Shopping in Phuket
Haggling
Haggling is an
intrinsic part of shopping in Thailand. Remember not to take it seriously -
a smile or a joke will get you a lot further. The prices in department
stores and supermarkets cannot be haggled. In the independent shops away
from the tourist resorts, you can negotiate small discounts. If the goods
have marked prices then they are probably already competitive and you will
not get a big reduction. Remember if prices are not marked then they will
often quote a higher price to foreigners than to Thai customers, so you have
more room for negotiation. In the tourist towns, the shops and stalls often
set prices much higher than they should be and you can negotiate big
discounts and still be paying over the top.
If you are not
happy with the price then smile and walk away - they will often call you
back with a better offer.
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