If you are taking a trip to New York City, shopping in Chinatown is a must. Chinatown is the best place to get souvenirs at unbelievable prices. The key to getting these prices is learning to haggle. Haggling is an art, but with confidence and practice you can master it and walk away feeling as if you just got a great deal.
The first thing to remember is that Canal Street in Chinatown is line with shops. Most of these shops have the same exact items for sale. The people running these shops know that if they do not give you a good price for that knock off Louis Mouton purse, you can get it right next door. They want your business. In order to get that business, they understand that sometimes prices must be dropped.
Rule 1: In Chinatown, they expect you to haggle. Never feel bad about asking for a lower price. This is just how things work here. As I mentioned before, haggling in Chinatown is an art. Here are some tips for haggling and walking away with the best price possible.
Rule 2: The first thing you want to do is put $6 in one pocket and $10 in the other pocket. Unless you will be purchasing more costly items, most of the items will be under this amount. You do not want to flash large bills. Keep $20 and $100 bills tucked away and never bring these out. If the people running the stores know you have that much money, they will be less likely to go down on the price of the item.
Rule 3: If you find a watch that you really love, do not buy it at the first place you see. Trust me, you will most likely find it at another shop. If not, you can always come back to the watch later. If you buy the item in the first shop, you have no idea if you could have gotten a better price.
Rule 4: After you are quoted a price for an item, cut that price in half. If they say a purse is $20 then ask if they will take $10. Most of the time they will say no, but then they will offer you a new price like $13. Never pay the first price that they offer you.
Rule 5: If a shop keeper offers you a price of $8 or $7, reach into your pocket where you have $6(Read Rule 2 if you are confused). Pull out the $6, count it, and tell the shopper keeper it is the only cash you have. In most cases they will take it. This is the same for an item they are trying to sell you for $12 or $11. Reach into your pocket where you have $10 and tell them that is all you have.
Rule 6: If the store keeper does not give you a price that you want walk away. The moment you begin to leave the store, they will offer you a new price. They do not want you to walk out of the store empty handed. Even if the price they offer is good, walk away. Most of the time they will still stop you and they will offer you an even lower price. When they see you leaving the store they will do everything they can to keep you from buying the same item two stores down.
Rule 7: If you have tried to haggle, and acted as if you are going to walk away, and they still haven’t offered a price you want to pay it is time to go to the next store. If it isn’t in your price range simply say ‘no’ and leave the shop. Do not feel pressured to purchase the item. Go to the next shop, find the same item, and try again.
Rule 8: Never lie and tell a shop keeper that you found the item they are offering you for a lower price down the road. These people live here and they know what the going prices are. Most of the time one person will be employed by more than one shop. If you lie to them then you will be less likely to get a lower price on the item you want to purchase.
Remember that when shopping in Chinatown your goal is to get the best price for the items you are purchasing. Never pay the first price quote you are given. Haggling takes time to get used to, but once you start it becomes a game to see how low you can get a price. It makes your time spent in Chinatown a lot more fun!
