Bargaining in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
What a lovely bunch of coconuts!
There is an art to bargaining in Kuala Lumpur. You must convey that you are friendly yet no fool, careful with your money but not miserly and, most crucially, knowledgeable about the item you covet. Some people can emanate all that with just a smile, while others require a little practice.
Injecting a little humour into the bargaining process can never hurt, as it is human nature to be more accommodating with people we find agreeable. But the humour must be light-hearted or self-deprecating, it would be vastly counter-productive just to openly mock the vendor or what they are trying to sell.
Process of bargaining in Kuala Lumpur
When asking a price it is best to say it in Bahasa Malaysia in order to establish that your not fresh in town and have been living in Kuala Lumpur for a while. Expats may still have to deal with inflated prices, but obvious tourists are rich pickings for the crafty stallholder. So, say Apakah Harga Barang Ini? And wait for the first offer.
Whatever the initial price is, immediately put the object down and look despondent. You want to show that you are interested in the item and not a timewaster but that you are not willing to part with that much cash.
Immediately the reply will come: “So how much you want to pay?” but don’t offer a price straight away. Instead say: “That’s far too much, what’s your best price?” And judging by how much lower the second price has dropped is normally a fair indication on how much further you will be able to negotiate.
If the second price is just a fraction lower than the first, start by halving the original. However, if they have already dropped a quarter of the original price then the vendor was obviously trying their luck and is not afraid to show it. So it is now your turn to try yours make offer a similarly derisory offer of maybe 10 per cent. Then the ‘to and fro’ of bargaining begins but don’t be afraid to walk away and think things over. The power is always with the buyer.
Tips of the trade for haggling in KL
If heading to some of the less touristy markets such as Chow Kit, it may be wise to bring a pad and paper with you to write down some prices. Most stalls will have a calculator you can use as a visual aid. Otherwise it’s a good idea to learn some Bahasa, especially the numbers.
Shopkeepers will always try to make you part with your cash then and there, but don’t feel pressured. If you’re unsure of yourself then walk away and have a browse around some other stalls. Unless you are super unlucky what you were originally looking at will still be waiting for you. And don’t believe any vendor who tells you they are shutting early or the market is closed tomorrow without first checking the facts.
If you have been in town for a while, the idea of having to engage in a mental dual ever time you want to perform some minor transaction can be extremely off-putting. But remember that this is just a different way of working in the East and try to be pleasant. Kuala Lumpur is the land of the hard sell and you will get by much better with a smile than a frown.
And when bargaining remember to put things into context. It can be frustrating when you know the price you are charged is higher than the locals, but would you spend ten minutes arguing over RM3 at home? You would value your free time a little higher and ignore such trifles.
