| Recently friends of mine traveled to masai mara in | | | | Dress and Act as a Local - The longer you spend in a |
| Kenya and on completing their safari, they told me | | | | place the more you wise up to what is a rip off and |
| the safari was great but they hadn't bought a single | | | | what is not. Also if you can master a few words in |
| souvenir because everything was too expensive. On | | | | the local language you may be surprised how useful it |
| inquiring further i realised that these friends of mine | | | | can be when bargaining. Words like 'Hello' and 'too |
| had been offered souvenirs at $5000 the same | | | | expensive' when said in the local language goes a long |
| souvenirs that i could easily get for $5! | | | | way not only to impress but also create the |
| For most people especially from developed countries, | | | | impression that you know your stuff. The less you |
| bargaining is not something they are used to. I mean | | | | behave and look like a tourist the easier it will be for |
| think about it? | | | | you to get a decent price for the goods you are |
| How often do you walk into Wal-Mart and bargain | | | | buying.(Avoid those safari clothing and hats that locals |
| for your shopping? The closest most people get to | | | | may find silly or even swimming costumes and bikinis |
| bargaining these days in eBay. | | | | ) |
| In Africa bargaining is a way of life and in fact for | | | | Indifference - This perhaps combined with a little |
| most small scale sellers selling their wares. It is a | | | | charm (and skill ) could get you just about anything. |
| common practice to start high expecting the buyer | | | | If the seller knows you are hooked onto something it |
| to bargain with you. | | | | becomes very difficult to bring the price of the item |
| Bargaining therefore is an important skill to learn, since | | | | down. If you like it don't show it. |
| every time you pay that 'special' price you are not | | | | Bluff - Some of the best bargainers are also the best |
| only getting a bad deal, but you are also making | | | | at bluffing. If the price is high and the seller won't go |
| things more expensive for tourists after you who will | | | | down and you know the standard price of an item |
| find it harder to bring down inflated prices. | | | | you can bluff by telling the seller that you know a |
| Bargaining when done properly can be a lot of fun! | | | | place where you can get it for, then quote the |
| Just remember that when you are bargaining you are | | | | standard price or even cheaper. Another thing you |
| not begging the seller to sell it to you at a lower | | | | can do is, thank the seller for his time, get up and |
| price you are simply saying that the item is not | | | | start walking away. Most times than not if you have |
| worth the price quoted. | | | | offered a reasonable price for the item, the seller will |
| The golden rule to remember is NOT TO GET | | | | sell you the item at that price. |
| EMOTIONAL. | | | | Should it not work or should the item be unique then |
| Also | | | | you can always return the next day. |
| Know your limit - If you have an idea how much an | | | | Buy Bulk - Striking a good deal is often easier when |
| item costs before hand it will usually help because | | | | you are buying a lot. |
| then you can offer to buy the item at the standard | | | | Show me the money! - No one wants to leave cash. |
| market price. A little research by asking locals would | | | | It's easier for a seller to assume that you were not |
| help. In most places you as a tourist will be expected | | | | going to buy it anyway when you walk away than it |
| to pay higher but even so there are prices that locals | | | | is to see you walk away with money, especially if |
| will often find a fair price for you as a tourist. | | | | you were offering to buy at a considerable price. |