Comments on: How to negotiate in India (without being rude)

By: T

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 06:14:29 +0000

Also- give more attention to pieces you don’t care much for – casually ask for all prices of all the others. They pay attention to what you’re excited about.

By: Myra

Myra — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 11:46:52 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I’ll be joining a tour next month which includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Part of the tour is visiting government-approve shops for souvenirs. Can I also haggle in those shops?

By: Kumar Rahul

Kumar Rahul — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 18:38:33 +0000

Good day Rachel,

Your posts are so funny and informative. I have literally fallen in love with the way you use GIFs to describe the situation.

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 19:57:17 +0000

In reply to Nitin Saklecha. glad you liked it :)

By: Nitin Saklecha

Nitin Saklecha — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 10:03:39 +0000

I am Indian. This is awesome to learn how to negotiate in India from an outsider. But Rachel you are bang on with your tricks. We Indian’s also negotiate the same way.

Nitin

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:12:12 +0000

In reply to Sailaja. That's awesome- dads are always the most helpful!

By: Sailaja

Sailaja — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:11:59 +0000

I love your blog. It made me chuckle how you got all of the tips right. I being an Indian feel very intimidated so always take my dad along. He makes sure to get everything for less than 60% of the quoted price.

By: Wireless Vagabond

Wireless Vagabond — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 19:16:42 +0000

Some great tips! Gonna keep this in mind when I go there this summer!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:23:59 +0000

In reply to Allison.

Allison, exactly – it’s a fine line! It’s important to have patience and if they are ripping you off just go to someone more honest. More often than not, I tip that new guy as much as the other one was asking to thank him for being honest!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:23:03 +0000

In reply to Rebecca. Yup it can seem so weird to do! I'm okay now in India and Thailand or Sri Lanka, but recently in Istanbul and Jordan I pretty much paid what was asked. I hate to negotiate when I don't know the price because I hate to offend!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:22:02 +0000

In reply to Morgan.

Thanks Morgan – you’re right it’s different everywhere. I’m so confident and comfortable here in India but in Istanbul I barely negotiated I was so afraid to offend someone. In Jordan it was the same- we paid way too much for an old coin but this little old man was so adorable!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:21:11 +0000

In reply to Patricia Stone. Thanks Patricia!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:19:53 +0000

In reply to Luka. Yes that's definitely the way to look at it! Thanks for sharing your experience!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 12:19:33 +0000

In reply to Sachin. totally true!

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 01:13:11 +0000

Great to read this! I’ve always been so hesitant to negotiate because of my visible privilege as a white American traveler. I don’t want to be that backpacker getting belligerent over 25 cents with someone who makes a few dollars a day (as I’ve seen happen in Vietnam) but at the same time, I don’t want to be ripped off and laughed at. It’s a fine line but I think you’ve set good guidelines to follow — this will definitely come in handy when I’m in Morocco next month!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 21:53:25 +0000

Thanks for the tips! I’ve traveled to a lot of places where negotiating prices is the norm, however it is still so uncomfortable for me! Coming from somewhere where that is not ever allowed makes me feel so wrong whenever I try to negotiate in places like that. You’re right though, that it’s totally normal and not rude at all.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 19:09:18 +0000

This post is really insightful and gives a ton of useful information. Negotiation etiquette varies from culture to culture, so it’s important to be mindful of how your actions and words translate. Nicely said! Thanks for sharing!

By: Patricia Stone

Patricia Stone — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:39:02 +0000

Great Tips!! India can be a stressful place if you aren’t firm, and you definitely can come out feeling good if you follow these tips. Thanks for sharing.

By: Luka

Luka — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 21:33:48 +0000

Thanks for the tips :) ! Always awkward for me in the beginning, scared to come across rude, but it’s just their job and their playground.
What a friend of mine also says: If you are happy with the price, just pay it. Don’t hassle for the point of hassling and getting every little thing down to a minimum. If a deal is fair enough you can agree. I don’t think its a rip off if you pay what its worth to you as we still have so much more money and those guys spend long days trying to survive (most of them).
Gave me some peace for my mind as i was constantly in the gotta-hassle-mode while touring Morocco :) !

By: Sachin

Sachin — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 17:24:49 +0000

First rule : make sure ure looking in the correct market for the stuff in mind :) to have the right starting price to negotiate on