101 on haggling in Muslim countries

Those venturing into the Middle East or Maghrebi will certainly meet century-old markets. If you want to take back souvenirs with you but don’t want to be ripped off keep reading this 101 on haggling. Viver a Viagem has been to both Turkey and Morocco and teaches you how to get the best bargain, thus bringing good stories and souvenirs.

Caravans and trades are running into the bloodstream of these people. Haggling is a vital cultural aspect that must be respected and practiced. Accepting the the bid at first is considered rude. You must fight for a lower price.

Turkey was the first Muslim country I have been to. Despite its fast-pace Western assimilation and big hoards of tourist, everything was up to bargain in markets. I have had my first contact with the haggling culture.

But it wasn’t until I went to Morocco that I truly felt the weight of haggling on daily life. The country still holds plenty of tradition, despite its fast-pace modernization.

If you are good at haggling, great! Keep practicing a lot, cross your limits and achieve new goals. If bargaining is not your cup of tea, you better learn it anyway, otherwise your money can vanish quickly.

Before heading to the souk (markets) for shopping, know what you are looking for. Ask for locals you trust how much they would pay for a certain good. Use that price as a starting point, since cost ranges according to quality and provenance.

It is not a cultural costume to ask vendors about a product without real interest on buying it. If you get into a store let them know you are just strolling and window shopping before asking the price. In fact, asking the price is the trigger to a negotiation starts.

I am just looking…

Let’s face it, you are curious about everything. It is hard to know what you are looking for amidst all the options available. Plus, you might not be a grandmaster at Middle-Eastern-haggling skills yet.

Tell the seller you have just arrived and there are many days left. You want to see first, then you go back at the end of your trip.

I have seen a lot of tourists going into a store and asking the price immediately (trigger for negotiation) without the intent to purchase it. Thus, negotiation started, tourists declined and were yelled at.

Rule of thumb: state you are not buying if you don’t want to.

Haggling

You know what you want, have a base price and went for the battle.

As just as you enter the store you might be welcomed with a cup of mint tea. Ask for the price of what you want and vendor might ask you back how much would you pay for it – he is testing you.

If you have no idea he will tag a price as high as five times the real cost – or even higher. Pretend this is a high price and it might even bankrupt you! Offer a ridiculously low price back. He will act the same way.

Little by little he will decrease the price and at each bid giving you more details about the product, trying to convince you of its worth. You refuse all of it, look him in the eyes and start the emotional appeal biding back.

If you get to where you want, great. Place the last bid and purchase the good.

If he insists in keeping the price above what you want to pay, thank him and go outside. After showing your acting skills he knows you want to buy the product. He might catch you on your way out and offer his final and best bid.

Think of it, what motivates him to do what he does everyday? Despite making money, having fun at work. Haggling is a way to make your daily routine interesting. You never know how much you will earn at each product sold.

Shopping like a local

Haggling is cultural. No vendor will sell below the price he can practice. Don’t fell sorrow when negotiating;
Sometimes things may heat up and being aggressive of hostile is part of it. Don’t hold back and stand strong;
The first sale means good luck for the day. It is say easier to haggle in the first hours of opening;
Last sale as well represents a good opportunity for a bargain. It is his last chance to make money in the day before going back home;
You might be great at haggling but you are still a foreigner. You will never pay as little as a local;
Don’t forget the last word is yours. Don’t feel obligated to buy anything. It is your money after all;