On 10/07/2003 4:11 PM Quem while directing tourists to the Zazu Pits,
was inclined to say:
>So far it all seems to be fair advice you're receiving here. I
>especially like the tip about going to some more established stores
>first to get a ballpark. As a gringo living in Brazil, I often worry
>about overpaying, too. And here EVERYTHING is negotiable. So I
>thought I'd pass along my two cents...
>
>For me, the key is to never let them know what you want, nor how much
>you want it. When you see something that looks interesting, NEVER
>pick it up and look at it. Start pointing to other things on the
>table - bigger, more expensive things if possible..."Cuanto custo?"
>When they tell you the price, you must look shocked, choke, cough, rub
>your eyes in amazement...whatever works for you. Put the expensive
>item down, and move to something a little smaller ..."Cuanto?" and
>repeat the act. Your mission is to appear to be a tourist looking to
>buy a nice souveneir for someone not-so-important back home... you
>don't really care what it is... and if this guy keeps asking such high
>prices, you might just go back to the hotel gift shop, and buy a
>refrigerator magnet instead. Finally, when you get to the item that
>interests you, pick it up (hardly even looking at it), ask how much,
>ask for a discount, offer something less, try to negotiate his best
>price. I understand you may be thinking, "If I don't get to LOOK at
>the item, how do I know I even want it?" But this is key... after
>all, price has everything to do with whether you 'want' something or
>not. If you spend a 30 seconds looking at something, asking what it's
>made of, get your wife's opinion, etc., and then ask the price, of
>course he's going to try and stick it to you... He knows you want it,
>he knows your wife already gave her approval, why shouldn't he shoot
>for the moon? Try to get immediately to his best price, then spend
>all the time you want deciding whether you want it or not.
>
>- Quem
>
>
This is great advice. However, if you visit a resort where there are
multiple All Inclusives and you are staying at one...your little plastic
bracelet if visable will dictate the limit on how low the shop keeper
will go.
If you keep your AI bracelet under wraps be aware of the small talk the
shop keeper makes. He or she is trolling for information that idicates
how high he can let an item go. "How far did you travel to get here?"
"What hotel are you staying at?"
Bone up on your mental arithmatic as well. Some vendors will only quote
prices in their native currency and if they give you a translation into
your currency it may be several unites higher than the current rate of
exchange. For example 10 Mexican New Pesos is NOT 20 dollars US.
--
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Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951
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