Haggling is something that comes with traveling abroad. It is an experience on it’s own, especially if you’ve never done it before. It can also be very overwhelming and something people find scary and they rather not do. But when you’re traveling and wandering those foreign markets, haggling is expected of you. And why shouldn’t you try to get the lowest possible price for something?! It can be very exciting. And let me tell you, the first couple of times you try it, and you walk away with your bought goods for like 30% of the asking price, you will feel SO good about yourself. And love the items even more, because you got them at a cheap price. And you did it all by yourself.

So here are some tips for becoming an haggle expert:

1. Always have exact change

Make sure you have small bills in your purse, which you want to use for buying things. And separate your other money. Put it in another compartment of your wallet or put it in a separate wallet. This way you can say ‘this is all I have’, when you’re trying to get the price to drop.

2. Know what you want to pay for something

In advance, decide what you think the product is worth to you. That way you have a price to haggle down to. If you end up just a little higher, you know it’s OK and you didn’t pay way more than you anticipated.

3. Never accept the first price

Always haggle. Never accept the first price they mention. In Asia, you can start with an opening bid of like 25-50% of what they’re asking, depending on the item.

4. Buy in bulk

If you want to buy more than 1 thing, you’ll get a better price. So let them say the price for 1 item or pair of shoes for example. Haggle. And when you’re at a nice price, you can say ‘And how much if I buy 2?’ That way, the price will always go down even more. You can also pair up with the one you’re traveling with. If they also want something at this vendor, you will be able to get a better price if you buy more products.

5. Don’t look too interested

If you look really happy and enthusiastic about an item, they will know you really want it and are probably willing to pay more for it than necessary. And they’ll take advantage of that. Can you blame them?! So be aware of your facial expressions and how you talk with each other. You can also come up with a code word to use when you see something you really like. A really stupid word that isn’t related to buying something or in your own language (if English isn’t your native language). I can honestly say, it works like a charm. Although I really look ridiculous if I say our Dutch code word and someone from our own country just walks by…. 😉

6. Never get mad

Don’t get angry or mad if the vendor doesn’t seem to want to lower his price. Always smile and stay friendly. If he doesn’t sell it to you for less, just walk on and find another stall that sells the same goods and try it again.

7. Don’t be a cheapskate

Remind yourself that those vendors sell things to support their family. It’s their livelihood. So at some point you have to ask yourself, do I really have to make a big deal about him dropping yet another dollar. You don’t always have to get the ultimate lowest price. One dollar for you is worth way less than a dollar for them. So think about how ‘hardball’ you want to play it. And think about who you’re playing it with.

8. Shop early

When you go to an evening market for example, go there early. Because the first sell of the day is considered lucky to some. So they will give you a good deal.

9. Check out the market first

On most markets in Asia, there are a lot of stalls who sell the same goods. So first wander the market and don’t buy the first thing you see. Ask a couple of times what something costs, at different vendors, to get a feeling with the different asking prices they start with. You can also use this information to haggle with.

10. Listen in on other people haggling

If another tourist is at a stall, negotiating on something you also want to buy, listen in on their haggling and the price they have to pay. That way you will know at least the highest price you should pay for it. And when those other tourist leave with their purchase, try to get the items for even less than the people before you did.

11. Research prices in advance

If you know what items you want to buy on your trip, check in advance if you can find information from other travelers about how much those items should cost. There are also YouTube videos from both travelers as locals, who wander the markets and tell you how much you should pay for the different items. It was really helpful when I went to India for example.

12. Walk away

If you’re not happy with the price the vendor wants, just say ‘no thank you’ and walk away. If the vendor calls you back, you have haggled well and the vendor will drop his price. If the vendor doesn’t call you back, you’ll know that the price you mentioned really was too low. And you can just try it somewhere else. And at least now you know what the price is you can definitely get it for.

Also read my article ‘What NOT to do when haggling‘