Cheap Cheap China: The Art of Bargaining

Living in China can be really inexpensive, but you have to know where to go, and more importantly, you have to be able to bargain. On everything. From fruits to clothes to bikes, it’s like everything is on fire sale in China, but you have to ask for it, and you have to ask hard. So, here are some quick tips on how to bargain in China.



Go in with the mentality that it’s ok to leave empty-handed.The key to bargaining is to seem as if you don’t want the item. Once a merchant sees that you really want something, he or she won’t budge on the price. Also, don’t be afraid to just leave in the middle of the bargaining process. In most cases, once you start walking away, the merchant will call out to you with a lower price. And even if he or she doesn’t, chances are that two stores over, they have the exact same item and you can just try again.



Start low.Really low. In some places, especially in tourist areas, merchants raise prices nine or ten times higher. So a general rule of thumb is to start at about 10% the asking price. From there, you’ll go back and forth, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to 30% of asking price. It’s best to actually find out beforehand what price you’re likely to be able purchase the item, from a friend or on the internet, so that you know roughly how much you should pay



Go with a friend. The strength in numbers tactic really applies here. While one person bargains, they other points out flaws as if giving reasons why they price should be lower. Also, if you buy more than one item, merchants are usually more willing to give you a discount.



Don’t waste your time.There are times when a merchant doesn’t want to bargain, usually because he or she knows that if you won’t buy it, another unsuspecting foreigner will come along at some point and buy it for the asking price. You can usually sense when this is the case, and when you do, just move on. Chances are, they’d be very difficult to bargain anyway. Further, people have spent a lot of time trying to get that last 5 or 10 RMB just because their friend got it for that price. But it is an arduous process to get it, and you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it to spend 40 minutes just to squeeze that last 5 RMB. Keep in mind that they need to eat as well, and 5 RMB can go a long way for a Chinese local.



All things considered, bargaining is not for the feint of heart, especially when you first arrive in China. But once you get used to it, it can actually be fun. And for those who just don’t like it, there are places where you don’t have to bargain as long as you’re willing to pay a slightly higher price.







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