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How To Haggle – Traveller’s Guide to Fun & Responsible Shopping!
Haggling, or bargaining, is one of the biggest cultural shocks for Westerners arriving in Southeast Asia. It’s so at odds with the way we are used to doing things that many of us are guilty of avoiding it all together. (I challenge you to find a backpacker who hasn’t at some point paid over the odds for something whilst travelling!)
However, not only is haggling totally accepted in the majority of places in Southeast Asia, it’s expected! It’s the way business is done, deals are struck and livings are made. From tuk-tuk rides to visits to the market, haggling is simply part of daily life — and that goes for travellers too!
When we asked our readers if they engage with this practice when travelling, 40% of you said yes you haggle! And the remaining 60% said it depends on the situation. Below we’ve rounded up some of the best quotes about haggling from you, dear readers. We’ve also put together some top tips and general do’s and don’ts for any of you that are unsure where to begin! Read on and you’ll be bargaining with the best of ’em in no time at all!
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Haggling Responsibly in Southeast Asia: Do’s and Don’ts 🤝
Top Comment ⭐ “The foundation of haggling is that the buyer pays what they feel the item is worth to them. Bearing in mind the difference in socio-economic status between many traders in Asia and foreign travellers, then quite reasonably a trader has the right to have a higher starting price for a foreigner than a local (though the local price might also vary depending on the perceived status of the local). In return the buyer has the right to haggle on the price based on what they know about the origin and quality of the product so long as they make a fair judgement based on their socio-economic status in relation to the the trader. Both parties of course can refuse either the offered or asked for price. It’s all fine!” Neville Cregan, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
The Do’s When It Comes to Haggling 👍
1. Speak a little of the local language
Even learning just a little bit of the local language (hello, please, thank you) will show people that you’ve not just stepped off the plane (even if you have!). Most importantly, attempting to speak the language will demonstrate you’re making an effort to understand the country and culture.
Also read 👇
2. Relax and take your time
Haggling should be fun, not stressful. Smile and have a laugh while you negotiate and enjoy the new skill you are mastering! Most importantly always be polite to the vendor.
“I do haggle a bit….. But, you always need to be conscious of your situation and privilege. Food trucks, no. [With] tuk tuks for instance, I always smile and offer half the quote and wave my hands around and we all have a good time playing the game. Then I generally pay the first quoted price anyhow (assuming I’m not being clearly taken advantage of). 70 THB here and there isn’t much for me on holidays, but it’s a good lunch for someone else.” Mark Seaton, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
3. Fake a walk-off and feign disinterest
It’s often the way that you’re able to get really great prices for the things you had absolutely no interest in buying in the first place! But oh that price keeps on coming down and you just can’t resist…
4. Don’t start your price too high
(Or too low for that matter – don’t take the piss!) Start bargaining at around half of whatever the vendor says, that gives plenty of room for the price to creep up.
5. Throw in an odd number, like 497
They’ll think you’re a seasoned pro and give you some respect dude!
6. Ask for extras to be thrown in
If the vendor is adamant about the price, try a ‘how about give me this and this for this price?’ or ‘what if I buy three will you give me this price?’ Just make sure that you actually want seven colourful hats with bells on before you start the bargaining process!
7. Ask a local how much you should be paying
This is especially important for journeys. A local will give you a rough idea of what’s a fair price for a bus/taxi journey in that particular area. Remember that tourist prices will almost always be higher, but at least you have a base mark to go off.
“The locals are doing it. Why should I not?” Rainer, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
8. Accept that as a tourist, you will overpay
It’s importance to accept that you will usually end up paying a little over the odds in any case. That’s not to say that you should give up bargaining or knowingly overpay, but you should accept overpaying as part of the great adventure that is travelling. And if overpaying for your coconut water or your souvenir batik sarong is the worst part of your trip, you’ve done well, my friend.
“It really depends on the situation and the item I’m interested in buying (e.g. souvenirs). Admittedly now, in my late 50s I haggle a lot less than 20yrs ago (when I earned a lot less money). 😉“ Mel B, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
The Don’ts of Haggling 👎
1. Get too carried away
Bargaining for your goods in a local grocery store or attempting to haggle for your alcoholic beverages in bars or your dinner in restaurants is not appropriate and will get you some funny looks. Remember — you can’t haggle everywhere!
“If the item or service is reasonably affordable at what they are asking I don’t haggle. Or, if it is something I need like a medical service I don’t haggle. I wouldn’t actively haggle but I would tell them if I think something is expensive and try to get it elsewhere at a price I am more comfortable with. Haggling has happened more when I have been on tighter budgets such as when I travelled with my daughter and had to provide entertainment for her all day and pay for everything twice. I used to then look for bargains and jump at any offers for accommodation discounts etc. Overall though, I am not a major haggler. I usually just don’t buy things if I don’t like the price and don’t need the item or service.” Melissa, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
2. Get angry!
Remember you’re the foreigner here; whoever you are dealing with is just trying to make a living and they’re not trying to rip you off (most of the time). Adopt a playful rather than an ‘everyone is out to get me’ attitude and you won’t go far wrong.
3. Give in too easily
Haggling is just a game that people expect you to play. Don’t think you’re being really rude by not accepting the first price — it’s just the way shopping is done here. The aim is to come to a fair agreement that you’re both happy with.
4. Bargain too late on
At the end of a taxi journey or when your purchase is all wrapped up and in your backpack, it’s too late. Get a price upfront. Once you’ve made your decision and accepted the service/goods you’ve lost all of the power you potentially had!
5. Don’t attempt your bargaining skills in taxis in major cities
In Bangkok, for example, it is much more cost efficient to ask your driver politely to put the meter on. Say in Thai – “Dit meter dai mai ka / kap?” Or, get an Uber or a Grab.
6. Continue to use your newly found skills at home
No matter how exciting and impressive they may be on your travels, they won’t work in the supermarket back home!
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Haggle Too Hard ✋
1. Backpackers are relatively rich compared to most locals
It might not feel like it when you’re counting every baht, but relatively speaking backpackers are rich in comparison to most locals in Southeast Asia. The very fact that we can afford to travel halfway around the world proves it. It’s important to remember that as travellers we are privileged. What may not seem much to us can make the world of difference to a local. Don’t lose perspective.
2. Remember the vendor is just trying to make a living
Don’t forget that the person you are haggling with is simply trying to make a living. Can you blame them for trying to make a little more where they can? The extra few cents you might pay as a tourist will make a huge difference to them and their family at the end of the day.
“We haggle for bragging rights, mostly, and perhaps because we believe that everything has an intrinsic “fair” price, a fixed cost for both local and traveler. At least that’s why I used to haggle so hard. And I knew all the tricks, from asking for prices of random things to slyly grumbling to my friend in a “secretive” tone. I even had the walkaway down pat. And I still use these tricks on occasion because, well, taking the first price offered would be downright silly. But after years of travel through dozens of countries, I don’t think of a “fair” price in the same way. No, I’ve realised that bragging rights and a couple of bucks come at a heavier cost to the person across from me.” Conan Griffin, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
3. Better stories
We get better stories — and memories — by treating people humanely.
“My favourite bargaining memory is of haggling for a four-foot wooden totem pole in Arequipa, Peru. After squeezing that lady out of every last cent I could, I got back to my hostel and realised what a jerk I’d been. So I went and bought a bouquet of flowers, which I took to her the next day along with the extra few bucks she had been trying to get me to pay. It’s one of the better memories of bargaining I have.” Conan Griffin, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
Now let’s see how it works in practice…
The following is a common day to day experience for the backpacker in Southeast Asia. The scene is any Asian city. The temperature is of course scorching. Here’s how to play the haggling game and use the skills you have learnt on the street…
Mr Tuk-Tuk: Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk.
Sweaty Backpacker: (Grows hotter, redder and sweatier the minute as he traipses the streets looking for guest houses…)
Mr Tuk-Tuk: Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk, Tuk-tuk. Hello, where you go, my friend?
Sweaty Backpacker: (As his flip flop breaks and he nearly gets run over by a motorbike crossing the road, he is finally worn down by the persistent Mr Tuk Tuk and the promise of a short and breezy journey.) Okay. How much to town centre?
Mr Tuk-Tuk: (Eying the farang up and down, assessing how much of a beginner he is.) Okay 500, let’s go!
Sweaty Backpacker: (Feigning a complete look of shock, shaking his head) No way, 250!
Mr Tuk-Tuk: Oh cannot, cannot. Ooooweeeeeeeeeeeee. Cannot. Okay okay cheap cheap for you. 400.
Sweaty Backpacker: (Firm, he’s done this before) 300. Good for you, good for me.
Mr Tuk-Tuk: Ah, ooweeeeeeeeeeeee, My petrol very expensive – cannot cannot.
Sweaty Backpacker: Okay never mind. (Pretending to walk off).
Mr Tuk-Tuk: Okay, okay let’s go.
The two depart on a beautiful journey into the sunset and despite stopping off at three gem shops and two travel agencies, the ride works out jolly well for all involved. Two joyful souls brought together by the wonderful concept that is bargaining.
Nikki Scott | Founder & Editor
Nikki is the founding editor of South East Asia Backpacker and The Backpacker Network. In her early twenties, she left her home in the North of England on a solo backpacking adventure and never returned! After six months on the road, she founded a print magazine that became legendary on the Banana Pancake Trail. The rest is history.
