how to bargain?

Answer 1

If you want to bargain for goods in Thailand and Bangkok, you need to learn a couple of Thai phrases or you will never get anywhere

You should also know the how to say things like 10, 20, 50, 75, 100, 200, 250, 500 baht in Thai.

If you are a foreigner here, the price will start off as much as 5 to 6 times as high as it should be. (Thai's think all foreigners are rich!)

You need to ask in Thai "How much is this item" - Tao-rai Baht krup/ka (krup if you are male, ka if you are female))

vendor will say something like nung pang - 1000 baht

Then in Thai you need to say - Pang Mak! (means its too expensive).

Then when the vendor says something that it is not too expensive, you keep saying Pang, Pang and shake your head no

Then ask if you can have a discount - Lod noi dai mai?

The vendor will probably come back and say something or show you a price on a calculator 850 baht

Then you start the same process - Pang Mak! Shake your head no!

Ask for another discount Lod Noi Dai Mai?

They may show you 750 baht on the calculator

You have to keep repeating this process UNTIL YOU GET THE PRICE THAT YOU WANT

Remember in Thailand there are 100's of vendors selling the EXACT SAME THINGs so if you do not get the price you want, walk away

The vendor will either offer your price, or you can find your price somewhere else.

This examply is really aimed towards vendors selling on the street, Night bazaar, etc. If there is a large concentration of foreigners like the Chatuchak Weekend Market or the Suan Luum Night Bazzar, many vendors will be less likely to deal with your requests for discounts like the street vendors along Sukhumvit Road or other places.

I have seen items quoted at 1250 baht get sold for 250 baht so keep that in mind when you are negotiating


Sorry my spelling of thai words to english, I spelled so you would get an idea how to pronounce them

Answer 2

Bradfords answer was great and speaking a little thai goes a long way. But.. if that intimidates you, you really do not need to do all that. Hands down, they want your business and will give you a fair price if you know how to haggle politely, and are ready to leave without the item.

The key is to be polite, smile, and even when you say "pang mak mak" (very expensive) do so in a playful way. General rule of thumb, cut the price in half and work your way up slightly. They all have calculators, so you do not need to know how to say numbers in thai. They show you 1000 on a calculater, offer 500 ( if that seems fair). Work your way up a bit and remember, hagglin is part of the fun and you are taking about a couple of dollars here and there. If you really don't want it or if the price is not right, just say no thanks and walk away. They will keep trying to get to you by lowering the price! The same item is 2 stalls down and they know that.

Answer 3

It is common to bargain in night markets and street stalls. If the vendor gives an amount, ask if you can have the item for half the price. That way, if the vendor ups the price, it should be near to half the price.

I've experienced bargaining in China. For this silver bracelet, it was priced at HK$350, I ended up buying the item at HK$150. It depends on the product you are buying. You also must have an idea of the price range.

Answer 4

Not good. I think the next time I shop for clothes, I'll go to a Pantaloon Factory Outlet and avail the offer - buy 2 get 3 free. 5 for the price of 2 !! Great deal, I mean, bargaining.