Art of Bargaining - Revealing The Long Kept Secret

This is going to be interesting. Majority of Indians belong to the Middle-Class Families. And it has its own pros and cons. I too am a part of this class of the society. But, there as some techniques which are not found in any other parts of the society. Let me bring to you – “The Art of Bargaining”.

Disclaimer: This is no expert Advice; it’s just compilation of my personal experiences.

Special Thanks: Papa for contributing on the major part of the 'technique'. And improvising on the step-by-step procedure.

Get in touch with me here:
Vivek Gunawat 

My dear friend Shashank Srivastava (Shanky) for those beautiful pictures for this blog.
Do go and check his awesome photo collection here: [Don't Forget to Like the page]
https://www.facebook.com/shashanksrivastavaphotography

And Mine too:
https://www.facebook.com/VivekGunawatPhotography

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One day at Home in the Evening

Mumbai [18.9647° N, 72.8258° E]

There is a ritual followed in our house, which goes like this:

Ritual #1: Wherever we could be, one has to visit Lord Shiva’s temple and place a Ghee-ka-diya at the Shivling.

Ritual #2 – Papa needs to have a banana after dinner. And our regular stock and finished and Maa were supposed to get a dozen of the same.

So, Maa had gone to the temple to complete the above ritual & get bananas for Papa.

Since, Papa is very particular about bargaining. He didn’t wait even a second and immediately inquired Maa when she returned.

Papa: “How much did you get these bananas for?”

Maa: “He (vendor) was offering them for ₹20/dozen, and I got them for ₹18.”

Papa: “Madame, He had to give it for 18 anyways, you should have got them for 15”.

Maa (furious): “None is gonna give it for 15”.

Papa: “Okay, for 16 or 17 at most”.

Maa has a great way to cool down such situations. And I love her for this.

Maa immediately took something from her purse.

Maa(to Papa): “Give me your hand”.

Papa raised his hands to take what Maa was giving. I was amused to see Papa’s reaction change within second from a furious to one with a childlike smile.

How did it happen?

Maa took a ₹2 coin and placed it his palm and said…

Maa: “Here, now your one dozen banana costs you ₹16…Happy!!!”

And we all burst laughing…!

After we all enjoyed our joint laughing session, my brother asks me.

“Bade (Referring to me), but that ₹2 was anyways Papa’s money”

“Chhote (Referring to my younger brother), stop getting into the details bro...Enjoy the moment”.

It was only later that dad decided to recite the long kept secret and taught us “The Art of Bargaining”. I will in the end tell you all where you can try these tips. It's actually fun!

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The Art of Bargaining ! 

A Vegetable Vendor

Then & Now - Courtesy - Bharat Chanda, TOI

Step 1: Decide the location first i.e. know your market: Before you even begin to bargain, make sure you know where you have a chance of success. 

 

Step 2a: Go and observe the material/article that you want to purchase.

Also make sure the “Art of Bargaining” is indeed a local Custom. There is no point in trying to lower the price at a Swiss watchmaker or in a Mall or Branded Clothing outlet for that case.

Note: Papa had tried to exercise his skill at a Nike outlet, where the technique had to fail, I clearly remember. And within seconds we were out of the shop. :P

Step 2b: In your mind, do a quick analysis, and get a rough estimated price of the same.

Do some research! Know the market value of what you see so that you get a broad idea of its worth.

Step 2c: Keep good company for marketing - and kick out the rest ;)

Step 3: NEVER SPEAK FIRST: Let the Vendor offer the price first. DO NOT REVEAL your price. If you do, you will miserably fail at bargaining.  [Let Rs 75 be you estimated price and Rs 100 the price offered to you by the vendor – For explanatory purpose]

Vendors really give 'Epic' Expressions at times

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But, let us never fear to negotiate.”-John F Kennedy

Remember - Never Speak First

  

Step 4: Now comes your turn - To Negotiate. Throw a price which will be very difficult him to offer. [You start with Rs. 50]. And chances are that he will turn down your price.

Step 5a: Avoid emotional blackmail…!

Step 5b: Increase your bid by no more than Rs 5 in this case, so your next price to throw should be Rs 55,and then 60.

Know when not to speak

Step 6a: If the vendor is still in a state of “NO DEAL”, then offer him a last price and say: “Bhaiiya, Rs 65 final, give if you want to give otherwise I’ll find another vendor”

Step 6b: Walkaway: The most powerful bargaining tool is to simply leave and walk away. There is no point in prolonging the agony.

Man carrying a bag full of Onions & Tomatoes

Step 6c: What if vendor doesn’t call you back? No worries, there is nothing wrong about going back later and re-visit him and start the negotiation at whatever price you guys left. There are possibilities that the item might be no longer available.

Step 6d: If you show interest in the item, then there are chances that the vendor may increase price , hence, Appears Disinterested, Make Faces of disappointment :P

Step 7: “Either he’ll say NO, or will offer you a price close to yours. The final price that he could offer would be Rs. 70/75. And Bang-On, you seal the deal!

Some Words for  Wisdom !

Don’t try to be the victor. Avoid zero-sum games where someone else has to lose in order for you to win. If you negotiate like that, you’ll probably win a few, but you’ll lose just as many and kill a lot of good relationships along the way. Instead, find a way for everyone to win.

Find a way for everyone to Win

Step 8: The last step, its better you have Change. Give him Rs 70 change and call it the DEAL. If Rs 100 is offered, there are chances that he calls the deal at Rs 75.

Remember: Don’t carry large denominations and always pay with exact change:

Step 9: Smile that today you saved some money after a little bargaining exercise.

(But don’t forget he never loss any things because he wouldn’t come less than real price + his profit margin)

Things that one needs to keep in mind:

If you are alone, then bargaining power decreases in most cases. If you feel that for you, it will be difficult, then, take your friend, brothers/sisters or parents along and ask then that this time you’ll try this daily routine! :D

Language: It is generally seen that being fluent in the local language may be advantageous in certain cases. It becomes a plus point if you do know it.

Places to Test the Techniques:

Fruits/Vegetable/Fish Vendors – The most common [Found Everywhere – Things without Price Tags]

My Vendor for Coriander, Ginger, Green Chillies, Lemon & Mint Leaves at Colaba Market, Mumbai

A Local Grocery Shop

This one from the Meat Shop

Brinjal - Looks Great

Winters are the best time that the market is full of Red & Fresh Carrots

Local Clothing, Handicraft Market (no such article are being manufactured by local craftsman and there is already very minimum margin)

In Mumbai [South Mumbai Especially]

·        Colaba Market & Causeway: For – Fruits/Vegetables/Fish, Novels (Pirated & Original), Tees, Arabic Perfume etc.

·        Fort & Flora Fountain – For Old Books & Novels.

·        Lamington Road – For Electronic Products – Right from IC, Processors, TV, Monitors, Speakers and all sort of stuff.

·        Fashion Street – For all type of readymade cloths like Tees, Trousers & other clothing. [Girls/Women would find this place very useful]

·        Crawford Market – For Sports goods (All sports Rackets, all kinds of sports ball – Tennis/Squash/Table Tennis, Gym Equipments, etc), China Ceramic Products – Flower Vase etc, Cotton Clothing material [Owned mostly by Gujarati’s]

·        Byculla Vegetable Market – This is a wholesale market for Fruits and vegetables.

·        Linking Road Bandra same as fashion street.

Do wash all your Vegetables before Cooking them

In Delhi [Credits to my friend from Delhi]

•    Sarojini Nagar - for Clothes, bags, footwear. Look out for Monday market starting at 8AM!
•    Kamla Nagar (Kolhapur Road) - Clothes, footwear. Don't try bargaining in the main market.
•    Palika Bazar - All sorts of electronic gadgets, clothes, accessories (You can save A LOT if you are good at this art!) 

•   Janpath (CP) - Bags, Footwear, Clothes (Quote half the price the vendor says!) 
•   Rajouri Mini Market - Clothes, footwear (you won't find much variety here)
•   Daryaganj Sunday Market -  for novels and books. You can get second/third hand novels starting at Rs. 30!
• Jwala Heri Market - Clothing - Not branded though !

      In Banglore:

•         Tibet Market – For good cheap Fashionable outfit  
•         Bridage Road – For Accessories 
•         SP Road – PC/Hardware & Electronics 
•         Burma Bazar – Counterfeit
•         Majestic, Chikpet & Jayanagar 4^th Block – Everything from electronics, fashion  accessories, clothes, food items 
•         National Market – Counterfwilt stuff & Vegetables 

       In Jaipur

• ·        Bapu Bazar – Traditional Clothes, Beautiful Saris, Cotton Outfits 
•           Raja Park – Fashionable Clothes 
•       Raisar Plaza – Mobile, Computer, Electronic Product 
•           Kishanpol Bazar – Textile 
•          Tripolia Bazar – Ironware Brassware

  

    NOTE: Marwari traders are a little resilient in on reducing the prices. You have to be a ‘pro’ sometimes to get this working for you. And the best dialogue that Papa told the shopkeeper. The best experience is when you know Marwadi and then you fight to bargain :P ;)

              “Main Videsh se thodi aaya hoon, Yaheen ka hoon main bhi”.

This art can be tested in any city of India & other developing countries as well.

Vendors arranging the Vegetables, their daily routine task

Hope you enjoyed reading! Happy Bargaining!

Do leave your comments below!