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Master The Art of Bargaining
A Cultural Superpower
Imagine walking through a bustling market in Asia, the air filled with a mix of exotic spices and the chatter of vendors. You spot a beautiful handcrafted item, the sales folks quickly got you engaged and start throwing some numbers around, however, the price seems steep.
If you are like me, you may have grown-up in a culture where you never got to ask for a price reduction or even “bargain” as such. But somehow you know, when you’re in [some parts of] Asia, you’ll overpay if you don’t engage to lower the price.
So, what if you could negotiate the price down by 25%, 50%, or even 75%?
Guess what, you’ll never know until you try!
It may very well be possible.
That’s the magic of bargaining — a skill often underestimated in many cultures.
Especially in the Western hemisphere.
It may very very well be possible to get similar deals in the West as well.
But, I dare to say, most of us are blind.
Let me take you on a journey from ignorance to understanding and eventually [hopefully] mastery, revealing how the art of bargaining can transform your life!
Growing Up in a Non-Bargaining Culture — My Ignorance
I grew up in Switzerland.
And if you’re familiar with Switzerland, you’ll know: It’s a culture where prices were fixed and non-negotiable, I never had the chance to learn the the art of bargaining until I started travelling.
The concept of bargaining seemed foreign and unnecessary.
I accepted prices as they were, missing out on potential savings.
In a way I like it that way, you see a transparent offer, you compare, you decide. Done.
In Western societies, the idea of bargaining often carries a stigma. It’s seen as confrontational or even disrespectful.
I’ve seen Indian tourists been escorted out of German cookcook-clock shops in the Black Forrest before, because of them trying to bargain.
