Bargaining in Asia: tips and tricks

A fabric vendor and traveler at a market in Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo: Joaquin Uy / Flickr

It’s a well-worn practice the world over: customers and vendors talking price. CNNGo tackled this issue in a post titled How to bargain: the ultimate guide to scoring a deal in the markets of Asia.

Many of the tips will be familiar to experienced vagabonders: shop around, be polite, and be ready to walk away. What makes the article special is the little details about particular destinations. Some examples:

• The superstition over the first sale of the day and how it’s phrased in Cantonese and Thai.
• The term that Indians for overcharging travelers is called the “Skin Tax.”
• When to get discounts in the non-haggling culture of Japan.

Have you negotiated over a purchase at a market? Please share your stories in the comments.