Hi Everyone,

I have a question about bargaining in the bazaars. About what percentage of the initial asking price do you think is a good figure? By good figure, I mean that we don't get overcharged AND the vendor makes a fair profit.

I really struggle with the whole bargaining thing. We had a horrendous experience during a Tauck tour in Africa. At one point, we were in a bus headed to Nairobi and went into a sort of Trading Post area. Of course, all the vendors surrounded the bus to sell their wares. One of the vendors had carved wooden animal statues. (About 12 inches high.) He was asking $5.00 for them. One of the women on the bus kept insisting on only $2.00. Eventually, he gave it to her for the $2.00, but you could just see the desperation on his face. I was sick about it and was so sorry later that I hadn't handed the extra $3.00 out the window myself. Of course, I thought about it too late. I was too busy struggling to keep from telling her what I thought of her behavior.

As you can imagine, a Tauck tour plus airfare to Africa is pretty costly. No one in that group was going to miss $3.00. But to that vendor, it might have made the difference between feeding his children that night or not.

Anyway, since then I've struggled with the whole bargaining idea. I don't want to reply that whole situation with myself in the Ugly American role.

Anyone have an idea of a fair percentage?

Thanks!

Kathy