Tips on Haggling

[WesternCanadaKing]

I'm heading to Hong Kong for a few days next week and am looking to get some good deals on clothes and other things, but I know I'm going to have to do a fair bit of haggling. I don't have much experience in doing this and don't want to get ripped off so any tips that anyone could provide would be really helpful, especially if you have experience shopping in Asia. Also, where would I go in Hong Kong to get the best deals?

[Rifleman]

Ask for 50% off. If they say no, take 40% off. If they say no, just walk away. If they say "Waaaiit!!" then you negotiate from there. You can always come back, but they may lose a buyer.

50% is only a number I used while haggling in Malaysia. It could vary in HK, but if you get a lot of stores letting you walk away, then maybe you are asking for too much of a deal.

[FurnaceFace]

I don't know about HK, and how prevalent haggling is, but other places I've been whatever price they give you, start at about 1/3 of that and if you end up at 50% or less you're good.

Best thing is to just feign partial interest. You're interested in their stuff, but not so interested your committed, and you could walk out at any time without regrets.

Another approach I happened on accidentally is if you're with other people they hang back and show no interest and say "we have to go" a couple of times. Act real rushed and say "I have to go soon" and waffle over whatever it is you're looking at and say I can't decide, I'll come back tomorrow. If they really want a sale they'll come down further from their "best price". If they don't, then you're off to the next store.

Here's a site I just found: http://www.wikihow.com/Haggle-in-China

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

I'm heading to Hong Kong for a few days next week and am looking to get some good deals on clothes and other things, but I know I'm going to have to do a fair bit of haggling. I don't have much experience in doing this and don't want to get ripped off so any tips that anyone could provide would be really helpful, especially if you have experience shopping in Asia. Also, where would I go in Hong Kong to get the best deals?

Buy me something. Something wonderfully Hong Kong.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I don't know about HK, and how prevalent haggling is, but other places I've been whatever price they give you, start at about 1/3 of that and if you end up at 50% or less you're good.

Best thing is to just feign partial interest. You're interested in their stuff, but not so interested your committed, and you could walk out at any time without regrets.

Another approach I happened on accidentally is if you're with other people they hang back and show no interest and say "we have to go" a couple of times. Act real rushed and say "I have to go soon" and waffle over whatever it is you're looking at and say I can't decide, I'll come back tomorrow. If they really want a sale they'll come down further from their "best price". If they don't, then you're off to the next store.

Here's a site I just found: http://www.wikihow.com/Haggle-in-China

Just to add to this, I haven't been to China specifically, but everywhere else I've been in the world, there are a 100 stands with the exact same merchandise. So feel free to walk away.

[Top Shelf]

Just be prepared to walk away, and actually do it if you don't get what you want. Set a limit, and stick to it. I find that the other party will pick up on that and more then often meet on your terms.

[DementedReality]

i put various denominations in different pockets ... if its a small purchase, i just say .. see i only have $5.00 (for example). or i might use the 20 pocket, i will have a 100 pocket .. again, the figures are relative ... this way you set your max price and dont be afraid to walk away .. im HKG there is nothing you cant get at another 500 stalls.

basic rule of thumb though if you touch, be prepared to go through the pain the a$$ of "buy it, buy it" ... i have been to HKG about 10 times and been through most of the markets ... where are you staying? TST?

You will probably goto the night market or the ladies/sports/electronic markets in Mong Kok... ugh, dont wear open toe shoes :-)

edit: at one market i was buying a knock off purse for my MIL and the vendor wanted like 500hkd .... i said i only had 100 .... it was painful, but when to pay her the 100, i only had 30 (i thought i had 100) ... she landed up with 30, i tried to let her off the hook, but i said all i have is 30,take it or leave it, sorry. she took it, i felt bad. but goes to show you how much they will try and ask for if you dont bargain.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

I'm surprised you didn't ask an asian guy like me. I did start that "ask me anything, I'm an asian guy" thread after all.

Say "Gai Taw Chin?" and repeatedly point to the object in question.

They respond

Say "Tai Taw" and wave your hand around violently

They respond

say "yut pun" and do a slashing motion with your arm, like you're cutting a tree with a samurai sword.

If they shake their head, walk away. If they nod, give them $5cdn.

[VladtheImpaler]

OK, having been to China, and the Silk Market in Beijing less than a year ago, I can actually offer some info. The post above saying "offer 50%" and go up from there - VERY BAD ADVICE - Rifleman must be related to a vendor. That is far, far too high. To give you an idea, here are some of the prices we paid - high-quality Coach purses $9-15; North Face windbreakers - $12, Billabong t-shirts - $4, silk scarves - $4-6, soccer jerseys $7-9. Basically your first offer should be 1% of what they are asking. Don't be ashamed - their initial price is what you would pay for the real stuff here or even more. Always keep a smile on your face and be friendly - "ha, ha - you are crazy - way too high - I can give you $1" kind of stuff. If you are buying things like purses or watches - KNOW YOUR BRANDS - they will usually try to sell you cheap knock-offs, but if you tell them that you want real quality stuff, they will bring out the high-end merchandise. Mrs. Impaler got a couple Coach purses, and her Coach-expert friends can't tell any difference between the Chinese version and the real stuff. Be prepared to walk away - we got some of our deals as we were "leaving". Be prepared for some abuse - a few times I drove such a hard bargain, they would tell Mrs. Impaler to divorce me, not to have my children, and that I was a bad, cheap man. That's when I knew I got a good deal. You should wind up paying no more than 10-30% of the original price, depending on the product.
Hope that helps.

[Papi34]

honestly the biggest thing is holding your stance dont back down from what you want.
If you show weakness, they win. Dont be afraid to walk away.

[Byrns]

http://www.beijingtraveltips.com/tip...ning_howto.htm

[Tower]

Walk around with a bomb strapped to your chest... If they don't give you what you want!!!!

[jjbouma]

Have to agree with the earlier post about Beijing. I was just at the Silk Market a month ago and didn't pay more than 10-20% of what they started with sometimes. For example a Patek Philippe watch I bought started out at 1250 RMB (~250 CAD) and I ended up paying 70 RMB (and it still works!). Be prepared to work for the prices though. Make them give you a reasonable offer before you start giving them offers and you're first offer should be no more than 5% of what they offer you. They will laugh at you and give you all the standard lines but if you hold your ground and walk away a few times for each item you buy you should be good. If you walk away and they don't chase after you then you know you're doing fairly well in terms of the price you were last at.

Also, I'll be going to HK this summer with a couple of friends from China and they say to go to Shenzhen (right across the border into mainland China) because it's much cheaper, so if you have your Chinese visa then I would suggest doing that.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Tower

Walk around with a bomb strapped to your chest... If they don't give you what you want!!!!

This is definitely a tactic you don't want to overuse.... very effective if you pick your spots