Frustration!!!

Last activity 23 June 2011 by me3512

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mikeaContributor23 June 2011 06:31:35

171

Hope it is not just me but does anybody else get frustrated with the Maltese custom of apparently not putting a price to something for sale?

In particular, I refer to a certain well know Malta sales / auction (?) site (amongst others) wherein there are thousands of listings that people have gone to the trouble of placing but the majority have no price ... but rather you are required to call in order to ask the price (which frequently would seem to be very bespoke dependent upon the caller!!!)

Is it common practise in all sales type things Maltese?

Mike

me3512Serial expat23 June 2011 06:34:29

476

ohhhhhhh good 'ol maltapark huh?

Yeah its a pain in the @$$, but the maltese like to do anything they can do ( honest or not sometimes ) to get the highest price possible.

good luck and be carefull on that site, I bought my car there and did ok, but be carefull.

Chad

ToonCyprus Expert23 June 2011 08:41:13

9849

yep am afraid it is normal practice here - try emailing shops for prices of goods on their websites and i will guarantee no reply....

further the price depends an your nationality for sure.....unf the Malti do have a habit (a bad one in my opinion) of seeing people as cash cows.....and in particular view brits as easy pray no matter what you buy.....i always try to shop where prices are displayed for ALL to see....otherwise take a trusted malti with you. or in the case of the auction sites - do the same get a trusted Malti to bargain for you..and do it in english....if possible

mgrima68Contributor23 June 2011 09:28:42

133

toonarmy9752 wrote:
yep am afraid it is normal practice here - try emailing shops for prices of goods on their websites and i will guarantee no reply....

further the price depends an your nationality for sure.....unf the Malti do have a habit (a bad one in my opinion) of seeing people as cash cows.....and in particular view brits as easy pray no matter what you buy.....i always try to shop where prices are displayed for ALL to see....otherwise take a trusted malti with you. or in the case of the auction sites - do the same get a trusted Malti to bargain for you..and do it in english....if possible

I agree. Try calling a seller them and ask them for a price and then have a Maltese friend or relative call and see if the price is different. 99% of the time it will be.

ToonCyprus Expert23 June 2011 09:47:52

9849

as an example we wanted to buy an electric blanket from a shop in santa venera.....we were quoted 84euros...as we thought it was too expensive...we got our maltese friend to call them and she was quoted 47euros for the same thing - we went with her to get it ----but since then we buy more wisely.

me3512Serial expat23 June 2011 10:11:27

476

yeah they suck that way!

I ask my friends whenever I need something expensive.

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