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istanbul
NEVER LOOK TOO INTERESTED
“Welcome, my friend. How are you?” You’ll hear this line a
multitude of times while browsing the Grand Bazaar in almost
every language on the globe. It’s their way of touching base
and getting you to have a look around their shop.
If you’re looking for an item they have, by all means, enter
the shop and look around. Once you see something you
like, don’t stop there. Check out some more pieces and
make a mental inventory of what the shop has to offer. At
the same time, doing this prevents you from showing you’re
eager to buy a certain item. Only once you’re ready to start
bargaining do you take the item you like and casually ask
about the price.
DON’T NAME YOUR BEST PRICE
At this stage, he’ll try to make you value the product by asking
what your best price would be. Never fall for this trick. Once
you put a price on it, that’s it: you will never be able to go under
that price.
Instead, make him take the first step and put out the opening
bid of the bargaining process. Of course, you should look
surprised and find the price outrageous. And, that’s where
the first part of this article kicks in. Put down the product,
don’t look at any other product (you already know what’s
in the store), slowly start walking towards the door while
looking at the items of the shop across, which happens to
sell similar items. If he buys your bluff, he’ll be quick to make
a new offer. Let the real bargaining begin!
TEA TIME
Slow and steady wins the race. Never rush the bargaining
process. It’s important to keep sending signals that you’re not
sure you really need to buy the product, let alone at the price
he’s offering it for. His urge to sell should always be higher than
yours to buy.
It’s not uncommon that they will offer you tea. The reason
for this is two-fold. First of all, they serve it in a corner of the
store, where other potential customers can’t eavesdrop. They
don’t want other people to hear the discount he eventually
may agree on with you. Secondly, he may seemingly give the
bargaining a break and get a bit more personal to make you let
your guard down and, at the same time, create some sympathy
for the situation he’s in (at home).
Don’t buy a word of it. His child will still be able to go to
college if he drops the price a bit more. At the end of the day,
he is not obliged to sell.
So, keep on playing the game, uttering ‘ahs’, ‘mmmms’,
and ‘uuhms’ until you reach a price that seems right for
both parties.
WHAT KIND OF DISCOUNT SHOULD YOU AIM FOR?
Well, there is no golden rule. In some cases, the bottom line will
be a 35% discount, in other cases it can be well over 50%. There
is no guarantee this strategy will work every time. It’s just one
I have had success with. Practice makes perfect, I guess.
As a last tip, getting angry or becoming rude will not help
your bargaining. On the contrary, stay calm and don’t lose
your smile. In the end, it’s just a game.
Happy bargaining and good luck.
Erlend Geerts is the talented mind and experienced writer behind The
Istanbul Insider — a site that shows you the inside track on how to tackle
the best sightseeing spots and venues in Istanbul — often off the beaten
tourist track. Learn more at TheIstanbulInsider.com.