Negotiations

Here in Kenya we buy quite a bit at the local market. Once you decide what you want to purchase you then attempt to ask the price..... now the negotiations start. The first thing the shop owner asks is how many items you want to buy and then looks disappointed when you say only one. Aaah this makes a difference to his thought pattern but still no price forthcoming. You sigh and puff and ask again -" Please just tell me how much for this piece"... They then try and persuade you to buy more than one item "please please please it is better - better price" and they take out a piece of paper or old news paper and write a figure on it telling you that is their BEST price. They never say the price out loud because they don't want competion from the nearby stall. You look at them and then add what  you think you should pay for the one piece you want. This goes on back and forth with the paper till everyone is happy. By this stage you are surrounded by 10 other fellows wanting you to come to their stall in the hope that you will buy from them as well. I find that it can be very clostrophobic and you need nerves of steel and patience dulux... Actually I have a perfect system for me. I choose what I would like and decided what I am prepared to pay and then my hubby, who has the patience, steps in to negotiate. It works well for us.