11 Top Tips for Bartering and Haggling for That Vacation Bargain ...

By Neecey

11 Top Tips for Bartering and Haggling for That Vacation Bargain ...

Let’s face it, we all want to get some vacation bargains. Haggling is part and parcel of Asian and African countries – something pretty alien to us in the West. But if your vacation haggling hasn’t had the success that you were hoping for, then read through these 11 top tips to find out more. Vacation bargains are actually easier to get than you think and it could be just your holiday haggling skills that are holding you back. Full prices are for losers, let’s get some great deals!

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1

Exchange Rates

The absolute first rule you have to know to haggle for vacation bargains is to understand the exchange rate. Have a simple calculation method in your head so you can make quick conversions. Don’t be ashamed to whip out your cellphone and use the calculator function if you’re not so hot at basic math or the local currency has 10,000 somethings to the dollar.

2

Going Rates

One of the keys to getting vacation bargains is knowing exactly when to stop. Stopping is not something you can do if you have no idea about the rough price range you are aiming for, though. Find out the going rate for an item by asking some fellow tourists what they paid for certain items. Asking fellow tourists is a tactic that has varying degrees of success due to language barriers and the fact that there might not be many fellow tourists around, though, so watch out!

3

Patience is a Virtue

Never attempt to get vacation bargains by telling the seller what you want to pay for it. Make sure that they reveal their asking price first. There’s no point trying to get a certain price if the initial asking price happens to be in another galaxy. If this is the case then either review your own price or simply walk away.

4

Undercutting

Once the asking price has been revealed, the activity of vacation haggling can truly begin! Put in a price between a quarter and a half of the price that was asked for. Two reactions are bound to arise. The salesperson may react in horror or disgust, in which case you’ve gone way too low. Alternatively, they agree to it, in which case they’ve got you because you bid too high in the first instance.

5

Randomizer

Vacation bargains are gained by those extra few pence. Salespeople that deal with tourists know all about hagglers, so throw them off their game by making a higher offer when the salesperson comes down, but do not apply the same increment he has. So if he comes down by 5 units, you only go up by 1 or 2.

Famous Quotes

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

Albert Schweitzer
6

Bulk Rates

If you are looking to get a few items then keep this to yourself for now. Get the price set in stone for the first item and then attempt to ask for a bulk rate afterwards. Most salespeople tend to agree to this.

7

Walk Away

Walking away is the oldest trick in the book, and yet it often works like a charm. Vacation bargains are often won and lost on nerve, so seem disinterested and then the salesperson is on the defensive. Just beware that you may really end up walking away without the item!

8

Time Wasting

Cultural differences are going to be encountered whilst on vacation, but etiquette and pure good manners dictates that you actually buy the item when you haggle for vacation items. Don’t attempt to barter for an item you don’t really want as this is just rude and ill-advised. .

9

Patience is a Virtue, the Second

Take your time with vacation haggling. It’s an art form and both tourist and salesperson can have a good time doing it. There’s no need to rush your tactics and it’s not a war, so passionate outbursts shouldn’t find their way into the process of holiday bartering. Keep good humor, be demonstrative but don’t seem to be mocking or disrespectful.

10

Life and Death

There are limits to how far haggling should go. If you are arguing over an extra $1 then you are going too far. What you have to remember is that extra $1 could pay for a family meal in some of these countries. Selfishness isn’t attractive and you shouldn’t let it become a part of your haggling arsenal.

11

Victory

Leading on from not haggling too hard, remember that victory is only going to mean that you will save between 1-10%. Going in with hopes that eclipse this level is nothing but wishful thinking and is incredibly rare.

Vacation bargains are fantastic to get, and the rush of winning a hard-fought vacation haggling session is truly a good feeling, but remember that the true excitements comes from the act itself. Yes, you are going to save money and get some vacation bargains, but vacation haggling is a riveting activity in itself! Have you ever had any unforgettable haggling encounters?

Top Image Source: hdrcreme.com

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Haggling is great way to save some money, but haggling is not that easy. One needs to be a lil-bit peoples person, plus haggling is game of wits, which is always fun.

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