"Pay whatever you like"

anar

when i'm asked 'to pay as you like', i proceed to quote a ridiculously low figure. they soon name a price after that.

indiawise

Well it is quite common in India and doesn't neccesarily imply that some one is trying to cheat you. Very often after having something nominal fixed by my car/mycle mechanic or electrician etc; upon asking how much? I get this reply. It is perfectly respectable to ask for a payment thus and has been the norm for long in India. This is also a way to receive a good tip. Its also acceptable to quietly accept what is offered. And it is also perfectly acceptable and respectable to not accept the amount offered if it is far below what is expected!! Especially so in smaller towns and village-towns.
Yes it is sometimes irritating because you reaaly don't mind paying without having to do some guess-work. But this is the problem with a lot of us who are cut off-from the grass-roots India.
As far as the behaviour of the shop-keepers and traders along the Indian tourist travel strip, Kashmiri carpet dealers..well thats another story and the story about bleeding hearts and the price being painful"//as if my own brother is stabbining me!!)...these are true..

bvjoshi

There is a restaurant called Seva Cafe on CG Road, Ahmedabad entirely run by volunteers and they strictly follow this rule. But seeing young volunteers as chef and waiters, nobody expects it for free............

sirensongs

They are betting you will aim higher to over-compensate

"As you like."
Oh, I HATE HATE HATE this...(grumble grumble) and am glad someone finally brought it up.

I always call their bluff by naming a ridiculously low price. Or even, "I like for free!"

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"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose yourself."
Feringhee: The India Diaries