| I lived in Shanghai for almost 4 years and just moved out there in Sept. of 2006. Like many foreigners who either move to Shanghai for short term basis or visit there for several days, I used to go to Xiangyang Market quite often, and therefore learned the tricks or art of getting bargains. The rule of the thumb is never espect to make the purchase in the first shop you go into, instead ask the price of a merchandise you are interested in at the first shop, then say, " Too expensive, thank you" and walk away. Don't bargain at this point because you don't know what's the best price to offer, but the vendors know their costs. If you name a price which is accepted, then you are obligated to buy. Of course we ought to let them make some money, but not outrageious amount. As you are walking away, the shop owners will most likely start lowering prices. At this point, you can ask, "How much? (after they tell you just say) but it's still much higher than aother store's price." Then continue to walk away. By this time, you already know the lowest price for that merchandise without having to bargain at all. Since you can find the same or similar merchandise in other stores, just go to a second shop that sells the same or similar things you want to buy and say "I've seen this in some other stoeres, how much is your price?" The vendor hears that you've already been to other shops and assume you know the prices, so will not ask for a high asking price. Whatever price he or she gives you, just say, " it's too high", and then walk away slowly. You do this in three different shops, you ought to get a feel of what you can get them for. They if you really want the item, offer a price 20-30% lower than the lowest price you were told earlier. If you are interested in other merchandise in the same shops, start asking the its lowest price, offer a lower price if you really want it and bundle it with the other item you want to buy together. In other words, either either you buy both or none. At this point, the owner would not want to kill the deal and will let you have them at your prices. Anohter tactic I used to use is I would say(I'm Asian American and speak Manderin, which helps a great deal), I'm not a tourist, I live in Shanghai so I'm not in a hurry to buy this item. I don't like to bargain either. If the price is reasonable, I would buy it. If on the other hand I don't like the price, I just don't buy it. Most vendors in this case would offer much lower starting prices. I generally say thank you but it's too high, and I would leave. Often times, the vendors will lower the price again. See I never named a price and hence not obligated to buy. Truthfully speaking, it's very time consuming shopping this way, but since I did live in Shanghai and had the free time to kill, I didn't care if I bought anything or not. If I find a good shop with reasonable prices, I usually would go back with my visitors to SH. If you like the shop owners, get their cards and write down the prices of what you paid for on the cards. At least if you have to shop for the samething again, you don't have to repeat the same process again. And the vendors are generally good to their "old customers". When you do go back, they'll be nice to you and may give you even better prices." Another good tactic is after you are told of the price of an item, ask how much would it be if I buy 8 or 10 of them? In other words, find out the "whole sale" price. They would give you very low price by the bulk. If you are not going to buy more than one or two, then say, I'll go home and ask my friends to come and buy with me next time. They don't want you to leave that day, and often will offer you the same price for one as they had said as they would for 10. |
New Xiangyang Market Location?