Should I bargain at the street markets such as the Ladies and Night Market?
Does the same hold true when shopping at the LoHu in Shenzhen? We are planning on having a gown tailored in Shenzhen and I was wondering if it is normal to bargain the stated price?
Less than four weeks before we arrive.
Bargaining
You may bargain in street markets if you wish, and from memory in most of Lo Wu. It%26#39;s not compulsory however and as I keep saying, often you%26#39;re just arguing over pennies. However if you%26#39;re buying a big-ticket item of some sort you should always attempt to find their best price. Being a tourist, it probably won%26#39;t be the lowest they%26#39;re prepared to go, but it%26#39;s definitely worth it with things such as watches and jewellery. However I doubt if anyone is going to be insulted if you don%26#39;t, as some people seem to think. Or if they are, so what you%26#39;ll never see them again. Just have a quick look at etiquette, and don%26#39;t bargain if you don%26#39;t intend to buy, on the whole. Keep a smile on the face, keep it light.
Bargaining
Definitely bargain at the local street markets. The worst case is they will tell you no bargaining and then you can just walk away.
Somebody posted a video link a while ago and it showed a young girl bargaining at a local market. I think she got it down to half the price.
English speakers typically get quotes of 150%-200% of actual selling price at HK Ladies market, based on my own comparison. Your mileage may vary.
Bargin and bargin hard, in Hong Kong markets they dont tend to start out at ludicrous prices and I generally work on about 20% off (this is a guide line some products more, some less)
But in Shenzhen I generally work on paying around 30% of their first price. You will be ripped off big time if you dont haggle. I have been offered prices at 10 times the going rate. They expect you to haggle over the price.
The best thing to do is bargin for an item and have an idea how much you want to pay (keep it real low) if they let you walk away just keep walking you will see the same product within 10 feet, after a while you will get an idea of what the going prices are (for tourists anyway I doubt the locals are paying the same rate).
One thing dont get agressive, they are just making a living and if you haggle with a laugh and some theatrics (feigning a heart attack always seems to get a laugh and a cheaper counter offer)it makes for a fun day.
At LoHu start on the top floor and work your way down as the ground floor seems to be the more expensive.
I am a regular at LuoHu and I never haggle with my tailor. I want to have a long term relationship with her and I value the fact that she will mail me stuff (at no extra charge) or come in early to see me etc. Her prices are reasonable and her workmanship is good. I ask her for ';best price'; in the fabric market and I assume she gets some kickback when she takes me shopping for fabric.
Bargaining is expected in the Ladies Market in MONGKOK. I usually start at 50% of the vendor%26#39;s starting price and work from there.
Once you get close to what you want to pay, smile and close the deal.
Most of the vendors (to me) seem to have fun in the process.
Have fun!
I will start bargaining at 50% and then work my way up in price.
In all the markets my target to pay is uaually 50% of the asking price or a little over.
So I will usually start a bit lower, but will increase my bids by very small increments. It%26#39;s often worth going for a ';bulk discount'; if you want a couple of watches or shirts or whatever.
With tailors it%26#39;s usually normal to bargain (unless you have developed a long-term relationship with him/her) but the margins are less, so you should not try to negotiate silly prices. You can usually sense if your suggested price is way out of court.
As said above, do the bargaining with a smile - good humour usually gets a good result.
My smile shall be with me the entire time that I am bargaining.
