Haggling Abroad

Haggling to get a better price than stated is an art that many have perfected. But, how would you haggle when you are faced by someone who does not speak a word of English? Ironically, the fact that you are obviously foreign definitely calls for you to discuss and get a better price.

So, again, how do you haggle?

You can use your fingers to indicate the price that you are willing to pay. Although that would be tricky if the price is more than 10.

Or before you start shopping at the flea market (assuming that is where you are going; after all, you are traveling on a budget), you can check the translation for the word "EXPENSIVE". Face the mirror and practice your facial expressions (not too eager for the beginning and not interested before you say the magic word). And as soon as you say the word "expensive", walk away slowly and wait until you hear them try to offer you less.

Here are a few translations, courtesy of dictionary.com for EXPENSIVE which could be of use to you the next time you haggle:

Czech: nakladny Danish: dyr; kostbar Dutch: duur Estonian: kallis Finnish: kallis French: cher German: teuer Hungarian: draga Icelandic: dyr; kostna?arsamur Italian: costoso, caro Latvian: dargs Lithuanian: brangus Norwegian: dyr, kostbar Polish: kosztowny Portuguese (Portugal): dispendioso Romanian: scump Russian: дорогостоящий Slovak: drahy Slovenian: drag Spanish: caro Swedish: dyr Turkish: pahal'