Originally Posted by
Jenbel
It was China I learned that it could be fun. Until China, I had the guilt thing some people above have talked about. In China, it was just a battle - one I was always going to lose technically, but would still pay what I wanted for the items and so I could win too.
What I found hardest in China was going out from Beijing to the hinterlands, where they were not so used to tourists, asking the price of something and it starting below what I had already decided was my maximum price
I found it really hard to haggle hard when I was already happy to pay the price at the opening offer
When that happened I just payed. Another issue in the "not touristic places" in China that I found was that they didn't speak a word English, so haggling was difficult. At least for me - not used to haggling, don't like it and was happy to pay the price they asked for...
With that said, when I went to the pearl marked and asked for their prices I was shocked. I buy freshwater pearls directly from the factory in China. I can promise you, they DO earn a lot even after you think you have gotten a good deal... :-D
Xx.