Xi'an Shopping

When shopping, and this goes for anywhere in China that sells tourist souvenirs, please, please, please, haggle with the vendor. I'm not trying to suggest screwing the vendors, I'm trying to keep cheap souvenir trinkets cheap for future travelers. Of course prices will change with time, but we don't need to help them along! When I was last in China, about 8 years ago, prices were much lower, as I remember. I know they have to make a living, but there is a belief among vendors that tourists are stupid, as I've heard and experienced, and that exists because tourist pay the asking price.

Haggling is a common part of Chinese culture and the cultures of many places- you don't need to haggle at restaurants and hotels, but for souvenirs keep in mind that if you don't haggle, that helps pave the way for higher prices. Besides, it's part of the culture, and though it's sad, it may be the only way to interact with locals if you are on a tour.

Recent examples:

280 yuan for a cheaply made fake Rolex that didn't even work. The vendor girl told me "high quality, very good price for you". I bet. I know watches, I know quality. It was a terrible piece of junk that wasn't even worth the 7 yuan I offered for it... not that I wanted it, I just wanted to see the real value it had. She dropped to 20.

60 yuan for a large chop ink pad. No way.

260 for a large (4x6) Quotations of Mao book... down to 50- 25 from a vendor down the way.

30 yuan for a taxi from the train station to the south gate (about 3km). Go by the meter.

8 years ago, I bought an 800 yuan sword for 100... I could have gone lower, I bet. He made money off me, but I got a cool sword.

On this trip we visited a painter who sold other people's work in his shop in the Muslim Quarter (on the souvenir street). He seemed like a reasonable guy who sold real work (not just stuff stamped out (or quickly painted) at factories). At least he seemed real enough, and had a different feel to him (genuine or a good act?) that felt different than the others, with no pressure or hawking.

I typically offer much less than half the asking price. Again, that Rolex, I offered 5, then 7. She moved from 280 to 100 to 20, and would have given me less if I pressed. I only had 7 yuan to spend, but it wasn't worth a broken watch. My current fake Rolex is much higher quality. ;) Figure out what you want to pay, then leave yourself room to come up to that number.

Xi'an Hotels

Xi'an Shopping

Visiting Xi'an?

Visiting Xi'an?

Xi'an Hotels