Collect Experiences. Not Things. :')

August 21, 2008

Beijing's Olympic Size Bargains

This is a great video epitomizing the sport of bargaining. Actually, its probably more of an art, than a sport. When traveling we engaged in this art fairly regularly, and especially when it was our turn to cook for the group. The group leaders would drop us - the cook group - off in some random roadside market and hands us a $100 or so, enough to feed 18 people for three meals (B,L,D). The first few times the experience was a little intimidating, but after getting over the cultural fear of negotiating. Feigning insult by their requested price, walking away only to return again is all part of the theatrics and charade. Most of the time the charade was a lot of fun and you'd psych yourself up before entering the market place. Then again, there were also other days when you couldn't be bothered to bargain - it's not without effort - and they'll quote a price of $2 for ten pounds of potatoes, and you know if you bargained you could get it for $0.25, but why bother! Hand them the $2 and be on your way.

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