Bargaining

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hi,

My mate in Bodrum (Turkey) tells me that he often spends so much time in the bargaining process that he sometimes forgets what it is that he’s bargaining for.

Not quite so in Malaysia. I think that here it’s more discounting than bargaining, and certainly it’s not a drawn-out fun exchange.

I ask for a discount in most places. Then shop around like crazy to check the going rates, and this applies for medical forms, rents, property enquiries, solicitors and, obviously, agents. The discount here can be anything, 20% and over.  You just have to try it on, bearing in mind that you may need to return so keep it all good natured.

Discounting also applies for most shopping items, such as hardware (paints, brushes), pharmacies, electrical goods shops, furniture. Usually I get a minimum of 10% off, and sometimes 20% or more. If I’m gonna buy in bulk (like 4 tins of paint) I ask for the bulk discount. I always ask in good fun, and with a smile, it just works better this way.

regards, Scott

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I always do the same.

Once the price is quoted I ask "What is your best price" The calculator comes out and it's usually 10% discount but sometimes more. Once this price is quoted I find it is usually difficult to push for a further discount even as little as 1 Ringgit.

My philosophy on this one is "If you don't ask you don't get"

I actually do it often with success in other countries also such as the UK, Ireland, Oz, NZ etc

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If something is “on offer” then I've found that it’s hard to get the price down much more, but if it’s 3 of something for a fixed offer price of, say, RM25 then you can always test for buying 4 at RM30.

Recently I phoned around for local solicitors to make a will. The quoted telephone price was around RM350 for a simple will. So I picked on one solicitor and got a discount down to RM240 based on the fact that the will was really, really simple.

Last year, I got my rent down (after being in the place 4 years) by 45% on the basis of, (a) being a wonderful, reliable tenant, and (b) extending the lease for another 3 guaranteed years. I was helped by the fact that rents in the area had generally gone down over the period, but if I hadn’t asked …?

So, I think that “discounting” is the way of business here. Any observations would be interesting.