Shopping in Saigon

All of us need to buy something in everyday life, right?
We may forget about small things such as groceries and so on.
The things we buy for a long time use, say, furniture or some home appliances - how do you want to deal with the seller?
Your answer is simple - just go that shop and purchase by giving the cost they asked.
Yes, there you are wrong.
Who is customer?
Of course my answer is "King"- yes, customer is the King. They have all rights about their shopping. So many of you ignore that and pay the bill which they printed on the commodity or whatever they ask.
I think it's time to start an awareness.
What awareness? We have lot of money, we buy whatever we need, right? If that's your thinking or response.... I am pity on you.
Do you know what you are doing by that mentality?
You are stopping poor people from buying something they need (even necessary things) for their living!
How? Yes, am going to that point.
There is no government fixed price anywhere for commodities, in my belief.
Manufacturer, Distributor, reseller can fix whatever they want.
So what we do? How to ask for cheap and good quality commodities?
Yes, there is only one way from the part of you-the customer King- bargain.
Bargain without any shame (if we hold shy and scare,sure you never succeed in your life!) until we get that product.
They will reduce the amount or compel to reduce.
That's the psychological fact. Even if there is a printed price on the label.
Do you know how they can reduce when you bargain?
Most of you know - margin price.
Until there is no fixed price from the government, we can bargain.
Bargain! Bargain! Bargain! Until you get that product.
If you are going to bargain for the first time in your life, just go alone to buy.
Ask the price first. Sure they will ask more money than Vietnamese. Almost sellers think we, foreigners bring a bulk 'green bills' from our country to live in Vietnam.
That's their ignorance. Just forget it. Proceed with your shopping. When they ask high price, start from half of the price. And try to say somedefect about that product( for example: suppose you are going to buy a book shelf. you can find out many imaginary defects such as not enough height or width, quality of material, etc.) to tire their will power and arrogance as a seller.
Believe me, they will try to understand you and step down to a price! Otherwise, just go another shop and try.
Oh I am tired, I cannot, what a shame..
If you thinking like that you never succeed in this process, and of course in life.
May be people say you are miser. Never mind them. That is their ignorance as a citizen, as a good customer.
Believe me you are King. You have the right to bargain and purchase the product with a reasonable price and good quality.
I know well that so many expats pay high price for products and they understand later that they were cheated. Actually who cheat you - your ignorance as a good customer, not the seller.

"Bargaining or haggling is a type of negotiation in which the buyer and seller of a good or service dispute the price which will be paid and the exact nature of the transaction that will take place, and eventually come to an agreement. Bargaining is an alternative pricing strategy to fixed prices. Optimally, if it costs the retailer nothing to engage and allow bargaining, he can divine the buyer's willingness to spend. It allows for capturing more consumer surplus as it allows price discrimination, a process whereby a seller can charge a higher price to one buyer who is more eager (by being richer or more desperate). Haggling has largely disappeared in parts of the world where the cost to haggle exceeds the gain to retailers for most common retail items. However, for expensive goods sold to uninformed buyers such as automobiles, bargaining can remain commonplace".- Wikipedia

When I went for the for the first purchase here, sellers surprised of my behavior - bargaining.
Later I heard from my my colleagues and acquaintances that nobody here in Vietnam bargain.
What ignorant and 'rich' customer.
Slowly my colleagues, acquaintances learn the lesson of 'bargain' and succeed in that.
There is no cold if we dip body completely in water. First time little cold, just ignore that and take more power and dip your body-a force dip! That's it.
First time, my Vietnamese wife feel too much shy to shop with me because of her ignorance.
Now she is better than me in this 'art'. She never waste any dong for greedy and arrogant seller.
That money she give to too old people who has no place to rest in their remaining life.
This is her quality, not mine.
According to my belief, it's not fair to give money- we may give food to them.
When we give money means we encourage them to beg! So many young children doing 'this' as a business now.
May be this is my ignorance. I would like to share food with them, but not money.

In short, nothing is free. So start your bargain- "the art of bargain"- for a better future! Save your sweat and blood for future! Otherwise, you know well the people whom I mentioned above - the old and ignored.
When we laugh, so many of them join.... none, other than your shade, when you cry...

Have a great life in Saigon.