7 Tips on How To Haggle Across the Globe

Whether you’re in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or walking down the winding Medina streets of Marrakech, there are going to be a lot of people trying to sell you something during your travels. In many countries around the world, selling and haggling is built into daily life. Yet, haggling is not a skill that most people from the United States pick up or are comfortable with at first. We’ve learned so many haggling tips throughout our travels. From the hotel staff in Istanbul to Cambodian servers to our tour guide in Morocco, we learned and used 7 haggling gems and we’re sharing them with you here!

Photos via my sister, Julie Rose

1. Learn to Say “No” Politely, Yet Firmly

If a seller is pressuring you in the beginning, politely ask for time to look. It’s much kinder than ignoring them.

2. Don’t Engage in Conversation Unless You’re Truly Looking to Buy

Our hotel hosts in Istanbul gave us the best insights on navigating our way through the Grand Bazaar. This tip applies, just like all of the haggling tips, to both the markets in Istanbul and Marrakech. Sellers will try to guess where you are from as a way to draw you into a conversation and their shop. But they always guess the wrong country - on purpose. Our hotel hosts told us, “They know you’re from the United States! But they will guess Canada or Australia, so that you tell them ‘No, we’re from the United States.’ and then you’ve entered into a conversation with them.” It’s best to laugh off their “guesses”, tell them “no, thank you”, and make your way down the street.

3. Don’t Sit Down for Tea

Don’t go into a seller’s shop at the offer of tea. Unless you’re truly interested in an item. Once you’re drinking tea, you’re going to buy something. And it’s probably expensive! If you do go this route, enjoy the process because it will take awhile. Listen to their stories, sip your mint tea, and after awhile make your choice on what item you will be taking home.

4. Don’t Take the First Price

Haggling is an expectation in many cities around the world, so don’t take the first price that the seller gives. Especially since they are sometimes astronomically high! I love the quote from this Telegraph article on haggling, “It’s a dance, not a fight.” When a seller offers the first price, counter-offer with a third or half of their price. They will probably laugh at your low price, but they expect it. And the dance begins. Continue to edge up the price in a similar ratio as the seller comes down in price. Also, if you like several of the seller’s items, grouping items is a great way to bring down the overall price.

5. Be Willing to Walk Away

This is the power move. If you are truly not happy with the price the seller if offering, walk away. Many times the seller will chase after you to offer a better price. If not, chances are someone down the street is selling a similar item.

6. Settled on a Price? You’re Committed

Remember, this is someone’s livelihood. So as thrilling as it can be to test your negotiating skills, you need to be respectful. Window shopping and asking about a price is always welcome. But once you’ve enter the haggling process and agreed on a price, be prepared to buy. It’s rude and a waste of the seller’s time to walk away at that point.

7. Maybe Just Pay Full Price

Are you haggling over a couple of dollars? Are you in an incredibly poor country and haggling over the price of a t-shirt? Sometimes paying full price is the best way to support the local economy.

Two additional notes on making your way through marketplaces:

In addition to all of the rules above, be aware of your surroundings while haggling just like you would be when traveling anywhere. While your attention is on the art of the negotiation, don’t lose sight of your regular awareness.

Please don’t buy from children selling items on the streets. More often than not, they are being made to sell by an adult and not receiving much, or any, of the money. Selling on the streets also means that they are not in school and learning the skills needed to survive in life. We learned this lesson in Cambodia through the Think Twice nonprofit organization. I wish more countries around the globe had the consistent, strong messaging like we saw demonstrated in Cambodia.

Want to learn more about traveling in Marrakech and Cambodia? Head to our posts!