£10??….I’ll Give You 50p!!
One of the most unique experiences whilst in China is buying from street vendors at Chinese markets. And being a British born use to set price tags, the concept was magnificent. Known for being a trade society, China is packed with stalls selling clothing, electrical and souvenirs for both the eager tourist and the local native. It was within this environment the SCP ambassadors were introduced to the concept of Haggling..the Chinese way!
Rules of Bartering: The Chinese Way
Recently it is becoming common knowledge that foreigners are charged exceptionally more than natives when purchasing in China. So to save yourself a great deal of money, ensure you follow these 5 simple rules!
1. Offer 90% Less Than Vendor – It sounds crazy but it works. If they offer 元100 (£10), offer them 元10 (£1). Even if you are scoffed at, you can then increase your offer slowly by 元5 (50p) and reach an agreement well below 50% of the original price. Champion hagglers achieve below 70%
2. Be Persistent – Bartering is a game. Tell yourself the maximum price you are willing to pay, then accept nothing above this price. By taking control and holding your ground, you will gain respect from the vendor and often triumph
3. Shop Around – Vendors are plentiful and generally at least one other will sell the same thing. Not only does this give you a price index to aim at but is a great way of gaining leverage. If one vendor is offering lower than the other…tell them!
4. Walk Away – Walking away mid-way through bartering is a clear sign you are ‘not interested,’ and works absolute wonders when trying to achieve a good price. By walking away, often vendors agree to prices they originally declined. Remember if you leave…they lose a sale!
5. Speak Chinese – If you want to gain respect immediately and avoid being overcharged, use as much chinese as possible..even if it is just the numbers! It is extremely surprising how much money you can save by using simple phrases. If the vendor determines, even as a foreigner, you understand the process and the prices, negotiation is quicker and more successful
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He Fang Street 河坊街
He fang street became the street to be for casual tourist shopping…and a place to practice those bartering skills. Boasting a long strip of Vendors, tea houses, medicine and historical shops, He Fang is the perfect place for paintings, souvenirs, crafts, art or just general miscellaneous commodities. It even has candy sculptors, pillow shops, caricaturists and old-fashioned movie players.
There are also restaurants featuring foreign food to stop by if you get hungry. Cuisine on offer includes Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, spicy Sichuan-style, northern-style restaurants and even a McDonald’s for the homesick (or those with bad taste!) Of course for the brave hearted there’s always a chance to try the local delicacy….scorpion on a stick. Unfortunately as food is so cheap, the price cannot be bartered…incase you were wondering about the looks from vendors.
Other Locations of choice
Silk Market – Hangzhou is renowned for producing fabulous silk at competitive prices. Perhaps more for the ladies than the gents..unless your interested by silk scarfs and robes
Clothing Market – If you want to cut retailers to the chase, then do one better and buy from who they buy from. The clothing market boasts a warehouse full of clothes manufacturers and haggling and buying in bulk drives prices considerably…Just ensure your happy to pay the excess baggage
Electronic Market – Unfortunately if one of your expectations of China is cheap electronics…your half right. The electronic markets offers lots of products including cameras, laptops and ipads but there price is determinant on quality..with the best quality holding a price tag close to home.
Reflection: China is a great place to buy presents for family and friends back home and prices can be drove down with great haggling. But beware of products over 元200 (£20), as quality decreases with the price
Danny Perks
