Bargaining Fun!

It is part of the culture in China to bargain when you buy things, especially at street vendors or retail shops. You may find in more touristy places that the locals will often offer you a "special price, just for you," and it is usually very special-- sometimes 500% more than the usual market prices! Therefore, it’s important that you know both how much an item should be worth and the secrets of good bargaining before you attempt to buy something on your own in China.

Many foreigners are not used to bargaining, and some find the entire affair of having to haggle over the price a pain compared to how things are done in their countries. While it's a lot to get used to, many people find it fun once they have gotten the hang of it. Besides producing good discounts, a successful bargaining session can be fun and leave you walking away much more satisfied with your purchase than if you’d just bought something straight up like you’d do back home.

For beginners, always remember a few basic rules when you bargain. First of all, never be ashamed to bargain. Other than in major department stores and up-market establishments, every customer in China is expected to bargain (although some stores strictly stick to their marked prices and will politely tell you so if you attempt to talk their price down). Always smile when you bargain and never lose your temper, because the Chinese consider a bad-tempered or quarrelsome attitude bad business. If you deal with them in a friendly manner, they are more likely to entertain your negotiations further. There is a misconception that bargaining is about how well you can talk, but people with few words can also have the upper hand in negotiations. All you need to do is ask a few clever questions, and answer the seller with simple words such as 'cheaper', 'too expensive' or just state your price like 'fifty' or 'one hundred' and so on.

When you spot an item you wish to buy, ask the seller for the price. Take a good look at the item and figure out the price you are willing to pay (check out the articles about determining the quality of an item and average prices of items for more info), based on its quality and market price. Then you have to remark that the price offered is too expensive and the seller will ask you for your target price. Try not to reveal your price too early in the process of negotiation. Instead, ask questions about the quality of the item in a doubtful way and tell the seller to give you a better price. Usually, the seller will offer you quite a considerable reduction from the initial price, but you should still say it is too expensive. If they will not go any further without first being told your target price, take half of your target price and make an offer. In response to your price, the seller will bring the price down some more and you should in turn increase your offer by some margin of your target price (maybe 10% or so). This exchange will go on for a while and if there is still no deal when your offer is nearing your target price, walk away from the shop. Under normal circumstances, the seller will call you back and sell you the item at the last price you offered. If not, there are usually several other stores in the area that will sell identical or similar items.

At the end of the bargaining session, if the seller is happy and smiling, you probably know you didn't get the best possible deal. However, if you figure that you made a good enough discount for yourself, it will be more than worth the effort. On the flipside, if the seller is almost visibly angry with you, chances are you got a smokin' deal (though you never know, it could just be an act!).