I had a great time at Fan Expo (Comic-Con) in Philly over the weekend! Can you guess who I dressed up as?
That's right, Spider-Man! 🕸️🕷️
I even had the opportunity to meet Giancarlo Esposito, the actor who played Gus in Breaking Bad. He's a friendly guy, but when the cameras came out, he was able to get into character so quickly.
Americans generally don't like to haggle, but it's a valuable skill to have and an integral part of many cultures. In fact, to some, haggling is almost like a sport. For instance, in Morocco, it's common for items not to have a listed price. Below are some tips to help you become a haggling pro:
Don't look too interested - I've seen too many tourists jump straight to
the object they want to buy, which instantly signals to the owner that they can charge you more money. You always want to give off the impression that you're not particularly interested in anything. So, if you see something you like, keep your cool and
continue browsing like you don’t need to buy anything.
Don't touch - Touching an item shows that you're too interested so refrain from touching things. Plus, the item could be a piece of junk that falls apart
when you touch it. If that happens, you know what that means: you break it, you buy it!
Don't buy from the first vendor - That trinket you can't leave Morocco without is probably available next door. For that reason, don't purchase your souvenir from the first store no matter how good the price is. Worst-case
scenario, you can always come back.
Don't be mean - The first offer they give you is probably going to be so high that it's offensive, so brace yourself beforehand. Being mean gets you nowhere because everyone has pride. If you reply in a mean way, they'll tell you to
f*** off, and then you'll have nothing. During the negotiation, try to appear friendly and chill...even if you’re not!🤣
Let them make the first
offer - You'd be surprised at how many deals you can get just by letting the other person make the first offer. This is a great tactic because then you can negotiate for an even better price!
Don't be afraid to walk away - It sounds cliché, but you can close many deals just by showing that you're willing to walk away. Walking away can be a good thing. By showing the other party that you're not desperate and that you have other options, you may actually increase your leverage and improve your negotiating position.
Carry cash in different locations - This is a more advanced move. If you're dead set on buying something, store cash in multiple areas on your body. That way, when you negotiate, you can say, "I'd love to buy this item, but I only have $10 left on me. Can you give me a
better offer?"
Be willing to negotiate on more than just price - Sometimes, the owner will refuse to budge on the price for some unknown reason. However, that doesn't mean the negotiations are over. See if you can get another product thrown in for free, increase the quantity, or even throw in a dinner date with your friend. Everything is fair game when haggling!
One person does the talking - If you're in a group while you're haggling, one person should be doing all the talking. I hate it when I'm haggling, and a friend says something that weakens my position. For example, if a friend blurts
out, "I love this piece and that's a great price," it destroys any opportunity for me to get a cheaper price. If discussion really needs to happen, simply call a timeout and go talk on the side. Then come back and resume negotiations.
A couple of important lines - I used a couple of these lines when I first started haggling to feel less awkward. Use these too and freestyle once you become better.
"Can you give me a better deal?"
"That's kinda outside my price range. What else can you do?"
"You seem like a genuine guy and I want to buy from you. What's your best offer?"
Don't beat yourself up if you don't do well initially. Haggling is a skill, and when you start to get better, it can be so much fun!
Random Travel Thought
What tactics do you use to get a better price when haggling?
