"Here's the rule for bargains: Do other men, for they would do you. That's the true business precept."
-- Charles Dickens
I've always wanted to improve my bargaining skills and i got the perfect opportunity for that when i went to b'lore with my chums. Well, i was planning on a shopping spree plus an opportunity to booze up. Shopping spree just means hunting for cheap t-shirts and fake watches. The only branded thing i wear is my beloved nike shoes (but that too, one i bought at a discount from the factory outlet). Yup i'm not a sucker for brands, i look for cheapness and utility, a trait that is passed on to me from generations. But, unfortunately, yours truly doesn't exhibit good bargaining prowess. So for the benefit of the posterity i decided to improve upon it.
DAY 1:
I went to this place called commercial city. There was a plethora of shops juxtaposed in that long never-ending road. Saw a young chap selling fake esprit and diesel watches. His seemingly innocent face made me want to attack him. I scanned all the watches and put up a mature face with an omniscient look.
me (taking the esprit watch): kitna?
young chap: 220
me: nahin nahin, 200.
young chap: 200, leeloo.
me: uh!! (damn it, should have told a 100)
Nevertheless, i bought the watch.
DAY 2:
After a not so succesful barganing attempt , i went to this cool dude, who is a self proclaimed maestro in bargaining. He took me out to some corner of the city, planning to buy a watch for himself (fake ofcourse). He picked up a seemingly good old man, senility seemed to have taken the better out of him.
cool dude (picking up a watch): ye kitna ka hai?
not-so-cool old man: 225
cool dude: 25 ko dedo
not-so-cool old man: @#$$#@$#@................@#$%$@##$@
Though i didnot learn much about bargaining , i definitely learned a few "good" hindi words.
P.S. The watch i bought for 200 bucks still works perfectly without a single complaint so far.
-- Charles Dickens
I've always wanted to improve my bargaining skills and i got the perfect opportunity for that when i went to b'lore with my chums. Well, i was planning on a shopping spree plus an opportunity to booze up. Shopping spree just means hunting for cheap t-shirts and fake watches. The only branded thing i wear is my beloved nike shoes (but that too, one i bought at a discount from the factory outlet). Yup i'm not a sucker for brands, i look for cheapness and utility, a trait that is passed on to me from generations. But, unfortunately, yours truly doesn't exhibit good bargaining prowess. So for the benefit of the posterity i decided to improve upon it.
DAY 1:
I went to this place called commercial city. There was a plethora of shops juxtaposed in that long never-ending road. Saw a young chap selling fake esprit and diesel watches. His seemingly innocent face made me want to attack him. I scanned all the watches and put up a mature face with an omniscient look.
me (taking the esprit watch): kitna?
young chap: 220
me: nahin nahin, 200.
young chap: 200, leeloo.
me: uh!! (damn it, should have told a 100)
Nevertheless, i bought the watch.
DAY 2:
After a not so succesful barganing attempt , i went to this cool dude, who is a self proclaimed maestro in bargaining. He took me out to some corner of the city, planning to buy a watch for himself (fake ofcourse). He picked up a seemingly good old man, senility seemed to have taken the better out of him.
cool dude (picking up a watch): ye kitna ka hai?
not-so-cool old man: 225
cool dude: 25 ko dedo
not-so-cool old man: @#$$#@$#@................@#$%$@##$@
Though i didnot learn much about bargaining , i definitely learned a few "good" hindi words.
P.S. The watch i bought for 200 bucks still works perfectly without a single complaint so far.
