Do you only barter with street merchants or in stores as well?
Rheumy Sven, Jul 07, 2005
Bartering is breathing in Asia, and outside of Vietnam I found it to be a really friendly affair - if a little theatrical. Supposedly you’re looked at as stupid if you don’t barter at least a little. A lot of it involves them punching a number on a calculator and you shaking your head and punching a smaller number in on a calculator, repeat ad nauseum. You don’t barter in the 7-11 or Burger King, no, but any market-type joint, yeah, barter.
You can sometimes get the prices down to 20% or less - though it depends on how bad you were being ripped off. Be less aggressive outside of Bangkok, Beijing, Phnom Penh and other majorly touristy areas as the people are trying to rip you off less the further you get from those. Always try to be nice when bargaining, especially in Thailand and Cambodia.
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