Art of Bargaining

If you have ever tried to do some shopping at Bangalore’s Majestic Shopping Complex you would know how much you would lose if you don’t have the skill of bargaining. I first recognized this during my first year UG when we used to buy college bags. We would initially lose a lot for the reason that bags are many times cheaper than Madurai that time. Then we developed the art of bargaining, We would the discuss (brainstorming) at our hostel on how we would have done better and where we were about to do mistakes. Seeing this our other colleagues would sponsor us a Bangalore visit to bargain for them. I would be preferred for my knowledge of some broken hindi. But it doesn’t always work. Once the shopkeeper told me to talk in tamil as I was struggling with Hindi 😉

I have been quite successful in bargaining except for some cases where I would pay the price, especially when I boast too much of my skills. The best of my bargaining was in Beijing’s Silk market where I bargained for one hour for a Jacket for 100 RMB which was quoted initially at 1000 RMB. The shopkeeper gulped a bottle of water after the deal was complete. So decided that the price is only one tenth in that market. So in one more shop I bargained a 100 RMB quoted art item for 10 RMB. The shopkeeper became so furious and shouted at me and whole market was looking at me. 😉 Escape…..

Today at Delhi’s famour Pallika Bazaar I bargain for a pen drive. I knew already that a friend of mine bought a 32 GB pen drive for Rs. 500. So determined to get something better for that price I demanded a 64 GB pen drive for Rs. 500, after a 5 min argument the deal was closed for Rs. 550. Proud of my bargaining skills I enquired in an other shop what the price was for a 64 GB p[en drive. Rs. 300 was the reply. Out of need I bought that too. Curious I decided to ask the price in another shop. What if he is going to quote it at Rs.100??? Innoru Bulb vaangurathukku munnadi escape…. 😉