Sports Enthusiast

NOTE: $1 USD = ¥7 RMB

The following is a true story, that takes place in China, of one woman’s mission to get a deal and one shopper owner’s quest to NOT give a deal. Do not try this in America as it may result in embarrassment and possible arrest.

WOMAN: How much is this purse?
SHOP OWNER: How much you give?
WOMAN: You tell me how much you want.
SHOP OWNER: Okay, okay, okay. For you best price because you are first customer of the day. I give you good deal- no one else get this deal. Usually it ¥600 but for you only ¥350.
WOMAN (laughing): No, no, no. Too expensive.
SHOP OWNER: Okay you tell me how much. What your best price?
WOMAN: ¥50.
SHOP OWNER: ¥50??? You joking! I tell you give me best price, no joke price. Okay, I give you best price beautiful lady…¥300. This best price.
WOMAN: That’s okay- I don’t really need it.
SHOP OWNER: Okay wait, I give you good price because we friends. ¥250.
WOMAN: No, seriously, I don’t need it. That’s okay.
SHOP OWNER: Wait, wait, wait- you give me best price. More than ¥50. ¥50 I lose money. Serious price. No joking.
WOMAN: Maybe ¥60.
SHOP OWNER: ¥60? Only 10 more? Here is best price- ¥150. Serious- I lose money. No lower.
WOMAN: ¥70. That’s my final price because I really don’t need it and I don’t want to waste your time.
SHOP OWNER: ¥70? Okay, ¥100. Final price. You want?
WOMAN: No. Sorry- I can’t go higher than ¥70. That’s okay. (Walks away).
SHOP OWNER (Shouting): Okay wait…¥90!... ¥80!
WOMAN (Shouting back): ¥70- no more than ¥70!
SHOP OWNER: ¥75- only 5 more!
WOMAN: ¥70.
SHOP OWNER: ¥73!...okay, okay, okay…your price. Come back, come back.
WOMAN: Xie Xie!

Did I really just bargain over 42¢? Yup…and I’m proud of it! It’s taken me 27 years, but I finally found a sport that I excel in. It doesn’t involve balls, running, or special shoes; it is open to all ages, races, shapes, sizes, and gender (although females tend to excel more than males); and when played properly, you can win every time. In bargain shopping there are some basic rules and a few techniques that will increase the odds in your favor, but the game is easy to learn and many become addicted after only a few rounds.

Rule #1: Go Low or Go Home. Your first move sets the pace for the entire game. Aim to pay no more than 30% of the asking price for most items, meaning the first price you lay down should be between 10-20% of asking to allow you some wiggle room. Shop owners expect you to make a counter offer so do not be afraid to offend with a seemingly ridiculous low-ball proposal. Keep in mind that sellers will not sell an item at a loss, and your objective is to figure out just how low they will go.

Rule #2: Don’t Go Out of Bounds. You are playing to see how low a seller will go, and they are playing to see how high you will go. Prior to stepping into the arena, have a price ceiling in mind and then stick to it. Sellers will also try to get you to buy everything under the sun so be specific about what you are looking for. If you are only in the market for a wallet, only look at wallets. It is easy to get suckered into buying more than you intended because the deals are so good (and often you will be promised a better deal if you buy more). However, if you only wanted a wallet and end up walking out with the full series of “Alf” on DVD, Hannah Montana boxers, and an I-Pod that only reads in Chinese, the seller has won. Trust me; no one looks good in HM underwear.

Rule #3: Play the Field. In large bargain centers, every third stall is selling the same thing whether it is Paul Frank bras, Gucci shoe laces, DVDs and MP3 accessories, or Louis Vuitton magnets. Visit different vendors to test the waters and figure out price points. If two or three sellers let you walk away from a sale, you know your price may be too low and you might consider going up a few cents at the next guy (and only a few cents…let’s not go crazy here). Shopping around will also give you a chance to compare the quality of goods. Merchandise is not created equal and everything should be thoroughly inspected and tested prior to closing a deal.

Rule #4: Know Your Opponents. Maybe the sellers are having an off day or maybe they hit the jackpot with some poor, inexperienced sap the day before, but you will run into sellers who aren’t interested in playing the game. You will know the non-players because they will be unwilling to bargain, they won’t try to become your new best friend, and they may even ignore you all together. These are lame duck sellers and if you choose to engage, you will most likely not get a good bargain because it takes two to deal. The best people to play with are those that will run after you, yell to you from across the way, grab your shirt, and even bike after you in your rickshaw (the latter of which I scored my Mao watch from). It’s a little like the dating game in this regard, because you need to be aware from early on that if “He’s (or she’s) Just Not That Into You” it’s time to walk away.

Rule #5: Everyone and Everything’s a Fake. Bargain shopping is like poker- you need a face for it and you need to learn how to bluff. Walking away, making sad faces, and acting indifferent are all part of the game; techniques that will drive the price down. You may say “I don’t really want it” even though on the inside you’re peeing your pants over how perfect it is, and they will ask for ¥500 even though they bought it for ¥30 and are willing to take ¥75. As for the goods, “technically”, knock-offs are banned from being sold so you should “technically” not find them in an markets, and if you do run across any faux products you should “technically” not buy them. I say, what happens in China stays in China, unless that Prada bag unknowingly happens to find its way into your suitcase and you get the shock of your life upon your return.

Rule #6: Know Your Limit. Around the seventh hour I begin to fade and break down. Bargain shopping is a physical and mental game that requires stamina and vigilance. Do not let sellers take advantage of you in a weary state and do not allow the opponent see you crumble under the stress. The best athletes in the world know that when you are not at the top of your game it is important to walk away, because playing below par can be more detrimental than not playing at all. After a few hours of going back and forth with sellers, you may find yourself becoming soft and conceding too early in the deal. At this point it is essential that you cease all activity and either call a time out to rejuvenate or pack up for the day and reconvene at another time.

I’ll admit that I have pondered the ethics of the bargaining game and the values it encourages. Is it wrong to fight to save ¥5 RMB (71¢) especially when I know that the seller is much more underprivileged than I am? Am I taking advantage of the game and my opponents, or am I actually doing them a favor by supporting the economy? Is it a waste of time to spend the entire day cooped up in a crowded shopping plaza instead of exploring one of the oldest and most influential countries in the world? Will my quality of life really decline if I don’t buy those Dolce & Gabbana socks? I can’t answer a lot of these questions. Well, maybe I can and I just don’t want to. What I can tell you is that the Chinese are arguably some of the best business people in the world. Wheeling and dealing is in their nature, and if they can make a buck they would sell you the clothes off their back (literally). Maybe I’m just a product of my DNA; genetically inclined and naturally gifted at bargain shopping. If that is the case (which I like to believe it is) I don’t feel as bad for pocketing the 71¢ because if I didn’t do it, the other guy would; and besides that, a true sports enthusiast never gives up a point without a fight.