This can work, too if you know the prices ;)
They just tricked me one time and I pay 300RMB for faked shoes. After that I always pay a realistic price for everything.

While I agree, to each their own. In the end, if one agrees to the price I think it's ok. It's all up to personal preference.

I enjoy reading about how I may have paid far too much and don't know how to properly bargain in China. Seriously! It only makes me want to go back and have some fun now that I know more about it. Did I spend too much? Certainly! Did I have a good time? Absolutely. Do I feel bad or stupid for having spent too much? Not at all. There's no way I'm going to have everything figured out on my first trip anywhere.

There's a new American saying (the flip side of an old Chinese proverb?)- "It could be that the purpose of my life is to serve as a warning to others." Sometimes that's me! :D

Something else I take with me wherever I go. If something I do causes others to have a laugh at my expense, what did it really cost me? ;)

That's how I feel about buying artwork in general (from street artists). My only rule is that there has to be obvious evidence of them having been the artist, which means I've got to see them painting or sketching or whatever on-the-spot. If I'm in Paris buying a sketch of the Eiffel Tower, yes, the artist has to be the person I'm buying it from (because otherwise it might have come from China). If I'm in China on the Great Wall, same thing (because otherwise it might have come from Paris for all I know!). So I did buy a very nice sketch of the Great Wall, high up on the Great Wall, from a guy who was doing those on the spot. Orignally 250 yuan, down to 160 + $5 (I was literally out of Yuan and almost out of USD). About 200 yuan. Maybe I could have bought the same thing from a marketplace for 50 yuan, but it wouldn't have been the same thing, because I didn't meet the artist (and take his photo) and it wouldn't have been on the Great Wall.

There are many silly things that go into the value something has to an individual.

You are not alone, most people pay to much in several situations. One time I was happy to pay to much, just because I want to help these people (give 140RMB for a picture book to a farmer). Maybe a Chess Seller in a Factory is not the right person you should pay to much, but everyone have to begin anywhere :p

Bargaining is supposed to be fun. Not just stressful!