Culture Bargaining

Bargaining, Bartering, Haggling

Many countries rely on a culture of bargaining. To the traveller this seems to represent a challenge to haggle relentlessly over the miniscule amounts of money which they wouldn’t give a second thought about in everyday life.

Bear in mind that a small amount to you, can represent a day’s food or more to the vendor.

Bargaining should be done in good humour and even though you will inevitably be paying an inflated price, I can guarantee that it doesn’t begin to bear on what you would pay at home.

A classic complaint from travelers is that they pay double what locals pay.

My response is that even on minimum wages, the traveler probably earns 50 times what a local does, so we’re not doing too badly overall.

Bargain in the spirit of the situation, not as a means of competition.