During my time in India, I have found there are a few tricks to bargaining. Personally, I absolutely love to haggle, and I am that much more satisfied when I have bought something knowing that I got it at a discount. These are a few of my tips on how to bargain. First, always assume that something is marked up because you are a tourist. Never buy anything at the first price. Personally I casually suggest a little less then half and act like I don’t want whatever it is they are selling. Even if you absolutely have to have whatever it is, remain nonchalant. It will be extremely difficult to get the best price if they know you love/have to have the object. However do not start haggling for something you don’t intend to buy, it is bad luck. I was once cursed and yelled at by an old lady for doing that…I wouldn’t recommend it. My second bargaining tip is don’t fall for a cute little kid who is trying to sell you stuff. First they should be in school! However, that cute little boy who you think you’re going to help by buying whatever it is he is selling, is actually working for some old guy behind the scene who knows that you are more likely to buy a book of postcards from a kid than them. He is the one who is making the money while the kid gets very little. My dad fell for this trap numerous times.
My third tip is…and I mean it… DON’T LOOK! In India many of the popular tourist destinations are lined with street carts and people trying to sell you stuff. If you even so much as glance in the direction of someone selling something you will instantly invite them to follow you, where they will repeatedly shout a random price at you. If you are seen even paying attention to the first person you will become a magnet for every merchant in a 10 mile radius. If you do find yourself being followed by 30+ people shouting prices at you, the best defense is to just get in your car and shut the door. You will probably have to endure people tapping on the windows and sometimes if you really seem like a hot target, they will chase the car, but that will only last mile or so. Otherwise just be firm. Look the salesperson in the eye and just say no.
Here is my last and final tip. If you find that the people you are with are making a large purchase (in this case my parents) at any sort of specialty shop, never hesitate to ask for the salesperson to throw in a small item that you want for free. There are different variations of this technique, but they are all about the same. They consist of acting annoyed and uninterested. Sometimes I even walk out of the room (note: this can also be done with tour guides who like the sound of their own voice a little too much). Only slowly do I open up and offer my opinion which encourages my parents to purchase more from the shop thus making the sales person very happy with you. Finally, when they have decided to purchase more stuff in the shop, you are free to ask the salesperson to throw that item in for free (or at a large discount!) in which case they are more obliged to give you what you want.
Bargaining can be a positive and fun experience. Merchants expect you to haggle and they enjoy it as well. It is best to use humor and stay calm and do not rest until you have gotten the price that you want. Sometimes just walking away is the best haggling tool of them all. After following all these tips, be careful not to become too good of a bargainer, in which case you find yourself haggling for a better price without knowing what it is your are bargaining for. This usually happens at the end of a trip after one has had many successful bargaining attempts and you find you have no more room in your suitcase for all the stuff you have bought.
P.S. The video below captures some of the essence of bargaining.
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