Today in China

Here are the Top 10 Rules for bargaining in China I discovered in this morning’s edition of Beijing Weekend.

1. Dress down.
2. Feign fantastic disinterest.
3. Speak as much Chinese as you can.
4. When consulting with friends, use Pig Latin to speak freely among yourselves.
5. Pantomime a cardiac explosion after they offer their first outrageous price. Call the first price offered “luyouzhedejiage” (tourist price). Explain you’re not a tourist but actually living in Beijing. The usual tongue-in-cheek retort will be “Of course you’re not; I can clearly see you are Beijing ren”. Laugh heartily.
6. Panjiayuan’s peddlers love funny business, so fun finaglers with an aptitude for amusement will wheel better deals.
7. Tell them you come frequently with Chinese friends who’ve told you local prices.
8. Purport that another stall has the same thing for cheaper (about 10 yuan more than your willing to pay.
9. Once you’ve just got them where you want them, scrupulously inspect your item for any defects. Any blemishes offer final bargaining chips.
10. Start ridiculously low and increase your price by increments of 5 to 10 yuan. When you and the vendor come within 10 yuan of each other, offer to meet them in the middle.

So now, what are you waiting for? Take a cab and go practicing your new skills at panjiayuan, known also as the Thieves Market… And this name does not really come from the numerous pick-pockets you’ll find there but from the skilled shoppers…

Source:
Beijing Weekend, 2007-05-31