[cyberhippie]

IWTGB this is the quitessentail difference between India and our own countries, we are used to being allowed solitary time to contemplate and evaluate whilst shopping. It's a bit of an extentsion to the anonimity of the west. We leave each other alone to do whatever it is we do. In India no rush by shopkeepers to to show people their wares would probably be seen as rude and disinterested.

[iwanttogoback]

kirsty, i'm coming shopping with you.

and then you're cooking!

[john.sw]

I had a haircut and a beard trim/shave yesterday in Masinagudi - our nearest town.

I didn't haggle when he'd finished and asked me for Rs.100/-, I laughed!  

It was spontaneous laughter.  A haircut costs Rs.15/- here and a beard trim and shave is an extra Rs.15/-

When I told him (and someone else in the saloon mentioned that I live here) he happily took the correct amount!

No haggling required.

[indialove]

Hi there, I have travelled to India on 3 occassions and have shopped till I dropped in Deli, Udaipur, Darjeeling & Mumbai among many other places. The very best advice I can give you is to accept that yes you are going to get ripped off somewhere along the way but don't let this get you down or let it ruin your day nor trip. Too often a traveller finds themselves fighting over what seems like a large amount in rupees but when converted into you dollar...you may find you are arguing over 20c... which is nothing to you but may mean a hell of a lot to that shopkeeper...and all for the sake of haggling??
Enjoy the shopping, there are some amazing things to be purchased in India but I say don't sweat the small stuff!
(It all makes for a hell of a good story when you get home!)

[cyberhippie]

I was once enjoying a swim at Varkala, whilst paddling around in the shallows I was accosted by a carpet salesman. He began to unfurl his few carpets and shouted "good price sir"'
I thought ignoring him was the best policy, so I nochalantly swam around, pretending he wasn't there, this only seemed to inflame his sense of salemanship.

"Good quality sir, cheap and best"

Still Ignored him, as I really don't look to buy carpets whilst swimming.

"Sir, SIR "

"First sale today, special price"

"Hello SIR"

Finally I snapped, deciding to blind him with irrefutable logic.

" Look man I'm at the begining of a 6 month trip, do you really think I want to carry a heavy carpet all around India with me?"

Victorious I awaited his defeated reply......................

"oh yes sir, make you very strong"

I just had to laugh.

[Emmai]

Hello,

I'm going to India for a ceremony in Bodgaya in early december and liked the rules for bargaining.
Have bargained in central america but this will be my first time to India and I love to shop and
plan to buy some textiles, jewelery etc.

Do you think it is ok to bargain for buddhist thankas and other buddhist items?

Em