The precious skill of haggling handed down by our forefathers (and my mother) has passed me by. I’m terrible when it comes to haggling, but I’d like to try. While the Englishy-ness in me is too polite to argue with the price, the Pakistani in me is too cheap to pay it.
Any tips you wanna share on how to haggle succesfully??
Re: The Art of Haggling
Me and my dad are terrible at bargaining. Paki shop-owners love us. We point at things and they just pack them up and label whatever price, and all my dad will say is "Ha, that's a lot of money..."... and the shop-owner will shave off maybe 200/100 rupees and my dad will be ecstatic.
My mom on the other hand is just...wow. =/ But in the same breath, it's slightly embarrassing when she bargains cos she really bargains. She always says to me never to reveal that I'm a foreigner. Which is basically "shutup and play with your phone, your horribly accented Urdu sickens me". Also, from observing my mom, I'd say you have to make it look like you REALLY know the market. You know? You have to be stubborn, but not desperate. You gotta keep the shop-owner interested. Don't go too low on the price otherwise they'll just be like, whatevs. But don't just let them push you around either on your prices. That's all I can say, I guess.
Re: The Art of Haggling
I can only do it sometimes, for desi clothes, I do the whole 'i've travelled all the way from Newcastle, thats 300 miles just to buy this from you in Southall/Green Street.' Sometimes works, sometimes doesnt.
My sister, as you can probably guess, is very good at this. She once bought me a brand new puzzle (needed it for school) from a carboot sale for 5p, she didnt even ask the price, she just picked it up and said 'i'l take this for 5p, ok thanks' and then gave the money over before anyone could say anything to her!
Re: The Art of Haggling
My sister, as you can probably guess, is very good at this. She once bought me a brand new puzzle (needed it for school) from a carboot sale for 5p, she didnt even ask the price, she just picked it up and said 'i'l take this for 5p, ok thanks' and then gave the money over before anyone could say anything to her!
My mum did this with my sister's wedding jewellery years back. She picked up the set she wanted, put the money down and say 'okay I'm paying you this much.' and left while the jewellers were crying their eyes out saying 'Baji please it's too low, it's too low!' haha.
Re: The Art of Haggling
Bargaining is good as long as it doesn't become begging. Soft tones of "Plz naaa..., dekhiye naa....koi baat nahin na,..." etc. comments are too intimate/frank to be used while dealing with a stranger (specially in case of opposite gender). Unfortunately this unintentional intimacy at times let them allow the shopkeeper to help them in wearing bangles, shoes and in taking measurements. (heard some cases where the customer later talked about being inappropriately touched)
p.s. Sorry, as a small child when I used to go with mom for shopping and watch people talk/behave like that, it was really hurting to see such an (unintentional) intimacy for a concession of few hundred rupees.
Re: The Art of Haggling
ive learnt that in pakistan you never make it obvious which clothes you like. forst you ask the price of one that okayish. theyll think u like it and tell u a high price. then u look at a few more n then ask the price of which one catches your eye. if you make it obvious which one you like theyll straight away quote higher for that.
My mom calls reseller bhai or beta and that tells Bas beta main yeh 40 dollar de rahi hoon. the seller will be saying its too low BUT ultimately does accept it . ting!
Re: The Art of Haggling
I am okay with haggling...not much. My sister and mom...wow!
I NEVER shop without my mom for desi clothes...she knows her stuff.