When shopping in Singapore is it customary to Barter as is the case in Thailand ...?

Question

or are the prices all fixed.

Also - when i was in Thailand i found that the womens clothing sizes were all extremely small - is this also the case in Singapore?

Answer 1

i'm a singaporean...

no prices are generally fixed in departmental stores.. however that said, unless they have fixed price stated on the shops, you could bargain/haggle with them... However, it is not customary to haggle over day-to-day products like plates, cups etc... but if you're getting stuff from chinatown shops and bugis and those smaller one, you could haggle..

unlike some countries, the shopkeepers are usually honest and will budge if you cut the prices a little.. however, cut it too much and u risk setting a commotion...

For clothes, You have to try for yourself and make a comparison.. it depends on who is selling it and where the stock comes from... but generally, the quality is much better than what i get elsewhere...

Answer 2

Yes, always!! I've been to Singapore many times and bought various things. I even negotiated price for a Sony camera in Tang's department store on Orchard Rd. In the street markets and smaller shops do the 1/3 rule - start your offer there and keep at it. If you go to walk away after a while and they don't call you back and make another offer then you know you won't get it any cheaper. Best advice is to know what you are prepared to pay and stick to it. If you walk away a few times, then you have an idea what the going price is. In the larger dept stores, there is not the same margin, but it is always worth asking for their 'best price', and then trying to knock something off that. If you are buying an electrical item, camera etc, it is always worth taking the product details and a price list from home. Some people have ended up paying more than they would at home cos they get sucked in. Clothes are a slightly different matter. Haggle in the street markets and again ask for the best price in other shops, particularly if you are buying more than one item.

Answer 3

Hi, in most of the retail stores, the price is fixed. There is no bargaining allowed. However, you can try to check if they have any in-store promotion that might offer you a package deal or discount if you include certain other items.

Thailand shops carry clothes for their own people, who will tend to be smaller. Also they used simplified sizes like S,M and L only, and westerners find they need to get XL to fit!

In Singapore, western-sizes are carried inthe stores, so you can get a pretty good size fit. And there are some shops that carry larger size clothes too. Do look around. The sale is ogoing now.

Answer 4

In shopping centres the prices are fixed. Even in night markets, don't expect the 50%-off-asking-price rule like in Thailand, Indonesia or China.

However shopping in Singapore can be fun too. There are three seasons in Singapore: hot, hotter, hottest. But the sales happens throughout the year. There is the Great Singapore Sales going on now.

Check out this website www.greatsingaporesales.com.sg Major malls are extending its shopping hours until 11 am or 12 midnight. So you can fully utilise your time when you're here. Best of all, there are eataries all over-- cafes, bakeries, food court, posh restaurants--great varieties to fit all budget. anytime you need to recharge your energy you'll be spoilt for choice.

As for sizes, it is best to try them on. Different stores has different sizes. Generally, local and asian brands are smaller. There are also European sizes and American sizes. For example, I fit a BCBG 6, GAP small, Topshop (UK) 10-12 but for local brands, i look like a swollen dumpling in the small. Local Medium or even Large, and sometimes extra-large (those from Hong Kong!) fits me better. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Errr. . . Bargain you mean?

Barter is to exchange goods. Like if I catch fish, and you have chicken, we barter trade, perhaps 3 fish for a chicken.

Anyway, most shops things are fix.

In Singapore, you may be in Asian, but the system is not Asian at all. The price in Singapore is fairly reasonable. Not forgetting the labour cost is as high as in the west.

As for the size of clothing, I was told by my wife that it can be rather small for most Caucasian

Answer 6

In the street markets, you are expected to negotiate for a better price. The best buys are in the street markets. Just do not think that you are really buying what you think you are. Almost everything in the street markets are spin-offs of the original product.
Sizes are different, even when they have the same number. Try it on if possible but do not go by the size in the label. If you look around , anywhere in Asia , you will notice a shortage of White Whales. Asian women tend to be petite, well mannered and very feminine.

Answer 7

no it's not customary unless you're at a night market/pasar malam, sungei road or at one of the weekend markets. you could try bargaining at bugis street but most of them already have price tags which means they aren't really interested in bargaining but might still give u a discount if u get a big amount from them.

as for bigger sizes for women's clothes, you can find a few at bugis street for a lower price. other than that holland village shopping centre, habour front shopping centre and tiong bahru plaza have shops that have bigger clothes but they come at a much higher price. there's also dorethy perkins but they don't carry those that are big enough for me either.

majority of Singapore women are still stick thin so if you're out to get clothes and shoes here it'll have to take some research, as well as a lot of patience with trying on sizes and willpower not to give up hope. leave me a message if you need more help.

Answer 8

If you're in any kind of shopping centre, the price will normally be fixed although in store discounts may apply. At places like bugis village (mostly stalls) you may be able to haggle somewhat.

As for sizes, there's a pretty good variety I think. You can normally get regular stuff from sizes 0 to 12/14 although singaporean women do tend to be pretty tiny for the most part.

Answer 9

I think you mean "haggle". Bartering is when you trade something for something else. Haggling is okay in public markets, but not in stores. Singapore is actually pretty westernized, and they have many shopping centers and malls.

Answer 10

most have prices fixed. "small" is relative.. no answer for that.