Bargaining can be quite the sport. It can be very liberating knowing that you just set the price that you wanted to pay for an item. However, in China you must be willing to resolve that you probably never get the lowest price. The fact is if you are a foreigner they are going to hike the price up on general principal. No matter what you off a merchant just know that it probably cost 1 cent to make whatever it is that you want to purchase. My only advice to you is to know how much you are willing to pay. Also it is important to not become married to an item.
First things first when bargaining in China. Always, always underbid. The thing to know is how much should you underbid. When seeking out a souvenir that you've seen at a hundred different booths, go really low. If the merchant shuns you away, you can go to the next booth and start bidding at another price point. On more expensive rare items it is best not to go to low, because there might not be another chance to get that item. Unlike the markets with the everyday souvenirs, you don't want to offend the merchants for the reason just stated. When you approach a booth for some reason they always hold up an item that they think a typical tourist would want. In China, that typical item is going to be some fake jade beads. Here's quick lesson in jade authenticating. First look at the color. Real jade is a cloudy green or beige. Then take a coin and hit it. Plastic sounds like plastic and real jade sounds like how real crystal is supposed to sound. I must warn you that fake glass jade sounds a lot like real jade, but look at the color, if it is somewhat translucent then that's a dead give away that you're being had. That was the cliff notes version of "Jade 101". Nevertheless if you are touring China and reading this blog you're probably going to visit a jade shop especially if you take the Great Wall tour.
It is important also to know that merchants no matter where you go are hustlers by nature, so they're number one goal is to make money. So keep in mind they are always going to profit more than they will let you know. That is to say, don't fall for their guilt trips that they will try to run on you. They will make hand gestures and karate flick sounds, but it is merely part of their routine. That's why you should develop your routine before you go. Some routines can be more dramatic than others, but the basic routine works. Mind you, they all have the big out dated calculator that they will pull out. So when you pick up and item, know that they are going to push in the highest price. They do this to see if they are dealing with a sucker. Now the important thing to counter with something rediculously low.(Not if it's a rare antique) This sets the bidding stage. They wave their hand an mutter some profanities that you can't understand, but know they are profane just by tone and body language. If they don't walk off then you're still in the game. Now it's time to come up to something more reasonable, but not your maximum. They rattle off more profanities, and that's when you walk away. The walk away always works. They expect, but it's part of the game. You may begin to draw a crowd of other merchants, but don't let that get you nerved up. They are all in it together. If anything, it's the last 12 seconds to the game and you are the clutch player, so step up and name your price. They are always going to up the ante. Now it's time for the final walk away. Then they will come back with, Hello! Ok! Ok! Ok! How much? or Last price last price. That's when you get your cheesy little fan and walk off into the sunset or alleyway.
The Confucius Temple market also known as Fuzimiao in Nanjing is where I tested my bargaining skills, but these rules hold true wherever you go in China, weather it be Nanjing Road in Shanghai or the souvenir stand at the Great Wall. However, if you're in Nanjing and you want a more non-cheesy souvenir the Chaotian Gong Market is a good place to purchase more unique items. This is where the real bidders come to bid. I must admit, I just visited there and I don't know if I was ready. I say that only because, in order to know if you're getting a good price, you must be quite knowledgeable of Chinese art and antiques. One thing I had going for me was... O.k. the two things that I had going for me were, that I knew my financial limits and and I knew what I liked and didn't like. The challenge is always across the board the language barrier unless you can speak Chinese. Also setting apart real antiques from replicas is somewhat of a feat. If you don't care one way or the other then, you'll be fine just start the bidding. If you are non-Asian, keep in mind that they see sucker written on your forehead. Prove them wrong, but don't insult them. start about 30% lower than what they offer. If they come up go down a little more, then say no. They understand no, but refuse to hear it. They will follow you a bit muttering stuff to you, but say "no." Then they'll either pull out paper and hand you a pin, or a cell phone, and of course the "Big Calculator." Put in your off and keep it moving. It is important not to get frustrated and never let them see you sweat. At the end of the day, if you leave an item behind then it wasn't yours to begin with. If they chase after with a price you can live with then you win. They win because they make a profit, and you get to take home whatever it was they were selling.
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