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How to Haggle in China

You have undoubtedly heard that you can buy products in China for much less than the asking price of the vendors. This is true under some conditions. If you go to the right places and use the right techniques, you may even get the products for half of the asking price. Here are a few tips to consider.

Knowing a few simple terms in the Chinese language will be a good starting place. Such terms as those meaning "How much is it?" or "That is much too expensive." or "I don't want it, thank you." can help to make you seem less vulnerable to the Chinese vendors.

As you consider haggling, be aware that it is done largely in local streets containing hundreds of small shops. Department stores and most shops in Hong Kong do not participate in haggling at all. If you are on one of the small streets with many shops, it is best to not try to buy from a shop near the entrance of the street. Those shops get the most tourist traffic and usually will not lower their prices as much as vendors further down the street.

Watch the face of the salesperson as you haggle. Many times it is possible to tell that he or she may be willing to come down if you make more offers for his products.

Of course, be aware of the local yuan and what each denomination looks like. The yuan is the local currency except in Hong Kong where the Hong Kong dollar is the currency used.

Do not fall into the temptation to think that a particular vendor is the only one which offers a particular item you want. There are hundreds of other shops with the same or similar items. If you are not experienced in haggling, it may be best to begin with some cheap items that you do not necessarily want, just to get some practice.

When you know the asking price, you could make an offer of twenty percent of that price. Of course, it is too low, but it begins the haggling process. As a foreigner, the vendor hopes that you will simply pay the asking price. When he is aware that you will haggle, he will join into the process. When the vendor rejects your twenty percent price, you can begin to walk away. If the vendor does not call you back, simply find the item in another stall and make a slightly higher offer for it.

Be ready for vendors to come to you, offering to sell their wares. They sometimes become a nuisance. You can tell them that you don't want it, in Chinese if you know that phrase. Good luck in purchasing cheap products from Chinese shops.

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