= Day 5 =

Today was the day that S brought us to the "real" branded goods place that he's become an agent for (haha, jus kidding).. Throughout this whole time, whenever we're on the streets in the shopping district, people will yell at us or approach us attempting to sell us "real" goods. We've always just ignored them. However, today, being bored of normal shopping, we decided to follow a few of them to see just what exactly they had.


It's an interesting experience. *haha* They'll gleefully lead you down some back alley and into someone's house, climb 2 storeys of steep and narrow stairs then suddenly you'll enter a room full of things. Some even look exactly like a shop. It's like being Alice in Wonderland, if you Wonderland is rooms full of "real" stuff. *haha* Bags, clothes, wallets, watches, sunglasses, they have them all. Needless to say, we didn't buy anything, but it was interesting to follow them and see haha. There were loads of tourists there too, especially Jap and Koreans. I would have loved to take a photos/video of our experience but I didn't want to get scolded or killed so no photos!


Most of the Chinese people are quite nice. They won't scold you for not buying anything. Even those agents that bring you around to all the various hidden shops. Of course, we've also learnt the art of bargaining. You can bargain everywhere in China (well, almost everywhere). Even in real shops! S even bargains with the fruit sellers (so auntie haha!).


There's a few tactics:
1. The "let's be friends" tactic. Used when it's your first time in a shop. You say, come on, let's be friends! What's your best price? I'll introduce all my friends to you and ask them to give you business.


2. The "I'm practically your agent" tactic. Used when you've brought friends over to their shops. You say, See I brought so many friends here, I'm practically your agent! I should be asking for commission! But I'm not so you must give us a better price.


3. The "wait very long and look like you don't want to buy" tactic. Used when you're in a place where people earn commission. S was telling us about his mom who was standing in Watson's looking at a product. A salesgirl came over, and the longer his mom deliberated, the more free products she threw in! I sort of experienced this myself at the supermarket, where S "bargained" for freebies for me. So different from Singapore!


4. The "walk away before naming your price" tactic. Used when your starting price is obviously much less than the price they've named. Helps to avoid looking like you're out for a bargain and gives the impression that you're genuinely not interested enough/rich enough to pay the amount they're asking. Usually effectively only if they are desperate for business and call you back.


5. The "I don't want to name my price cos it's just too much lower than yours and I don't want to waste your time and insult you" tactic. Where you pretend to be very reluctant to name your starting price and they'll have to fish it out of you. Not always effective but at least prevents you from being scolded for being cheapskate.


6. The "We are all part of the same family" tactic. Used when ang mohs are around and have bought things at substantially more than you would pay for them.


Of course, everyone knows about buying in bulk and pressing figures into the calculators when Ang mohs are around tactic so I won't go into that.


All in all, bargaining is just so tiring. I think Singapore shopping is easier. You just need to decide whether you're willing to pay that price or not. No need to wonder about hurt feelings, whether you're being ripped off or not, no need to bargain until feel paiseh and just give in and buy stuff that you'll later regret. I'm tired just thinking back on it. *yawn*


After a long day of walking in back alleys, we went for dinner at quite a nice ATAS place which served Western food and ate soup and burgers for about S$12. Can't remember what else we did that day. Probably ended it with yet another massage. Notice a trend? haha.

= Day 5 =

Today was the day that S brought us to the "real" branded goods place that he's become an agent for (haha, jus kidding).. Throughout this whole time, whenever we're on the streets in the shopping district, people will yell at us or approach us attempting to sell us "real" goods. We've always just ignored them. However, today, being bored of normal shopping, we decided to follow a few of them to see just what exactly they had.


It's an interesting experience. *haha* They'll gleefully lead you down some back alley and into someone's house, climb 2 storeys of steep and narrow stairs then suddenly you'll enter a room full of things. Some even look exactly like a shop. It's like being Alice in Wonderland, if you Wonderland is rooms full of "real" stuff. *haha* Bags, clothes, wallets, watches, sunglasses, they have them all. Needless to say, we didn't buy anything, but it was interesting to follow them and see haha. There were loads of tourists there too, especially Jap and Koreans. I would have loved to take a photos/video of our experience but I didn't want to get scolded or killed so no photos!


Most of the Chinese people are quite nice. They won't scold you for not buying anything. Even those agents that bring you around to all the various hidden shops. Of course, we've also learnt the art of bargaining. You can bargain everywhere in China (well, almost everywhere). Even in real shops! S even bargains with the fruit sellers (so auntie haha!).


There's a few tactics:
1. The "let's be friends" tactic. Used when it's your first time in a shop. You say, come on, let's be friends! What's your best price? I'll introduce all my friends to you and ask them to give you business.


2. The "I'm practically your agent" tactic. Used when you've brought friends over to their shops. You say, See I brought so many friends here, I'm practically your agent! I should be asking for commission! But I'm not so you must give us a better price.


3. The "wait very long and look like you don't want to buy" tactic. Used when you're in a place where people earn commission. S was telling us about his mom who was standing in Watson's looking at a product. A salesgirl came over, and the longer his mom deliberated, the more free products she threw in! I sort of experienced this myself at the supermarket, where S "bargained" for freebies for me. So different from Singapore!


4. The "walk away before naming your price" tactic. Used when your starting price is obviously much less than the price they've named. Helps to avoid looking like you're out for a bargain and gives the impression that you're genuinely not interested enough/rich enough to pay the amount they're asking. Usually effectively only if they are desperate for business and call you back.


5. The "I don't want to name my price cos it's just too much lower than yours and I don't want to waste your time and insult you" tactic. Where you pretend to be very reluctant to name your starting price and they'll have to fish it out of you. Not always effective but at least prevents you from being scolded for being cheapskate.


6. The "We are all part of the same family" tactic. Used when ang mohs are around and have bought things at substantially more than you would pay for them.


Of course, everyone knows about buying in bulk and pressing figures into the calculators when Ang mohs are around tactic so I won't go into that.


All in all, bargaining is just so tiring. I think Singapore shopping is easier. You just need to decide whether you're willing to pay that price or not. No need to wonder about hurt feelings, whether you're being ripped off or not, no need to bargain until feel paiseh and just give in and buy stuff that you'll later regret. I'm tired just thinking back on it. *yawn*


After a long day of walking in back alleys, we went for dinner at quite a nice ATAS place which served Western food and ate soup and burgers for about S$12. Can't remember what else we did that day. Probably ended it with yet another massage. Notice a trend? haha.