You can always get it much cheaper.”
Do not dispute over Pennies
Think about how much you do. If the price is hardly more than change of pocket, you should simply pay the price for the price.
A small amount may not be a role for you, but it can be of great importance for many sellers, said Chris Solt, 52, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Executive Director of the non -profit Fair Trade Featation, an organization that focuses on just global trading partnerships.
Many of these sellers specialize in locals or handmade items, said Solt.
Find the middle ground
Now you are ready to do it. First ask the price, but do not make an offer immediately. Suggest a lower number after inquiries for a discount, Kaya recommended.
It is okay to “just smile and tell them what a better price would be for them,” he said.
In a typical scenario, the buyer could counter 25 to 75 percent of the original offer to the price of a seller and finally meet somewhere in the middle. It is difficult because the contrast could be too low, while becoming too high to lead to overpayment. But if you are wrong on the low side, you can leave more space to negotiate.
Keep your soil when you think you have proposed a fair price on your comparison shopping, entering locals and see what others pay. Do not have the feeling of filling an uncomfortable silence with a higher offer – a common rookie error.
Be ready to go away. Ignore emotional vocations and provocations: you are not obliged to buy. You may be surprised how a polite “no, thank you” can cause a final rock floor price of an intrusive or untranated seller.
You can also get a better offer if you buy several items at the same time. This applies regardless of whether three handmade carpets or a dozen postcards are bought.
Andrés Acosta, 34, sells bag with its own individual designs on the El Rastro Street Market from Madrid. Although he usually doesn't feed much, he will give discounts for quantity purchases.
Keep it positively
Accepting a funny, playful attitude usually works better than becoming aggressive, said Abdellah Elfirdaoui, 32, a shopkeeper in the souks of Marrakesh, Morocco. The exchange of names and the creation of small talks when building a rapport, which makes it easier to complete a deal. “We are together in this life to help each other,” he said. “It is always best to be nice.”
Mr. Acosta, the merchant of El Rastro, also had some advice: “To be polite, opens many doors,” he said. Negotiating the prices, he added, “All one game, and it depends completely on the mood – you and think.”