I’m not much of a bargainer. I get uncomfortable haggling. I feel bad, my face gets pink, and (as described by my roommate) I look like I might cry.
It’s just not my personality to get aggressive, play games, and be demanding.
However, I gave it my best shot yesterday. Located down the street from my university is a four story bargaining mall. Nothing is taken at face value. When asking 多少钱？(how much?) the initial price is grossly exaggerated. Since I do not blend in well in a crowd of Chinese people, the prices can sometimes be even higher when I ask.
After asking many different sellers what the cost of certain prices were, I gauged the average asking price to better calculate my first counter offer. This was difficult because I didn’t want to ask too low of an asking price and offend them. My Chinese is not good enough to dig myself out of that hole!
Considering I’ve never haggled in English or Chinese, I got my roommate to help me. She definitely was more aggressive but I chimed in by looking offended when the price was too high. I really wanted a huge knitted scarf for when it gets cold outside. She started off by saying 55 kuai. I left paying 30 kuai (6 USD)!
There are so many knick-knacks, clothes, shoes, electronics, etc. for sale it is easy to get lost in the maze of little shops that seem to extend forever.
In getting lost, I was able to find the one and only rain jacket in the whole mall! It is green and I wanted it badly. I had to keep calm and show that I was only slightly interested though. When I asked for the price, the merchant said 160 kuai. There was no way I was paying that much so I immediately put the rain jacket back on the hanger to show that I was not that committed. I asked for 70 kuai. He laughed in my face. He went down to 130. I said 80. He kept repeating 不可以 (I can’t) while I kept repeating 我是大学生 (I am a college student). He went down to 110. I said 95. He simply shook his head at me so I walked out of his little shop. I have never walked slower in my life but I finally felt a little tap on my shoulder. He said 95.
This time, I walked blissfully away with a new jacket!
0 responses to “Bargaining Hard”
Haha, Eva! you are a good bargainer. Finally got it 95 kuai from 130 kuai. Awesome~ There is nothing to be shy or ashamed during bargain. The way you bargain is exactly what I do in China. I can tell you some tricks. For the most knick-knacks, clothes, shoes in a bargaining mall, merchants would ask customers double price of their cost of one merchandise. Thus, next time, if he said 130 kuai, you can insist in 65 kuai, the most is 70 kuai. Pretending to walk off is a really good call! Bargaining is a part of life for Chinese. You will get better!!!