Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

Do you like bargaining in foreign countries? I was just in China. Phew! All I can say was at times the bargaining would get nasty. I had shopkeepers shouting at me because they didn't like the prices I was offering. I know this was just a lot of acting to get me to up my offers. Ahh! But I really didn't care for this role-playing. Do you have fun with it?

[endo]

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

It really depends on my mood and the store keeper.

One time in Bali I was bartering for a shirt and told the guy I only had a certain amount of money. So he begrudgingly gave me the low price. However, when I pulled out my wallet he saw a load of cash.

I burned him, but he assepted the deal.




Lesson learned; if you walk away from a store keeper after a purchase and they seem very happy, they got ya.


If they're just happy it may have been a good deal for both.

If they're angry you won!

[VanIslander]

Bargaining is a part of business BACK HOME in Canada! it's just no longer the predominant practice at the retail level. Still, I grew up being a bit embarrassed at my father's haggling over nearly everything! and you know what? the vast majority of businesses back home are willing to cut a deal. Buy a new suit, throw in a tie. Get a living set, insist on an ottoman included, even if the salesman insists the price is fixed, talk to the boss, get it done. At the level of management, even retail, many things are negotiable and certainly in the distribution and commercial fields it is.

If you have any business sense then negotiating a price is totally comfortable.

Understanding how it is disrespectful not to haggle might take a bit more time, it did me, but you can if you look at tourists and newbies treat vendors like they are part of the woodwork instead of flesh and blood beings with needs and wants and a desire to interact. Then it makes sense.

[DCJames]

It's a necessary evil you need to go through to not get ripped off or more accurately, not get ripped off as badly.

My strategy to get the best deal is to go to 3 or 4 places that sell the thing I'm looking for. I get price quotes from each place. Go to the place with the lowest price and ask for as big of a discount as you can get. If the guy argues with your request lie and tell the guy that another place is selling what you want for the targeted discount price you had in mind. Usually they'll go for it, if not buy it at the lowest price you can get with him.

[Dev]

[spliff]

Yes, particularly so. I enjoy paying much less then those who don't haggle...gives me a mean rush!