13.03.2026

  

 https://gemini.google.com/share/0e20f6ed4a16   

Part art and part science, haggling is more than a means to save money. In many countries, it is a cultural tradition.

Having lived in Indonesia for nearly four years, Paul Edwards has really sharpened his bargaining skills. Two weeks ago, he bought a digital camera in Jakarta for 1,150,000 rupiah less than the original selling price. That is about a $130 discount.

"It's like a game of chess. It's the first one who blinks [who loses]."

Originally from Yorkshire, England, Edwards claims that he is now even better at haggling than his wife who grew up in Central Java. "The other week, I managed to get shoes for our baby for 5,000 rupiah cheaper than she bargained!" he said, laughing. "So I was quite pleased."

Part art and part science, haggling is more than a means to save money. In many countries, it is a strong cultural tradition that even children learn from a young age. Participating in that tradition can make travellers feel accepted - like they are in on the secret.

Laura Morelli, author of Made in Italy and former columnist for National Geographic Traveler, is an expert when it comes to shopping abroad. She says English-speakers who feel uncomfortable at the notion of bargaining should open their minds and have fun with it.

In Indonesia, locals haggle for goods and services everywhere from street markets to hotels. "There is a real love and appreciation for the skill of bargaining there," Morelli explains. "It is like an artful dance or game."

A: Hold on, that jacket says 120 dollars. Be honest—did the price go up when you saw my face, or is that the tourist discount?

Б: Та ні, це ще дуже добра ціна. Ви ж бачите — натуральна шкіра, ручна робота.

A: Handmade, sure… but the stitching is trying to escape the sleeve. If I walk out wearing this, it might become a sleeveless jacket by lunchtime.

Б: Ой, ви перебільшуєте. Така куртка спокійно служитиме років десять.

A: Ten years? For 120 dollars it should survive a small war and maybe an apocalypse. I was thinking more like… sixty.

Б: Шістдесят? Та ви жартуєте. За таку ціну я хіба що ґудзики вам продам.

A: Alright, let’s negotiate like civilized people. I go up to seventy-five, you come down to ninety, and we both pretend we won.

Б: Хм… Ви добре торгуєтесь. Але дев’яносто — це вже майже собівартість.

A: Then let’s make it eighty-five and you throw in that scarf. I’ll even tell my friends this is the best shop in the whole market. Free advertising.

Б: Ви небезпечний покупець… Добре, домовились: вісімдесят п’ять і шарф. Але тільки тому, що ви так красиво переконуєте.

A: Deal. See? Nobody got robbed today—just lightly financially wounded.

Б: Та ні, сьогодні всі виграли. Ви — куртку, а я — цікаву історію про торг з іноземцем.