Fashbook Tawad Tips

The Ber months are here! For us Filipinos, that means a lot of shopping to prepare for the holidays. Although shopping may be a lot of fun, it can be quite problematic for those of us on a budget.

“Fashbook” presents these tips to help you sharpen your haggling skills.

Be friendly

This is key. Don’t be rude. Be very careful that your tone of voice and body language make the vendor feel at ease. Vendors won’t give you discounts if they feel that you are hostile or too aggressive when haggling.

Don’t look too interested in the merchandise

If it’s obvious that you really want an item, vendors won’t feel compelled to convince you to buy it by giving you a discount. Try not to look too interested in buying. This way, vendors will try encouraging you to buy by lowering the price of their items.

Buy several pieces of the same item

Vendors are more willing to lower prices even further when you buy several pieces of the same item. Something that costs P150 per piece can be sold in bulk for just P300 for three or more pieces.

Learn some useful phrases in the local language

When shopping in the province or abroad, it’s useful to know how to say local phrases such as “How much?” or “May I have a discount?” in the local language.

Canvass before buying

If you have enough time, try to go around and check out a few different stores that sell the same item that you want to buy before actually shelling out money. This way, you can use a lower price at a different stall as leverage when being asked to pay more at another. It’s good to know how much lower other stalls are willing to go with their price before buying an item.

Initially ask for half the price

Asking for half the price allows you to haggle for the lowest possible price that the vendors are willing to go. It also helps if you tell the vendors that you’re on a fixed budget.

Leave

If the vendor won’t budge, leave. Sometimes, they would call you back and agree to your price just so they can make a sale. If not, then look for a stall that offers a price that’s more budget-friendly.

Remember, bargain hunting takes a lot of patience and legwork. Be prepared, come with a positive attitude, and always stay within your budget and we guarantee that your shopping trip will be worth it.


-Grace Gaddi, GMA News