MtnMama Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 At Tuesday Market, I was looking over a vendor's merchandise when a gringo came up and asked the price of an item. She told him it was 105 pesos. He said, "I only have 100 pesos so you'll have to take that", picked up the item and started to walk away. I said in a loud voice, "That's terrible, I'll pay the 5 pesos. She shouldn't have to take a loss just because you're cheap." She thanked me and we discussed the fact that she had to raise prices because her costs went up. That 5 pesos was a part of her rather meager profit. So, if you can't afford something, don't buy it. Don't be a jerk and make the rest of us look bad. 18 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil in mexico Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 I don't mind haggling over a price of a product but I sure don't take something without a full agreed price, what was done in that scenario gives us all a bad reputation, sad 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 If you go to the Tuesday market you should have an extra 5 pesos.. it is not the place to haggle.. There is less haggle in Mexico anyways and times are tough now so do not haggle with merchants...Actually this was not haggling this wad short changing someone. SHAME ON THAT MAN 8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyjillin Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 1 hour ago, bmh said: If you go to the Tuesday market you should have an extra 5 pesos.. it is not the place to hagglle.. There is less haggle in Mexico anyways snd times are tough now so do not haggle with merchants...Actually this was not haggling this wad short chsnging slmeone. SHAME ON THAT MAN It was pure out and out theft by a pinche pendejo. In any event,one should never haggle on food and quite frankly,I've pretty much stopped haggling on everything. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 3 hours ago, phil in mexico said: I don't mind haggling over a price of a product but I sure don't take something without a full agreed price, what was done in that scenario gives us all a bad reputation, sad There are appropriate circumstances in which to haggle, and ones where it is not. Haggling is expected when dealing with middle-men like the guys with their briefcases full of mass-produced jewelry preying on tourists. Haggling at a market with people selling the wares they themselves produce is not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 8 minutes ago, mudgirl said: There are appropriate circumstances in which to haggle, and ones where it is not. Haggling is expected when dealing with middle-men like the guys with their briefcases full of mass-produced jewelry preying on tourists. Haggling at a market with people selling the wares they themselves produce is not. Sorry but Mexicans bargain (haggle) all the time if they think the product is overpriced, or they have seen it elsewhere for less. Also as regular customers we bargain for our special "discount" all the time. The seller can say "yes" or "no" ........ and then the buyer can decide to buy or not. 1 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 1 hour ago, Mostlylost said: Sorry but Mexicans bargain (haggle) all the time if they think the product is overpriced, or they have seen it elsewhere for less. Also as regular customers we bargain for our special "discount" all the time. The seller can say "yes" or "no" ........ and then the buyer can decide to buy or not. So if other people do something that means it's not a jerky thing to do? People selling the food or crafts they create themselves charge prices that they have determined they need to charge to make a profit after their expenses. They aren't trying to gouge anyone. Haggling with them is rude. How do you, as a consumer, arrive at the idea that something is overpriced, when you have no knowledge of what it costs to produce an item? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 2 hours ago, happyjillin said: In any event,one should never haggle on food and quite frankly,I've pretty much stopped haggling on everything. 1 hour ago, Mostlylost said: Mexicans bargain (haggle) all the time if they think the product is overpriced, or they have seen it elsewhere for less. I'm with @happyjillinon this. If I've seen it elsewhere for less I go back there and buy it. If I know it's overpriced, I walk away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted December 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Keep in mind please that you probable have more money than they do, and at the very least a more regular secure source of income. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Don't be a jerk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mexijims1 Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 (edited) I agree with happyjillin -- the guy was a cheap ### and I wish he was arrested ! Edited December 23, 2021 by mexijims1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby brown Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 11 hours ago, MtnMama said: At Tuesday Market, I was looking over a vendor's merchandise when a gringo came up and asked the price of an item. She told him it was 105 pesos. He said, "I only have 100 pesos so you'll have to take that", picked up the item and started to walk away. I said in a loud voice, "That's terrible, I'll pay the 5 pesos. She shouldn't have to take a loss just because you're cheap." She thanked me and we discussed the fact that she had to raise prices because her costs went up. That 5 pesos was a part of her rather meager profit. So, if you can't afford something, don't buy it. Don't be a jerk and make the rest of us look bad. that tourist was rude-I rarely carry coin; so I would just try to negociate the price down to $100 pesos--or give the vendor a twenty or a fifty and ask for change-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvsdawgs Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Actually that person did not haggle, just stated that 100 was all he was paying whether the vendor liked it or not. Theft. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvsdawgs Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Just now, bobby brown said: that tourist was rude-I rarely carry coin; so I would just try to negociate the price down to $100 pesos--or give the vendor a twenty or a fifty and ask for change-- Was he a tourist? Not stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyjillin Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Just now, luvsdawgs said: Actually that person did not haggle, just stated that 100 was all he was paying whether the vendor liked it or not. Theft. Exactly he took it without permission which is criminal theft. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby brown Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Yes, theft--I used to go to garage sales and flea markets--and haggeling over price was have the fun-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby brown Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 3 minutes ago, luvsdawgs said: Was he a tourist? Not stated. well a local would never behave like that--at least me--If I didn't have the 5 pesos I would have to just walk away-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby brown Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 2 hours ago, mudgirl said: There are appropriate circumstances in which to haggle, and ones where it is not. Haggling is expected when dealing with middle-men like the guys with their briefcases full of mass-produced jewelry preying on tourists. Haggling at a market with people selling the wares they themselves produce is not. Many times vendors will drop the price for you if you start to walk away-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafterbr Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 If its meat or produce, I do not haggle if I think its over priced, I simply walk away. If its manufactured or hand made, depending on item I may haggle. I know there is a gringo price and a Mexican price. I try to get between the two. My Mexican wife doesn't haggle so I tell her, let me make the offers. I usually tell them, if I buy two what is the cost and I usually get a good price for the 2. Prices in Ajijic are higher for almost everything so depending on what I want, I usually go to Chapala or Jocotepec tiangus or stores. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jreboll Posted December 23, 2021 Report Share Posted December 23, 2021 Rule of thumb: never haggle for edibles or home necessities haggle for trinkets, curios, other non-necessities 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 24, 2021 Report Share Posted December 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Jreboll said: Rule of thumb: never haggle for edibles or home necessities haggle for trinkets, curios, other non-necessities I would amend that- do not haggle with artisans selling their own creations. They seldom have a "gringo price" and trying to chisel them down on their prices is insulting and disrespectful. Middlemen selling things other people have made, yes. They almost always start out with some "tourist price". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted December 24, 2021 Report Share Posted December 24, 2021 I realize that we all have differing amounts of income/resources, but the last thing I generally want to do is 'bargain/haggle' with a "poor" Mexican National. I'm alread waaaay ahead with just the exchange rate much less my position in life. 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted December 24, 2021 Report Share Posted December 24, 2021 3 hours ago, mudgirl said: I would amend that- do not haggle with artisans selling their own creations. They seldom have a "gringo price" and trying to chisel them down on their prices is insulting and disrespectful. Middlemen selling things other people have made, yes. They almost always start out with some "tourist price". For sure never ever in the history of the worlds has an "artisan" over priced a creation... Never ever for sure!!!!!!!!!! I am sorry but it is not insulting to offer what you think is fair. The "artisan" has the right to say yes or no. I have seen many "artisans" over price their creations. Growing up in Taxco I learned at an early age what overpricing was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 24, 2021 Report Share Posted December 24, 2021 I work with about 300 artisans and when they go to places where there is haggling they raise their prices so they can lower them. A little like buen fin When the tourist bus stops prices go up 3p per cent because the gukdes and the bus driver have to be paid off . AT THE FOOD MARKET i have not noticed prices going down much except at the end of the day on merchandise that is not fesh anymore.. othersise you may get a few pwsos off but really not enough to make a difference unless you are very poor.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside7 Posted December 26, 2021 Report Share Posted December 26, 2021 So all you purist never haggle with your surgeon for medical procedures..it's part of the Mexican culture 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bisbee Gal Posted December 26, 2021 Report Share Posted December 26, 2021 51 minutes ago, lakeside7 said: So all you purist never haggle with your surgeon for medical procedures..it's part of the Mexican culture Great idea---haggle and beat down his price just before he pulls out his scalpel. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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