Buying Things

Last Updated: September 23, 1998

Shopping is a bit different in China than it is in the US or Canada. There are two very different protocols: one for stores, the other for street vendors. But remember, no matter where you buy something, inspect your potential purchase for defects.

In the big stores, you pick something out, the sales clerk gives you a slip of paper, you go to a counter to pay for it, and finally you return to the sales clerk to pick up your item. No bargaining involved.

Shopping on the streets is different. Bargaining is expected. As a foreigner, expect to be over-charged. A few bargaining tips:

The vendor will state a price. Do not make a counter-offer - that sets a lower bound on the price you'll pay. Instead, balk at the price, show disinterest in what's being sold, etc. The price quickly will be revised (at times, it was cut in half for us).
Usually there are many vendors selling the same things. Shop several vendors. When you start to leave a vendor, the price will be cut even more dramatically. It's your call - buy it, or move to another vendor knowing what they're likely to reduce the price to.
To get the best prices, have a native Chinese friend. When you shop several vendors, pick out what you want and show it to your friend. Then have your friend move along to other vendors alone, where they can get an even lower price without their foreign friend in sight.
Unless you enjoy that kind of bargaining, don't bother squeezing out the last 1 or 2 RMB. That's less than 25 cents (US or Canadian), and it's probably not worth your time.

Often times, you'll feel very cut-throat, especially when you shop several vendors to feel out the best price. Don't feel too bad - the vendors are essentially doing the same to you, only they're probably better at it than you are. And they really do jack-up prices for foreigners. One vendor at the Great Wall told Mei that T-shirts were 15 RMB ($3 CA). She got me, we picked some out, and then the vendor tried to sell raise the price to 35 RMB. Since other vendors had earlier offered to sell me the same T-shirts for 15 RMB, I started to leave. The price quickly dropped back to 15 RMB.

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