How to Haggle in the Desert
Dune surfing, camel riding, henna tattooing, hawk training, belly dancing, shisha smoking, eating, drinking. We were picked up at our hotel and accompanied by another family of three to experience a desert safari. Once again on the drive out, our guide made an unannounced stop at a convenience store in the middle of no where. None in our car needed to use the restroom, so the mother asked if we could just keep going directly. Our driver replied that the stop would be 20 minutes, turned the van off, and got out. Sooooo, I guess this is mandatory? We followed.
Of course we ended up buying something even before the real tour began. While we had an absolute blast, these jokers tried it out in this here desert. Following are some of my observations:
If you hear any version of, "ok, just for you," you've either been ripped off or you just scored the best deal of the day. Window shop and ask for prices everywhere, or you will not know which is which.
At a place where nothing has tags, the real price at which a seller is willing to part with his/her wares is at least half of the original offer. Appear surprised by the first quote. Put the item back. Leave and come back. Wait them out.
The market commands what people believe something is worth.That's why you need to do your part. You have to be comfortable with what you can afford. If the owner can't accept it, then be willing to part ways and move on.
Buyer's remorse is real. If a seller agrees to your negotiated price too quickly, you may immediately assume that they got the upper hand. Oftentimes, this may be true. But if you were okay with that price when you suggested it, then you should be still be happy with the exchange. If you're no longer satisfied, (believing that they would have sold it to you for less), well... you can try to add another item into the mix to create a bundled deal, or back out altogether and leave it there. It appears dishonest to try re-negotiating the same exchange on which you both were already settled.
Do some mental math and use your life experience to gauge expected value. Give a buffer to provide what you believe is a fair profit. Know that small businesses will not often sell something below cost, unless it is a purposeful loss-leader and the presence of that item itself attracts additional purchases. So don't feel bad negotiating. At the end of the day, you both have to align for a transaction to take place.
Finally, don't come thirsty. To the desert. To a (wo)man. To a store. In life. You know where you're about to go. Be prepared! If your throat is already dry heading into the desert, how much would you be willing to pay to quench and hydrate by the time you arrive? That's why there are no prices on anything. Because some of us are thirstier than others.
