Originally Posted by
lancebanyon
I've had this epiphany also. I remember one trip years ago haggling with a street vendor to buy a toy for something like the equivalent of a dollar when he wanted two. Afterwards I thought to myself, was that really necessary.
+1. My little "moment" came on the streets of Bangkok. On certain days, people line some streets near the Palace to sell wares and, in some cases, personal items. Basically they just setup a small table or lay down a blanket on the sidewalk. One girl was selling some family goods including an old cast bronze Buddha, for which she wanted 2,500 Baht (about $50 or $60 at the time); not at all cheap for something being sold on the street. I got that reduced to 2,000, saving myself a whole $10. Absolutely nothing to me but assuredly a lot to her and her family. At the time, I didn't realize how hard it is for a Thai person to sell such a statue so, for me, it was just a good bargain. When I found out the implications - that she and her family were probably very poor and quite desperate - I felt like absolute sh*t (and still do). I guess without regrets we'd never learn.
My Turkish friends, even the wealthy ones, will grind to the bitter end, whether that might take hours or even stretch into another day, until they're satisfied that they're at rock bottom.
I know people like that too. Part ego and part insecurity (fear of being taken advantage of), I guess.