Tips for bargaining - "the Christy method"

When I am old and retired maybe I will spend my days of idleness writing a book called, "Christy's tips for travelling in East Africa." Or maybe not... Actually, when I am old and retired then everything I have experienced in my 20s will be completely out of date and the world will have exhausted its supply of fossil fuels so airline travel with be much more limited and cross-continental travel will be much slower. Sad. Anyway, if I ever do write a book on traveling tips it will definitely have a chapter on methods for successful bargaining.

Allow me to illustrate with an example from the art fair in Kampala. This is a true story:
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How foreigners usually shop in East Africa:

A group of 5 or 6 white people are meandering along being loud and talking rapidly amongst themselves as they walk between Ugandans selling handmade art, carvings and souvenirs. White people are saying to each other: "Yes, I know I couldn't believe that she has two cars! My car is such an old clunker... (more rapid conversation) .... the food here is so fattening, I mean do they NOT fry anything?"

The group of white people spot a Ugandan woman selling a medium sized drum. They walk up to her and someone says loudly, "How much is this?" while pointing at the drum. She gives the white people an appraising look and says, "50,000 shillings." They decide it is too expensive and walk away.

The white people continue browsing and eventually buy a couple over-priced items.
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Try #2, my personal attempt to get the exact same drum for a cheaper price:

I leave the group of white people and approach the woman who is selling the drum. I pause briefly smile and say in the local language of Luganda, "Oli otya, Nyabo?" (This means, "How are you, respected older woman?") She responds with a phrase that contains the word "bulungi" ("good") and asks me how I am doing. I respond in a similar manner. She realizes that I actually don't know much Lugandan and grins at my attempt at her language.

Then she asks in English how I am and I respond that I am well. I ask in English I ask, "How is your business today?" She responds that business is good but slow. I tell her that she is selling many beautiful things. She then asks if I am interested in any of the things she is selling. I respond with, "Yes, but I am a student and I didn't bring much money with me today, so I don't know if I will be able to buy anything." She says, "Tell me what interests you and we will see if we can work out a good price." I point at the exact same drum as before and say, "Mama, how much is this nice drum?" She responds, "25,000 shillings" (note: this is half of the price from the above situation). I then say that I can tell she is giving a fair price, but that I am about to leave and I only have a 20,000 bill left in my bag (a true statement) besides some change I need to catch a minibus back to the house. I ask if she will take "20,000" instead. She smiles ad says "yes." After making the transaction I stand and chat with the woman for a few more minutes. We are both pleased with the exchange.
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Now, this is just one method to bargaining. I am by no means an expert. I am sure that many people could have gotten the drum for less. However, note a few key concepts from the above scenario:

1) Bargain individually. You will get a much better price if you are able to get the vendor alone without a group of white people hanging around and talk to them for a while.
2) Be respectful/nice. White people generally have more money than Ugandans if you flash it around or talk in such away that emphasizes your difference in situation the person is going to be more likely to what to get more money from you.
3) Respect local cultural customs. In many parts of East Africa it is considered polite to spend some time greeting before you move on to business. It is sort-of like saying, "I am interested in you as a person and not just for the business transaction."
4) Don't take too much money with you and emphasize that you are student (if you are indeed a student). This will reduce your chance of getting a highly inflated price.
5) Learn a couple simple greetings in the local language. It doesn't take long to do and it shoes that you have been around for a while and know what is up.
6) Be patient. Sometimes it can take a while to talk someone down from a high price.

7) When possible, buy items from women. They are generally nicer and countless studies have shown that when women earn income in a developing country it is more likely to go to the health and well-being of the household than when men earn money. Thus you are more likely to improve the health of a family by giving business to women.



Here is a woman I bought a basket from at the art fair. She was pregnant and really nice and I decided that I wanted to give her my business over other vendors.