ID :
133679
Tue, 07/20/2010 - 11:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/133679
The shortlink copeid
NOT GAME FOR 'TOUGH' BARGAINING? THEN AVOID SILK STREET, PEARL MARKET
By Nodin Mohadi
BEIJING, July 20 (Bernama) -- This is a reminder to those who like to shop but are easily slighted by 'unpleasant words' exchanged during bargaining for goods.
Shoppers are advised to avoid visiting Pearl Market (Hongqiao Market) and
Silk Street here if they cannot tolerate the intense haggling with traders there
over the price of items that they intent to purchase.
The location is known as a shopping haven that offers various goods
including electronic appliances, souvenirs and foods.
But do not be surprised or even 'shocked' when the traders there began to
raise their voices during the haggling over the price. And for how long this
'tough encounter' would last depends on the patience of the shoppers.
Despite the fiery exchanges, most of the times the traders would relent and
buyers would get the price that they asked for.
During the bargaining, words like "you are crazy" or "can die" are usually
uttered by the traders. These are not meant to annoy the buyers but actually to
express disappointment if the price asked is too low.
WARNING SIGN
That is the strategy used by buyers who know how to bargain or those who
feel that the price offered by the traders is too high.
A word of caution!. If you do not wish to buy any of the goods, then do not
initiate the bargaining as the traders may turn aggressive when they realise
that the visitors have no intention to buy the goods they had haggled over.
When this happens, the traders may start to gesture and mumble 'incoherent'
Mandarin and may say "that is not good".
Visitors, particularly the foreign tourists, have been warned about the
bargaining there through a notice board installed at the entrance of the
six-storey shopping complex.
The warning on the notice board, written in English, among others said:
"Shop with confidence. Our commitment is to provide the shopping experience
for quality goods at our shop."
According to reports, one million tourists from worldwide visited Silk
Street and Pearl Market during each holiday season. The market is a 'regular' in
the tour packages offered by Malaysian travel agents.
VARIOUS ITEMS
For the shoppers, various goods including garments, T-shirts, blazers and
cloths made from silk apart from gifts and souvenirs are available on the first
floor of the shopping complex.
On the second floor there are items such as branded apparels and footwear as
well as scarves, table cloths, drapes and curtains.
Toys, ladies handbags, sunglasses as well as crystal items, jades and pearls
are available on the third floor.
Shoppers can buy branded wristwatches and electronic goods on the fourth
floor while on the two top floors (fifth and sixth) there are various foods,
handicrafts, medicines, jewelleries, snacks and Chinese tea items.
MUST VISIT PLACE
A Malaysian tourist Farushee Emran said he had to 'quarrel' for almost 30
minutes in order to purchase a piece of high quality silk cloth.
"For almost 30 minutes, I had to bargain hard to buy the piece of silk
cloth. The trader asked for Yuan800 (US$117) but I countered for Yuan150
(US$22)" he told this writer.
According to Farushee, the woman trader scolded him for asking such a low
price.
"Then the trader asked for Yuan500 (US$74) but I insisted with the price
that I asked. After much bargaining, and when I almost got fed up and about to
leave, she smiled and agreed to sell the silk cloth for Yuan150", he said.
NEW EXPERIENCE FOR MALAYSIAN TOURISTS
Farushee said this was a new bargaining experience for him.
"Now I know that the traders there are actually friendly. Maybe the woman
only tried to test my patience or it could be the culture of trading there".
His compatriot, who wished to be named as Sid, had his own experience when
he tried to purchase a handphone there.
"When I enquired about the price, I was told that it was priced Yuan2,500
(US$369). But before I went there I was told that the handphone was not more
than Yuan500 (US$74) that was why I bargained for that price.
"The trader began to get annoyed but my persistence paid off and I finally
got the handphone for Yuan500 that I later made a gift for my child," he said.
A CUSTOM OF TRADE
Ahmad Faisal Tajudeen said shopping there was an experience to cherish for
the fact the price offered was cheap.
The tourist from the Malaysian state of Penang said he managed to buy a silk
table cloth at Yuan50 or RM25 (about US$8)as compared to RM75 (US$23) the price
offered in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, a Muslim trader at the market by the name of Khatijah who
operated at 'Jamilah's Silk Store', when met by this writer said the hard
bargaining there is a common practice by the traders.
"The weak is set to lose out and the agressive one would win (the bargaining
encounter)", she said.
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING, July 20 (Bernama) -- This is a reminder to those who like to shop but are easily slighted by 'unpleasant words' exchanged during bargaining for goods.
Shoppers are advised to avoid visiting Pearl Market (Hongqiao Market) and
Silk Street here if they cannot tolerate the intense haggling with traders there
over the price of items that they intent to purchase.
The location is known as a shopping haven that offers various goods
including electronic appliances, souvenirs and foods.
But do not be surprised or even 'shocked' when the traders there began to
raise their voices during the haggling over the price. And for how long this
'tough encounter' would last depends on the patience of the shoppers.
Despite the fiery exchanges, most of the times the traders would relent and
buyers would get the price that they asked for.
During the bargaining, words like "you are crazy" or "can die" are usually
uttered by the traders. These are not meant to annoy the buyers but actually to
express disappointment if the price asked is too low.
WARNING SIGN
That is the strategy used by buyers who know how to bargain or those who
feel that the price offered by the traders is too high.
A word of caution!. If you do not wish to buy any of the goods, then do not
initiate the bargaining as the traders may turn aggressive when they realise
that the visitors have no intention to buy the goods they had haggled over.
When this happens, the traders may start to gesture and mumble 'incoherent'
Mandarin and may say "that is not good".
Visitors, particularly the foreign tourists, have been warned about the
bargaining there through a notice board installed at the entrance of the
six-storey shopping complex.
The warning on the notice board, written in English, among others said:
"Shop with confidence. Our commitment is to provide the shopping experience
for quality goods at our shop."
According to reports, one million tourists from worldwide visited Silk
Street and Pearl Market during each holiday season. The market is a 'regular' in
the tour packages offered by Malaysian travel agents.
VARIOUS ITEMS
For the shoppers, various goods including garments, T-shirts, blazers and
cloths made from silk apart from gifts and souvenirs are available on the first
floor of the shopping complex.
On the second floor there are items such as branded apparels and footwear as
well as scarves, table cloths, drapes and curtains.
Toys, ladies handbags, sunglasses as well as crystal items, jades and pearls
are available on the third floor.
Shoppers can buy branded wristwatches and electronic goods on the fourth
floor while on the two top floors (fifth and sixth) there are various foods,
handicrafts, medicines, jewelleries, snacks and Chinese tea items.
MUST VISIT PLACE
A Malaysian tourist Farushee Emran said he had to 'quarrel' for almost 30
minutes in order to purchase a piece of high quality silk cloth.
"For almost 30 minutes, I had to bargain hard to buy the piece of silk
cloth. The trader asked for Yuan800 (US$117) but I countered for Yuan150
(US$22)" he told this writer.
According to Farushee, the woman trader scolded him for asking such a low
price.
"Then the trader asked for Yuan500 (US$74) but I insisted with the price
that I asked. After much bargaining, and when I almost got fed up and about to
leave, she smiled and agreed to sell the silk cloth for Yuan150", he said.
NEW EXPERIENCE FOR MALAYSIAN TOURISTS
Farushee said this was a new bargaining experience for him.
"Now I know that the traders there are actually friendly. Maybe the woman
only tried to test my patience or it could be the culture of trading there".
His compatriot, who wished to be named as Sid, had his own experience when
he tried to purchase a handphone there.
"When I enquired about the price, I was told that it was priced Yuan2,500
(US$369). But before I went there I was told that the handphone was not more
than Yuan500 (US$74) that was why I bargained for that price.
"The trader began to get annoyed but my persistence paid off and I finally
got the handphone for Yuan500 that I later made a gift for my child," he said.
A CUSTOM OF TRADE
Ahmad Faisal Tajudeen said shopping there was an experience to cherish for
the fact the price offered was cheap.
The tourist from the Malaysian state of Penang said he managed to buy a silk
table cloth at Yuan50 or RM25 (about US$8)as compared to RM75 (US$23) the price
offered in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, a Muslim trader at the market by the name of Khatijah who
operated at 'Jamilah's Silk Store', when met by this writer said the hard
bargaining there is a common practice by the traders.
"The weak is set to lose out and the agressive one would win (the bargaining
encounter)", she said.
-- BERNAMA
