Polishing Up Your
Bargaining Moxy
By GORP Travel Expert Rob Sangster
"Bargain?" Greg said. "I'm not going to bargain! I'll just pay whatever they
ask." The expression on his face, the wrinkled nose, said it all.
Greg, having just learned that bargaining is commonplace in the country he
and his wife were about to visit, wanted no part of it. Which of these
reasons do you think motivated Greg?
There is no reason to let inhibitions stand in the way of
learning and enjoying the fine art of bargaining.
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(a) He associated bargaining with being "cheap" and he didn't want anyone to
think of him like that.
(b) He had no idea how totally unrelated to actual value the asking prices
would be.
(c) He thought paying the asking price would be a kind of charitable
contribution. "After all," he said, "they (the merchants) need the money."
(d) The only thing he'd bargained for at home was his car and he hated that
experience. He'd felt taken advantage of and wanted to avoid feeling that way
again.
(e) In his heart he was embarrassed by not knowing how to bargain.
As you guessed, Greg was motivated by every one of these reasons. As a
result, he has a problem because, in most of the world, bargaining is part of
daily life. Local merchants regard travelers who don't bargain as being so
foolish they deserve to pay a premium — so they make sure they do.
Greg needs
to do two things: First, change his attitude. Second, learn how to bargain
successfully.
With that in mind, there is no reason to let inhibitions stand in the way of
learning and enjoying the fine art of bargaining. Why waste money that could
be better used to help pay for your next trip? Instead, let bargaining
overseas hone your skills you can use to bargain successfully when you return
home.
In developing countries, prices in restaurants are usually fixed but be ready
to bargain on the price of almost everything else. That includes hotel rooms,
taxis, services of a guide, clothing, art, and souvenirs. Even in Europe,
opportunities for bargaining are far more common than most tourists realize.
Believe it or not, even air fares are negotiable in some major cities. When a
travel agent abroad quotes a fare, respond with a lower price you'd prefer to
pay. It's amazing how often the agent "discovers" a better deal. If you don't
bargain even a little, you won't get that lower fare.
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