Outside the US and Europe, most of the world does business by haggling.
Whether it's for vegetables, fresh fish, or a new shirt, bargaining is part of the social fabric.
Haggling isn't only for suitcase importers.
Learn the skills and you can really stretch your vacation spending money. Never be discomfited about getting down and dirty with market traders. And the more items purchased, the deeper the discount.
The trick comes in knowing what amount to offer initially. And then deciding what's a right and fair price.
In truth, a lot depends on where you're traveling.
In Asia, prices for foreigners are often insanely bloated. So don't be embarrassed about offering as little as a tenth of the starting price.
In Latin America, initial quotes aren't usually as crazy. Even so, when I'm shopping, I begin by offering no higher than 25% of the asking price. And so they know I'm unburdened with gringo guilt, I always say, "Soy Inglesa, no Norte Americana." (I'm English, not North American.)
But do some internet research first. US website vendors with craft items from the country you plan to visit can be useful. Divide their selling price by seven or eight, and you're usually in the ballpark region of the real local price.
Take alpaca wool blankets—recently spotted for sale online at a "reduced price" of $90. I bought a couple for $11 apiece in Otavalo, Ecuador.
On the other hand, I overpaid for cane rain sticks; a cunning vendor charged me $8 apiece for two 20-inch hand-painted ones. I sold them for $20 and $25 at the Bizarre Bazaar, but the profits could have been greater.
With more pre-trip homework, I'd have discovered a Quito craft co-operative selling similar rain sticks for $2.24.
But let's say you've done price research. And now you're in a bazaar overflowing with goodies. It doesn't matter where—the rules are essentially the same whether in Thailand or Turkey.
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