how to bargain?

Answer 1

Depends if you are buying or selling.

If buying. Decide in advance how much you are willing to pay and don't go above it. no matter what. Ask the price. If it's obviously too high offer an eqally ridiculous low price. Say they're asking too much. They will come down. Say it's still too much. If they ask how much you'd pay say 'No, how much will you charge?' Don't fall for that one. The price you say may be more than they'd expect. Keep offering low until they drop the price to what you want. Still try for a reduction even after that as you don't want them to know you've reached your target price. If they don't drop enough say 'No thanks, not interested at that price' and WALK AWAY. They'll either give in or not. If they do, fine. If not keep walking. The price ain't right.

If selling do it in reverse. Decide the lowest price you'd sell at and stick to it. Start high and when they offer less say 'Sorry, I really couldn't let it go for that. Let's be reasonable. You make me a decent offer and I'll consider it.' They should up their bid. Don't accept less than you want. If they don't reach it say 'Sorry, that's really just not enough.' Put the item down or away and look as if you've lost interest. If they want it they'll bid more. If they don't keep hold of it. When reducing the price shake you're head a little and sigh and say 'Well, I shouldn't really but I'll tell you what. Give me xxx and it's yours.' Make sure xxx is more than you want. That gives you a little more bargaining power.

Whichever it is, buying or selling never vary from your chosen price. It is easy in the heat of the moment to offer more or accept less but if you do you're failing in your bargaining.

Answer 2

Remember that most of the money these people get is from foreigners. 6 months of the year there are barely any tourists there and they struggle. So, letting them make some profit from you is a kind gesture. If you are getting something significantly cheaper than what you would pay in your own country, then be happy with it. If you stay for a while, you'll get to know the price of things. Also, its usually only the market places that will allow you to bargain, the shopping centres are all a set price. Here's a tip- don't pay too much more than 150B for t-shirts, 200B for sunglasses, 3000B for tailor made suit, 80-100B for DVD's/CD's. If you buy in bulk you can get good discounts. Also, speaking a bit of Thai will give them the impression that you've been there a while and they won't try to rip you off too much. Just remember that many Thais work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for less than 10 000B a month, so try not to be too scungy.

Answer 3

well,i'm thai and i have a small stall selling things for tourist. so i meet lots of tourist and the kind+cruel bargain style.

i don't mind about bargain,if i can discount,i will. i always honest with myself and my customer,if they ask for the price that i can't sell,and they walk away,i never get angry. i know that it's their right to choose what the best and chepest for them,lots of time i even tell them to check around in another places,and they can come back later to my shop,if they can't find any that better and cheaper than mine.

but i really hate some tourist that treat me like a s..h..i..t.
if they wanna bargain,should talk with me a proper talk. but some start to talk more out loud and make an angry face with me and then try to lie about my product and the price or complain about the thing that not true. i never fight back,i always end up with "i don't want to agruement with u,if u don't wanna by anything from me,it's not a problem for me,thank u and good bye"

well,but i know that the other seller are not the same as me,some are really greedy and charge to much than normal or some are quite rude.

but the important thing is if u wanna bargain,please talk with all sellers as a good talk,good voice,good action. then wait and notice that how the character of the seller,u will know by sense that which one is a greedy seller,which one is not. so if u find out the bad one,just leave their shop without buying.

Answer 4

Both of these answers are true, although the major, single influence you will have in bargaining while buying in Thailand, is SMILE. Do not raise your voice, do not lose your temper, do not ridicule or insult the seller or the product, lots of smiles.
Never use your left hand when doing any transactions, its for wiping yourself! Right hand only will get you respect, left hand will not.
Do not pick up anything you see or enter into any negotiation in less you really want to buy it. The best buys are often first thing in the morning/ as soon as they open for trade. Good luck n all!
Once you have bought it, be happy with it. You own it, and at the price you are happy with. My adage is although you may once in a while see the same thing cheaper, you may also never see the thing you neglected to buy again - has happened to me too often.

Answer 5

You have to know what is the selling price of the item to bargain with. High you bring it down. If it is offered to you at low price already, there is no point bargaining as the seller is going to make a loss already and no seller in the world would like to sell at a loss.

If you know of any, let me know.

Answer 6

Learn the language, speak a little thai and they will instantly come down on the price in most places. There are way too many techniques to say here and they probably wouldnt be fully understood anyway. Remember body language is important. If you are in thailand and would like some personal lessons just email me and we can do some shopping together.