Bargaining 101

It's taken me a while, and a few times of realizing that I probably just got ripped off before I have become decent in the art of bargaining. It's definitely a skill worth having, and it's a fun one to practice. Here are some steps I've found, that when followed, lead to a good bargaining experience.

First. Look around at all the stuff. When you see something you like, let your gaze linger. IF the shop person is being hovery, DO NOT TOUCH. If they are barely noticing you... then it might be ok to run your fingers over a few items.

When you see the thing you want, look at it for a while. Try to make them come to you. Most likely, they'll point to what you're looking at. You'll move your head casually to one side as if to say "Yeah, nice, but I'm not sure it's worth my time." Then they'll try to indicate, probably in broken English, that they will give you a very good price for it. At which point you look at them with one eyebrow raised and say: "How much?" Or if you want to attempt sounding Chinese: "Duo shao qian?"

They'll type a number into their calculator for you to look at. You glance, and shake your head with a frown. Then you'll pretend that you don't care too much about the object anyways and start to move on. They'll start shouting and waving their calculator at you, asking you mostly in Chinese to set your price. You take a step further as if to walk away, at which point they will probably shout "Ok! OK!" and punch a new number into the calculator. You pause, look at the number thoughtfully, and then you'll do some math in your head. Cut the number in half. Then subtract some. (So if the number in the calculator is 100, maybe you'll offer 25 or so.) Type that number into the calculator.

The shop keeper will look at with you with a disbelieving expression. She'll roll her eyes and type in a number slightly smaller than the one she'd typed before. You'll raise your price just a little bit... and then she'll lower again. At this point you'll shake your head and turn to walk away. If she truly was quoting you an outrageous price, and she probably was, she'll start shouting again, and this time when she pulls your attention back, the number in the calculator will be decently smaller. You can at this point, give an inward grin... and if you are feeling really adventuresome, you can try to talk her down just a tad further. But if you've gotten her down almost as far as you'd like, and if you really want the object, and you are actually ok with the price, THEN you can nod your head and hand over your cash.

If you are smart shopper you'll follow these steps. Not always precisely in this order, and with not always the same results, because not all shop keepers are created equal. Some are much easier to bargain with than others.... but these steps can be helpful when working with anyone. When bartering you'll definitely use the walking away one. Multiple times if you're smart. That's the most important one. Perfecting the aura of "I don't care and there's no way I'll pay that much."

Now when you head to China yourself you'll know :)

Jet Lag Sucks

Really.

But despite our extreme tiredness.... (It's 3:30 am in Utah time and 5:30 pm the next day here in Hong Kong) we have ventured out to explore the city. We may hit up the temple later! But our first order of business was to exchange money and find some Wifi. (Starbucks is great! There's one in the shopping center here and that's how I found internet.)

Hong Kong. Is. Incredible. Can I just say that? Buildings bigger than anything you've ever seen.... and it's green. And raining. Therefore: after we freshened up at our hotel, we set out to exchange currency across the street, and my first purchase in HK was a blue umbrella and banana at a mini supermarket on the street. Together they cost me 21 dollars and 40 cents. That's in Hong Kong dollars, so in American money I spent less than 3 dollars. Guess they weren't kidding when they said stuff here is cheaper. You feel like you are forking out lots of money -- handing over a twenty for something so small. But when I stop and convert in my head I don't feel like I'm being so spendy.

It definitely is humid and hot here, but I'm not all sticky right now! Maybe that's due to the rain.... guess I'll find out at some point. I'm hoping that the stickiness stays away though. Although I'm slightly doubting it. Ha.

There is much much more I could say. I could tell you about how they drive on the 'wrong' side of the street, or about how there's no traffic rule system that we can really figure out. No cross walks either... best we can see it's just kind of dart and weave and duck and go whenever you can. Luckily traffic is slow so I'm not too afraid of getting hit by a cab driver. I could tell you about the sweet room in the shopping center that makes it look like you are under water, or about how tomorrow I'll get to hike Victoria's peak and tour the fisherman's market. We're also planning on a firework show over the bay. There are so many experiences to describe.... but the city is calling and I only have a short time here in HK. So this post is going to end shortly. Let's just say that Hong Kong is great. I can see why Papa is jealous that he didn't get to come here too. Don't worry though Papa, I'm taking lots of pictures :)