The Art of Haggling During International Travel

Haggling is common among various destinations and cultures throughout the world.

Haggling is a negotiation between two parties for a purchase or agreement.

Facts about haggling:

• Haggling is a back-and-forth exchange between two individuals, parties, and entities where price is discussed until a mutual agreement is met for purchase
• Haggling is the  norm among many cultures and is expected in various markets, street vendors, and bazaars throughout the world, such as Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Spain and Slovenia.
• According to Dream Worldtrotter, it is important to research your destination, as some areas, such as shopping malls or modern stores, view haggling as disrespectful and insulting.

Here are four suggestions to increase your negotiation skills when purchasing items during travel:

Learn Your Destination’s Haggling Culture

Haggling is a cultural practice that varies from country to country, as well as where you are shopping. In general:

• Haggling is normal and expected in Asian countries such as U.A.E., Indonesia, Malaysia; Latin countries such as Spain, Brazil, and Colombia; African countries including Egypt, Morocco;and  some European countries such as Greece, Italy, and Turkey
• Haggling is not expected and is viewed as an insult in countries such as the United States, Japan, as well as stores such as luxury shops such as Coach, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQuee,n and shopping malls such as Dubai Mall and Carrousel du Louvre

Carry Small Amounts of Local Currency

In many destinations around the world, carrying cash in local currency is vital in haggling:

• Before leaving for your destination, visit your local currency exchange to get a variety of bills in your destination’s currency to make purchases
• Avoid currency exchange at the airport and your hotel as many of them charge high exchange fees
• It’s important not to carry a large amount of cash as many destinations have a limit as to how much cash you can bring into the country and could put you at risk of theft
• Do not to rely solely on credit cards as some markets don’t have credit card capacity and, if accepted, could lead to additional fees you will have to pay

Visit Markets and Bazaars During Weekdays and Towards End of the Day

When haggling, to help you get the best prices:

• Visit shops that aren’t close to the entrance as these stores tend to draw fewer shoppers
• Go to markets and bazaars during the weekdays as there are fewer customers and vendors are more willing to negotiate
• Shop in the late afternoon and before closing times to help you get lower price

Be Friendly and Respectful with Vendors

Most importantly, conduct yourself in a respectful manner when interacting with market vendors and stores while haggling during your travels:

• Learn a few local words and phrases common in your destination
• Visit other stores before deciding where you are going to purchase items at to learn what local residents pay
• Balance your emotions by show you’re enjoying your destination but don’t display too much excitement to avoid being perceived as desperate
• Have a genuine smile – all people around the world understands a real smile and helps with rapport building