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Posts: 362

Shifu

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Q: Bargaining in Beijing, the basics?

How do you guys bargain when going shopping in market? I asked one of the secretary at my job, in my effort of reconciliation with her, because she's not productive. If she worked as much as she cried, our company would be brazillionaires by the end of the year!

So she told me to never bargain for less than 90% of the price given by the vendor. Problem is another secretary told me it's moar or less 80%. The Mexican guy from IT said to lower by 75% up front, while the Scottish woman said 50% is a good start.

I'm confused. Any halp?

12 years 35 weeks ago in  Shopping - China

 
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Posts: 335

Shifu

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Poutine Milord,

There's a little game I like to play when bargaining in China. It's called 'The Apostate's Blood' which in Finnish (Suomi) is 'Luopionen Veri'.

First, you have to spend the first 4 minutes trying to persuade the vendor to come on a date with you. You can use simple body language like smiling, raising your eyebrows when they talk, wrinkling your nose, and if they prove stubborn, maybe you can implement some high fives or a pelvic thrust (I would save the super-spinorama until you actually seal the deal however). Once you are pretty certain they would love to join you for dinner, THEN you start the bargaining, because by now you have established a relationship where they are inferior to you.

Secondly, you must choose something you don't like. This is important. Try something like a fake Gucci purse, or a resin statue of Chairman Mao, or some Crocs. Then you have to bargain quite hard (e.g. if they say 200, you say 20) Then keep bargaining hard, smiling, wrinkling your nose, and blowing kisses at them until they get down to 50. They will say "This is the lowest price I can offer you!"

Then - the magic point - you walk away and say 'Nevermind'.... what happens next is an amazing piece of psychology... the vendor will run after you and say "Ok Ok, 20 you take it! 20 ok!"

Then you say 'No I really don't want it, what would I do with a plastic frog ashtray anyway?' Then when you start to leave they will become really angry and curse you.

That's the lesson. After you have done this once, you can start employing the same technique on things you DO really want. And within a few tries, I believe victory will be yours my friend!

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12 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 108

Governor

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Hi Poutine!

I remove 25 to 50% of the price and bargain until he just gives up in frustration.

Don't let them win! ever! Just go to the next door shop and so on.
Good chances he will call you back and offer you the price you wanted or the next shop will!

Njord is right haggling is part of there culture! It gets fun after awhile Laughing out loud
Practice is key Cool

Good luck bud!

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12 years 35 weeks ago
 
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Real bargaining does not begin until you start to walk away.

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12 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 436

Shifu

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never quote your price ...let him come down until the price is ok for you to buy .
good luck

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12 years 35 weeks ago
 
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