Bargaining When Shopping at Markets

Bartering and bargaining can be an intimidating activity, especially for people who steer away from confrontation. To ease yourself into it, don´t think of bartering as an argument, but instead, think of it as a game or a friendly competition. The end goal is to see who can win, and the goal for you is walk away with the item at the most reasonable price possible.

First, have an idea of what price you are willing to pay. If you walk into a loud, congested market with no clue how much money you’re planning to spend, you could end up forking over $100 for a set of bath towels. Think of the items you need to purchase and develop a general price point.

Once you have established an acceptable price, start low. In fact, start as low as you feel comfortable. When you ask the vendor how much it costs, counter with a lower-than-desired offer. Then as you bargain to meet in the middle, the vendor will think he is getting a lot more than you were willing to pay.

As you negotiate, don’t be afraid to walk away if the vendor won’t budge toward your preferred price. Vendors want to sell, so the act of walking away may actually convince them to accept your price. Happy bartering!