How greedy can they get?.

kalbarri · Aug 11th, 2008, 01:01

the funny thing is (i wasn't amused at the time, as you can imagine) i had given him some clothes i didn't want and he was being sooo friendly. now i do the snub thing.

shashank.aggarwal · Aug 11th, 2008, 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalbarri

phoned kerala from mallallapuram for about 10 mins and was charged 380rps for about a 27rp call.

This is not dual pricing, its purely cheating or fleecing...whatever you want to call it...totally unacceptable.

Uncle_Martin · Aug 11th, 2008, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

... dual pricing ... in places with tourism as their core business and I am not talking about places with see loads of western tourists. I am talking any place which sees any form of tourism (including religious).

The daughter of friends of mine manages a business in Cornwall. She regularly gets a 'local residents' discount when she and her partner visits restaurants and other similar places and local shops do give 'special' treatment or better value to local residents/'regulars' in this very popular tourist destination.

Or is it because she takes after her mother and is extremely attractive .....

Noni · Aug 11th, 2008, 02:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

For those like me who do not live in your area, what is coming in on 1st September?

I think HB means that the Welsh Assembly from the lst September are allowing Children and Pensioners who live in Wales free access to all Cadw charging sites throught Wales.

Cadw is the official guardian of the built heritage sites of Wales. Welsh people, paid for by the Welsh Assembly, also get free prescriptions. As well as those who reside in Wales have free University eductation in the principality. This is not dual charging as the people have paid their taxes to the Government, and it is upfront for all to see.

Scotland has similar set by the Scottish Assembly.

capt_mahajan · Aug 11th, 2008, 02:45

Quote:

This is not dual charging as the people have paid their taxes to the Government, and it is upfront for all to see.

By this reasoning (which I disagree with) Foreign Nationals paying more for admittance to monuments in India is not 'dual charging' either

Nick-H · Aug 11th, 2008, 03:06

Dual charging, the official version, is official, and is published, and is not taking advantage of anybody's ignorance, either of the local value of the currency or of the going rate.

We need to revise our terminology!

machadinha · Aug 11th, 2008, 03:09

Well, yes, obviously dual pricing = the official policy to have one group of people pay more than another group (or, more benignly, to have the other pay less). As in India, and (as far as I know or can immediately think of) only at certain cultural institutions/monuments, although the system there could do with some more transparency and consistency perhaps.

Visiting or living in a country where bargaining is traditionally part of everyday life, for an array of transactions, including the most minute ones, and then being overcharged is quite another thing. Whatever that is (a place where you opted to visit or live, perhaps? Frustrating though it may arguably be at times), it's not dual pricing. And as already noted above, Indians complain of this too, even in their home towns sometimes.

Nick-H · Aug 11th, 2008, 03:29

We/I/err, they (excuse me while I have a brief nationality identity crisis) complain when held to ransom by a a group, such as auto drivers, who stick together and will, by mutual agreement, overcharge everybody. So you may know you should pay only 30, but because everybody is asking 50, you have no choice. But a small percentage of those guys, on seeing a foreigner, might try it on for 500.

I'd say that most Indian bargaining, though, is seeking a mutually satisfactory deal. They would like you to come back again! You would like to use that shop again! There are exceptions, of course, and there are also thieves who bamboozle you with some calculation and steal from you. There are also idiots like me, who hold out for a deal that is worse than the figure the guy started off with (don't ask. Believe me; I've done it several times, and always feel proud of my bargaining skills until my wife explains it slowly

).

machadinha · Aug 11th, 2008, 03:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

There are also idiots like me, who hold out for a deal that is worse than the figure the guy started off with (don't ask. Believe me; I've done it several times, and always feel proud of my bargaining skills until my wife explains it slowly

).

LOL. Don't apologize, I remember it well: (Vendor: ) OK, pifteen! (Me: ) No, thirty-five, and that's my final offer!

Hey, it can work the other way around just as well, count your blessings. And yes, it should ideally just be an agreeable pastime and business approach over perhaps a cup of chai or two, not a go for the jugular over every last paisa, and gracefully bidding one's farewell when not reaching an agreement is very acceptable (and may up your chances and suddenly bring down the price while you're at it). Meanwhile, you can train up and down this vast country called India for something like 15 Euros (or 65 if you're looking for some luxury), who's complaining. If I could do that here, Europe would see a lot more of me. As it is, those 15 Euros would barely get me a return ticket to the next small town here (well, maybe for two).

Haylo · Aug 11th, 2008, 05:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Meanwhile, you can train up and down this vast country called India for something like 15 Euros (or 65 if you're looking for some luxury), who's complaining. If I could do that here, Europe would see a lot more of me. As it is, those 15 Euros would barely get me a return ticket to the next small town here.

This thread has been interesting, this is my conclusion so far...

As I am currently in the situation of visiting India with the benefit of a "foreign" wage rate, I steadfastly refuse to let myself get ripped off, but I am happy to suck it up if I'm charged a small amount more than someone who knows the score.

If I was working in India for Indian wages, I'd quickly become fluent enough to say "Hey, save that for the tourists, I earn in Rs and I just can't afford this, unless you give me "local rates" I'll have to shop somewhere else"

Building up a relationship with your local shopkeeper would surely pay dividends? Perhaps I'm just being naieve...

machadinha · Aug 11th, 2008, 06:26

Yes, certainly. However and by way of just another tiny little anecdote that doesn't mean much as such, I ran into long-timers there who told me that they had fully integrated and knew how to get the right prices and so on (and they obviously did), but to get a proper price for vegetables and grains and the likes in the market was just impossible to them. So even if they had actually taken on them the function of helping out the lady of the house or so, they would need to sheepishly follow her to the market and stay in the background, or just let someone else handle it.

Hey, it's the place you moved to or where you decided to hang on for a bit... It can drive the likes of us who expect a fixed price and a quick deal and just move on up the wall that's for sure, certainly when it's about every other ff'ing cup of tea that you need to keep your guard up.

edwardseco · Aug 11th, 2008, 07:39

A bizarre case on my honeymoon. Accompanied by a distant relation who was in charge of electricity distribution for the city I went antique shopping in Leh. Quoted a reasonable price I agree. The seller bargains downward, I agree again. Again he lowers the price. I finally realize he is paying no attention to me but instead to the face of my companion. Until my friend smiles the price keeps going down. I cleaned up that day..

skk · Aug 11th, 2008, 07:56

Since this discussion is about bargaining - I was on an Indian (no NRIs or tourists apart from the wife and me) group's day tour of Hyderabad, 1982 - young recently married couples - this Kannadi( Karnataki?) lady bargained and bargained and clearly was getting the price of some jewellery tat down, way down but still making no deal - as the minibus started leaving and the vendor was walking fast along the bus and talking to her through the window she springs her final offer and gestures: "TWO !" ( for the same price of course). He made the deal !

The people in the minibus clapped !

-skk

goangoangone · Aug 11th, 2008, 10:46

I was in the fruit and veg market a couple of years ago and saw a strange shaped vegetable. I asked the old woman "what is this"? She said "five". I said "no, I mean what is it?" She said "five". I said "no, I mean what type of vegetable is it"? She said "three".

By the way, it was from the gourd family.

machadinha · Aug 11th, 2008, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by goangoangone

I was in the fruit and veg market a couple of years ago and saw a strange shaped vegetable. I asked the old woman "what is this"? She said "five". I said "no, I mean what is it?" She said "five". I said "no, I mean what type of vegetable is it"? She said "three".

LOL

You done that story before, but it remains a classic

Aug 11th, 2008, 03:06	#231
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,420	Dual charging, the official version, is official, and is published, and is not taking advantage of anybody's ignorance, either of the local value of the currency or of the going rate. We need to revise our terminology! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Aug 11th, 2008, 03:09	#232
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,445	Well, yes, obviously dual pricing = the official policy to have one group of people pay more than another group (or, more benignly, to have the other pay less). As in India, and (as far as I know or can immediately think of) only at certain cultural institutions/monuments, although the system there could do with some more transparency and consistency perhaps. Visiting or living in a country where bargaining is traditionally part of everyday life, for an array of transactions, including the most minute ones, and then being overcharged is quite another thing. Whatever that is (a place where you opted to visit or live, perhaps? Frustrating though it may arguably be at times), it's not dual pricing. And as already noted above, Indians complain of this too, even in their home towns sometimes. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Aug 11th, 2008, 10:46	#239
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,564	I was in the fruit and veg market a couple of years ago and saw a strange shaped vegetable. I asked the old woman "what is this"? She said "five". I said "no, I mean what is it?" She said "five". I said "no, I mean what type of vegetable is it"? She said "three". By the way, it was from the gourd family. __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Aug 11th, 2008, 01:01	#226
kalbarri kalbarri Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: WESTERN australia Posts: 479	the funny thing is (i wasn't amused at the time, as you can imagine) i had given him some clothes i didn't want and he was being sooo friendly. now i do the snub thing.

Aug 11th, 2008, 03:29	#233
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,420	We/I/err, they (excuse me while I have a brief nationality identity crisis) complain when held to ransom by a a group, such as auto drivers, who stick together and will, by mutual agreement, overcharge everybody. So you may know you should pay only 30, but because everybody is asking 50, you have no choice. But a small percentage of those guys, on seeing a foreigner, might try it on for 500. I'd say that most Indian bargaining, though, is seeking a mutually satisfactory deal. They would like you to come back again! You would like to use that shop again! There are exceptions, of course, and there are also thieves who bamboozle you with some calculation and steal from you. There are also idiots like me, who hold out for a deal that is worse than the figure the guy started off with (don't ask. Believe me; I've done it several times, and always feel proud of my bargaining skills until my wife explains it slowly ).

Aug 11th, 2008, 06:26	#236
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,445	Yes, certainly. However and by way of just another tiny little anecdote that doesn't mean much as such, I ran into long-timers there who told me that they had fully integrated and knew how to get the right prices and so on (and they obviously did), but to get a proper price for vegetables and grains and the likes in the market was just impossible to them. So even if they had actually taken on them the function of helping out the lady of the house or so, they would need to sheepishly follow her to the market and stay in the background, or just let someone else handle it. Hey, it's the place you moved to or where you decided to hang on for a bit... It can drive the likes of us who expect a fixed price and a quick deal and just move on up the wall that's for sure, certainly when it's about every other ff'ing cup of tea that you need to keep your guard up.

Aug 11th, 2008, 07:39	#237
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,436	A bizarre case on my honeymoon. Accompanied by a distant relation who was in charge of electricity distribution for the city I went antique shopping in Leh. Quoted a reasonable price I agree. The seller bargains downward, I agree again. Again he lowers the price. I finally realize he is paying no attention to me but instead to the face of my companion. Until my friend smiles the price keeps going down. I cleaned up that day..

Aug 11th, 2008, 07:56	#238
skk Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boulder CO, USA Posts: 547	Since this discussion is about bargaining - I was on an Indian (no NRIs or tourists apart from the wife and me) group's day tour of Hyderabad, 1982 - young recently married couples - this Kannadi( Karnataki?) lady bargained and bargained and clearly was getting the price of some jewellery tat down, way down but still making no deal - as the minibus started leaving and the vendor was walking fast along the bus and talking to her through the window she springs her final offer and gestures: "TWO !" ( for the same price of course). He made the deal ! The people in the minibus clapped ! -skk

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