Guide to bargaining for noobs

Are you constantly ridiculed by your friends for paying too much? Do shopkeepers mercilessly extort your inexperience? Then fret not, you’ve come to the right place. With these few steps, you’ll master the art of bargaining and revel in the superior way of living. Here’s how to be a true Bengali and learn the philosophies of becoming a proper haggler.

Research

It’s suggested that you do your research before entering the market. For this you must spend somewhere between a week to a month to familiarize yourself with the product you wish to buy. Create a thesis of price ranges, differences in brands, differences in the ones locally produced and imported, price changes due to inflation, etc.

If you don’t know the price, a good rule of thumb is to ask for half of what they say. This display of boldness and comprehension of the pricing system will surely throw the shopkeeper off guard. Now you can easily work your way up until both parties settle on an optimum price.

You should also know on which days and at what time the shops close down because they’re usually keener to sell during closing hours or before a holiday. They’re also very serious about their first customers, so get your friends and camp outside Gawsia overnight to be the first ones when they open.

Indifference

You have to act like you don’t need whatever you’re buying, like you just strolled in with the intention of looking around and then decided to get something. It gives off the idea that a lot isn’t at stake on your part and thus, you won’t be interested in buying if they charge you too much.

Another way to achieve this is to dismiss the product as much as possible. Talk about how you can easily find a better a better quality, or how it’s just ‘OK’ and not something special to pay so much for. You must not stop until you’re certain you’ve crushed the self-esteem of the shopkeeper to the point where it matches yours.

Walking Away

When you realize that your demands aren’t being met, and the shopkeeper has taken you for granted, start walking. This is a very important walk in your life, for it determines if you’ll win the battle of prices. You must be slow enough that it gives them an opportunity to reconsider and call you back, but not so much that you don’t seem confident. Confidence is key here. Let it be known that you can walk into any shop and get the price you desire.

While bargaining can be very useful, it’s important to not go overboard. People we bargain with are often poor rickshalaw-pullers, retailers in New Market, etc. Paying them a little more won’t hurt us as much as it’ll benefit them. Therefore, remember to keep their conditions and the actual price in mind before you go and claim an absurdly low rate.

In conclusion, be assertive and reasonable. Go around a few shops to find a good deal and an idea of the prices. Practice the walk a couple of times in front of your mirror. Lastly, definitely make up a story about how the seller next door offered you a cheaper rate.

Aahir Mrittika likes to believe she’s a Mohammadpur local, but she’s actually a nerd. Catch her studying at mrittikaaahir@gmail.com.