How to Bargain in China?source：http://trip-per.com/blog/index.php/how-to-bargain-in-china/

Somewhere, deep in the interior of some market teeming with tourists of all origins, a stout woman is standing next

to a stall piled high with colorful trinkets and unusual knick knacks. She is counting her money, and she is grinning

widely. A tall tourist, also grinning, is browsing only a short distance away. He has recently left her stall after

unwittingly paying too much for one of those trinkets. This scene is common in nearly every one of China’s major

tourist cities, as haggling is one of the most highly recommended tourist activities in China. But bargaining in China

does not have to be as lopsided as in the instance described above. There are some very basic tactics that can be

used to great effect while haggling over the prices of goods sold in China.

Firstly, in order to bargain, you need to speak. So the first key to any sort of success in bargaining in China is to learn

useful Chinese phrases like “duōshao qián?” (how much?), “tài guì le!” (too expensive!), or “kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma?”

(can you make it a little cheaper?). You should never expect a Chinese vendor to speak much English beyond

numbers and simple sentences. In fact, the less mutual understanding there is between the two of you, the better it

is for them. If you are fluent in Chinese, or can speak at a conversational level, you have a huge advantage over

those who can speak little to no Chinese. So the more you can communicate with them in their own language, the

more convincing they have to do—and this often results in lower prices.

But merely knowing a little Chinese won’t guarantee that you will get good deals. You must strategize. Before you

name your buying price, you should try to get the seller to reduce the price they are offering you, waiting as long as

possible before stating a number. One strategy is to scrutinize the item in question, pointing out any flaws it may

have. Throughout the process it is important that you maintain an indifferent attitude toward the item in question so

that the seller believes that they have to induce you—through reducing the price—to purchase it.

Before engaging a seller about any of their goods, you should already have an ideal price—or price range—in mind.

One of the biggest difficulties with coming up with an ideal price is that you don’t know the market, and you are

probably still thinking in terms of your home currency. One way to circumvent this is to experiment with different

sellers by bidding extremely low and watching their reactions. In many cases you will find that if you bid too low, the

seller will simply wave you off and refuse to engage you anymore. At this point you can move on and raise your

starting price by small increments until sellers begin engaging you again. Then you know you’re in the ball park of

the actual price. If you already know what you are willing to pay for a particular item, bid lower than your ideal price

first and work your way up.

Throughout the course of bargaining, many sellers will try to win your sympathy or convince you that you are friends

and they are giving you a special deal. Ignore this or you will end up paying too much for whatever you buy. There is

no reason for you to feel sorry for them, so you should stand firm and try to get the very best deal possible. Never

relent, because these people do this every day, and many of them are good at getting what they want.

While haggling in China, one of the best strategies anyone could use is to be easygoing and affable with the sellers. A

friendly exchange will always produce a better result than a hostile one. There is no reason to feel hostile toward

them because you feel that they want to cheat you. Remember, they want to maximize their profits just as much as

you want to minimize your losses. So be friendly and smile often while showing yourself to be a worthy haggling

adversary.

Before venturing out to bargain in China, you should make sure that you are well stocked with small bills and change.

By always paying the exact amount that has been agreed to, you eliminate the opportunity on the part of the seller

to request that you round out the number. Time of day sometimes plays a role too. The morning can be a good time

to get a deal, as some vendors believe that it is good to give the first customer of the day a bargain. In the evenings,

just before closing, many vendors will be less aggressive and give in faster. Some of them may be tired after a long

day, while others may simply be eager to make a few more quick sales before they go home.

Tripper, your assistant guide in China, will be always available there for any questions you have whether it is What’s

the Cheapest Way to Sleep in China? OrWhat is Hitchhiking like in China?

 

Posted in Travel Tips. Tagged with bargain, China, tips.