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Bargaining (i.e. negotiating for the best price) is an interesting concept - a common practise here in Kuching! Everywhere you go, whether it's at a mall or a stall in a market, you negotiate vigorously for a price that is NOT on the price tag. It takes a lot of skill to know the fine line between pissing off the shop owner and getting the best price!
Now that I've been away for so long, I have lost the skill I picked up growing up in Kuching. I am often quite happy to pay what's on the price tag, but if I am not, then I move on and go somewhere else.
But fellow Kuching-ites and my mum constantly reminds me that it is almost rude not to bargain. In fact, business owners almost expect you to bargain and seemed to be armed with their bargaining armoury, hoping to win the bargaining game. For example, at one of the shops I went to, I was only looking at the item and the shop owner said I would get 50% off the price if I bought something - imagine that??
Today, my discussion with an owner of an optometrist, revealed that he would price items in anticipation that his customers would bargain at least 20% off each item.
The mantra that my mum and others have taught me is Kuching is, I quote, "if you don't ask you don't get!" haha
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