Top 10 Bargaining and Negotiation Strategies for Shopping

When shopping, everyone wants to get a good product at a lower price, benefiting themselves as much as possible. But it's not just about negotiating a simple price reduction; it's about identifying flaws in the product to criticize its quality and lower its value for a better price. This strategy is called “Downplaying the Product”.

If you really like an item and are in the process of negotiating the price, try to identify small flaws in the product (e.g., criticize uneven stitching, loose threads, dust, or poor color). By doing this, negotiating a lower price becomes much easier, and the seller might even agree to offer a better deal.

A great opening can not only earn you respect from the seller but also create excitement for the conversation ahead. When interacting with a seller, starting with a kind introduction can lay a solid foundation for the rest of your negotiation. Everyone loves kind words and compliments, so why not offer a few sincere praises to the seller?

For instance, you could compliment the seller on their charm or youthful energy. When the seller is happy, they're more likely to offer you a discount, or you might even walk away with an unbeatable price. This strategy is simple to apply, yet it has a high success rate. Even though customers are often regarded as the "kings", no seller wants to deal with a demanding and irritable one. In fact, many sellers are more inclined to lower prices for customers they feel a positive connection with.

Group influence refers to how people's thoughts and behaviors are often shaped by the actions of others. People tend to follow what the crowd deems right, smart, or popular, without fully considering the implications. This phenomenon of herd mentality has likely existed since the beginning of human society. In the past, it happened naturally, but today, it is often deliberately manipulated. Now, group influence has become a powerful tool used across various industries to achieve desired outcomes.

When shopping, it's best to bring a few friends along. There are many benefits: you'll have fun, and you'll have extra opinions to help you decide on items. Especially, shopping in a group makes bargaining easier. Each person can contribute a line to negotiate the price, which will increase your chances of getting the deal. Bring at least two people, and collectively negotiate; it will be much more effective than going alone. If you're by yourself, it's hard to compete with the seller’s price. This strategy uses the psychological power of numbers.

When selling, the seller will observe your attitude to gauge if they can sell the item at a higher price. Therefore, don't act too eager about the product in front of the seller; instead, remain indifferent, and show that you're ready to look elsewhere for a better deal. The reason is that the seller believes if you're too eager, you might be willing to pay a little extra, and they'll be reluctant to offer a discount.

So, even if you find an item you love in the store, when bargaining, never let the seller know how much you desire the item. If the seller senses your desperation, they'll be firm in not lowering the price because they think they can sell it to you at full price. You should act indifferent about the product. If you negotiate a low price and the seller refuses, simply walk away. The seller will likely call you back and continue the negotiation.

The success or failure of bargaining can sometimes depend on the timing of your purchase. If you're the first customer, it's unlikely you'll get a significant discount. This is because the seller's mindset when selling the first items is to sell at a higher price, hoping for luck. However, if you shop at the time when they're about to close or clear out stock, you're more likely to get a better deal without much negotiation. At this point, the seller is eager to wrap up and may be willing to let go of items at a lower price just to close up shop.

Another great time to shop is on cloudy or rainy days, when the weather isn’t favorable for sales. During these times, sellers are less likely to make many sales, so they’re more inclined to offer you a good deal. Shopping during such times gives you the perfect conditions to negotiate a price that works for you.

It's a common belief that everything is difficult at first, and as the saying goes, "Well begun is half done!". In the retail business, this is even more true—some days are full of customers and big sales, while other days can pass by without a single buyer. Some months are profitable, while others end in losses. That's why it's important not just to consider the first day of the year, but also the beginning of each month, week, and even day, to think about when to make the first sale: When should you start selling? Who should you sell to so that you have a successful day?

In Vietnamese culture, being the first customer is considered very important. If the first sale of the day goes smoothly, it's believed that the entire day of business will be prosperous. On the other hand, if the first sale goes badly, the rest of the day might follow suit. Many shopkeepers even offer special prices for the first customers. However, be cautious: if you’re the first customer but don't end up making a purchase, or if you haggle too much and cause trouble, the seller may no longer be interested in dealing with you. They may just want you to leave quickly, and you could end up hearing unpleasant remarks.

In Vietnam, bargaining and negotiating prices is a common practice. Many shop owners tend to mark up prices significantly compared to the actual value of the items. Consumers who are inexperienced or too trusting often find themselves overpaying for products. To avoid this, it's essential to have a clear understanding of the product you're buying. This knowledge will give you an edge when negotiating the price.

Whether you're purchasing a valuable item, buying in bulk, or simply picking out a t-shirt or a pair of shoes, knowing a few technical terms related to the product can be very useful. Keep in mind that every product has two prices: one for industry insiders and one for the average customer. By using some technical jargon, you'll appear knowledgeable to the seller, making it harder for them to overcharge you.

Even if you're not satisfied with the price or don't like the product the seller is offering, it's important to remain polite. If a seller, particularly an older one, tries to introduce a product you're not interested in or cannot afford, kindly thank them and politely decline. Let's work together to create a respectful shopping culture in Vietnam!

You should create a detailed shopping list to avoid buying unnecessary items or forgetting anything important. In practice, when people go to the market, they often get distracted by unfamiliar stalls or crowded areas, losing track of their initial shopping intentions.

Next, it's important to check prices with friends or review websites. This will give you a rough idea of the price range for the items you're looking to buy. Prices can vary slightly depending on the location, but typically, if two fashion items are of the same quality and style, their prices will differ by only 10,000-50,000 VND. For food items, the price difference will generally be in the hundreds of VND.

This step is crucial because it gives you an advantage when shopping. With today’s digital tools, it's easy to check prices online before heading out. Spend about 30 minutes researching the price range for the items you plan to buy. If you're going to a market to buy clothes, you should visit multiple stores within the same area as many stores will have similar items. The store with the lowest price is the one where you should start negotiating to get the best deal. Doing a price comparison beforehand, either online or by visiting multiple stores, will give you valuable insight into pricing and help you negotiate better.

If you've previously purchased items at a store with reasonable pricing, meaning they didn’t overcharge or only slightly raised their prices, it's a good idea to return there for future shopping trips. Become a regular at a store with fair prices. This way, you’re less likely to be overcharged, and you might even get extra discounts from the friendly store owner. Markets often have multiple vendors selling similar items, so sticking to familiar spots can save you a lot of time.

Moreover, shopping at familiar places gives you peace of mind about product quality because you’ve already had positive experiences with their items. While stores you don’t know might offer cheaper prices, there’s no guarantee their quality will be just as good.

Don’t hesitate to negotiate aggressively when shopping. Many people, especially men, feel awkward about bargaining and tend to only ask for small discounts. However, salespeople are aware of this and often set higher initial prices because they expect you to negotiate. Start by offering a price much lower than the asking price (for example, about half of the listed price). If the seller refuses to meet your offer, gradually increase your price. It’s common to raise the price by increments of 10,000 to 50,000 VND.

A widely accepted bargaining rule is to begin by offering half the listed price. While this might sound ridiculous, rest assured, you won’t get the item for that amount. Be prepared for skeptical looks, sighs, and shocked reactions from the seller. However, by starting with a low offer, you create room for the price to rise to an acceptable level during negotiation. If the seller rejects your offer, nearby vendors may be open to negotiation.