How to bargain in Thailand and get the best prices
Thailand is a shopper’s paradise, known for its lively street markets and vibrant local stalls. There are many temptations and many things to buy and it’s almost certain that you will indulge in some shopping.
However, a common issue you might face is that many items don’t have fixed price tags. Therefore, you will need to negotiate or bargain to reach a fair price for the product you’re interested in buying.
Content
What is bargaining?
Bargaining, haggling, or negotiating, is a common and culturally accepted practice in Thailand, especially in local markets and street stalls. Even in some shopping centers, such as the famous MBK Center in Bangkok, allow bargaining. Therefor it is an essential skill you need to know when traveling in Thailand.
I have lived in Thailand for many years, so I’m used to bargaining. However, for many people, it can be difficult and ends up being a hassle. Some people simply give up on buying things, while others just pay the price that is asked for.
But don’t despair or give up too soon, you can learn the skills and techniques. Hopefully, some of my advice below will help you become a professional bargainer and get great prices in no time.
So how does bargaining work?
When shopping at Night Markets or many shops in Thailand, you will notice that items do not have a price tag. So, you’ll need to ask the vendor for the prices. Once you know the price, you can start bargaining by giving a counterprice. This back-and-forth will continue until you both agree on a (hopefully) good price.
The challenge is to find out how much you should pay for things. To start the negotiation, propose a price significantly lower than what you are willing to pay, but not so low that it is disrespectful. It is important to remain calm and friendly throughout the negotiation process. Avoid getting frustrated, angry, or raising your voice. Remember that losing face is the worst thing that can happen to a Thai, so it is essential to be polite and calm at all times.
What is a good price?
As a general rule, most people suggest paying about half of what the vendor is asking for. This usually works, but sometimes the vendor will ask for a price that is much higher than what it should be. They do this because they bargain all day and know that if they ask for 100 baht, they will probably end up with only 50 baht. So, some vendors start with a very high price in the hopes of getting a better deal.
It can be difficult for tourists who are not familiar with the prices to know if they are being cheated. To avoid this problem, I recommend the following tips when bargaining at the Night Market or other shops.
Thailand coins
Don't buy the first thing you see
Try to see if you can get a price range before you start to bargain. At the Night Markets in Thailand. You will often see the same things sold in multiple stalls. If one vendor is successful in selling a particular item, other vendors will also sell it.
So, what I usually do, is to get an idea of the price range. I ask a vendor about the price of an item, then ask one or two other vendors about the same item. If they offer a lower price, I know the original price was too high, and I would start the bargaining. you can start bargaining. If the first vendor offered a lower price, you can return to them.
This technique is best used for slightly more expensive items and not for cheaper items like T-shirts or fridge magnets. When it comes to such items, the price is already low, and it’s not necessary to save a few baht by bargaining.
However, if you come across unique items like special paintings, wood carvings, or other one-of-a-kind objects, it may be best to purchase them immediately, as you may not find them elsewhere. In the past, I have regretted not buying unique items because I thought I would find them elsewhere, but I never did.
Thailand Buddha statues for sale on local market
Always bargain with a smile
You are in The Land of Smiles, so when you’re bargaining for goods or services, you should approach the vendor with a friendly tone and a smile. It’s important to remember that the locals believe in treating each other with respect.
Thais believe in karma, so if you’re polite and respectful, you’re more likely to get a good deal. On the other hand, if you complain about prices and have a sour expression on your face, you’re less likely to get a good price.
I usually start with a warm smile and a polite greeting in Thai, like “Sawasdee krab” (Sawasdee = Hello, Krab = Polite finish of a sentence) or “Sawasdee kha” (if you’re female). This will help set a positive tone for the negotiation – which hopefully gives you a better price.
The walk-away tactic
If you are bargaining and cannot come to an agreeable price, you can simply end the negotiation and try another place.
Alternatively, you can use this tactic to further lower the price. If you have reached a price that the vendor is unwilling to lower but you want a little more discount, try slowly walking away. Often, the vendor will call you back and may offer a lower price that you are willing to pay. However, this strategy may not work all the time, and if the vendor does not call you back, it means that you have reached the limit of their willingness to negotiate.
Then you can just try another place and you also have an idea about the price, when you negotiate with the next vendor.
Don't bargain for small money
When you’re in the bargaining process, the goal is to achieve the best possible price, and both parties will offer different prices. Eventually, your offers will likely get closer to the vendor’s offers. At times, your offers may differ by 50 or 100 baht (approximately 1½ to 3 USD).
Although this amount may be small for you, it can mean a lot to the vendor and their family. It’s important not to take it personally or make it a principle to “win” every time. Instead, sometimes it’s better to accept that you may have to pay a little more than you expected.
Keep in mind that compared to the cost of your flight tickets to Thailand, an additional 50 or 100 baht is likely a small amount for you. However, it can make a significant difference for the vendor since this is their livelihood.
Buying more items
One way to negotiate a better price while shopping is to buy more than one item. Here’s a trick that I use:
I start by bargaining for the price of a single item, say a pair of jeans. I already know that I like the jeans and intend to buy more than one pair. So, I negotiate for a good price without confirming it. When I am close to a price that I feel is fair or the lowest price the vendor will offer, I ask, “Okay, that sounds like a good price, but what if I buy three pairs of jeans? What would be the price then?” Usually, the vendor is willing to give a further discount since I am buying more items.
I often use this approach while shopping for clothes such as T-shirts, shorts, jeans, socks, and so on, and most of the time, I can get a better price.
Shopping in a local market
How to pay for you shopping
In Thailand cash is king. Most places where you go shopping won’t accept credit cards, so it is advisable to carry cash with you. I recommend keeping small bills and coins ready to pay for your items.
Before I go shopping, I always pass a 7/11 and buy something like water or chewing gum and pay with a 1.000-baht bill. his way, I get a lot of smaller bills and coins in return which I can use to pay for my shopping.
The reason I do this is because it may seem inappropriate if you bargain hard with a vendor and finally settle on a price, but then you bring out a bunch of 1,000-baht bills from your pocket. The vendor may think that you have a lot of money and that you’ve made a hard bargain for small change.
When you agree on a good price and you have to pay, make sure to do it with a smile and thank the vendor politely, saying “Khop khun mak krab” (Khop khun = Thank you, Mak = a lot, Krab = Polite finish of a sentence) or “Khop khun mak kha” (if you’re female). That’s a nice, polite, and respectful way to finish the deal.
It’s important to note that if you agree on a price, you’ll have to pay for it. You can’t change your mind and say that you don’t want it anymore. Doing so would be considered bad manners and it could upset the vendor. So – respect that and don’t start to bargain for a thing if you aren’t sure if you really want it.
How to know if you have paid too much?
Sometimes when you buy an item and walk away you might think “Did I pay too much for this?”.
You might never find out, but a way to tell if you paid too much is if the vendor accepts your offer too fast. That probably means that you started too high with your offers.
Another way to be certain you paid too much is if you see the vendor take the money you just gave and gently slap it on the other items they have for sale.
It happened to me one of the first times I went shopping at a Night Market in Hua Hin. I asked the vendor why he did that, but he wouldn’t tell me. I was stationed in Thailand some years later, and I asked a Thai colleague at my work about this incident. He told me that the vendor had made a very good deal. He was trying to spread this luck to other items hoping that another well-paying tourist would pay an overprice – as I had done.
I hope you won’t experience this and if you do, just walk away as fast as possible and accept that you can’t get a good price every time.
