Negotiations

 Nothing sold outside of stores on the streets in Mozambique has a fixed price. Everything is negotiable, and being able to bargain with the vendor is a skill, one that Emily has taught me. Here's how I used to negotiate...

 In Maputo one weekend, I come across a man whose selling purses made out of capulanas. I see one that I like and he jumps all over my interest and tells me the purse is 250 MTS. I tell him that's expensive and I want a discount. He then explains to me that no, actually, that's not expensive, then goes on to show me that there's layers of cloth which make the purse more durable, which will be good for me because I have alot of stuff, and says that he made it himself, and that it's beautiful, and mentions again that it's durable. After that little speech I almost felt bad for asking for a discount because wow, this guy had just convinced me that this purse is of great quality and why should I try to jip him of his talent and hard work? My response to him was pretty vague and he saw that I was giving in. Then Em swooped in and told me to think about it and we told him we'd be back if I decided to buy the purse.

Em: Mal, you really suck at negotiating prices.
Me: I know but 250 is still cheap and the purse was so nice and pretty and durable!
Em: No! You have to get the cheapest price! We're not tourists! Let me teach you how to negotiate. When you find something you like, don't show that you absolutely love it. They first give you a high price then you have to give them a super low price. Something ridiculously low. Like for that purse, you should have said you'd buy it for 100.
Me: 100 MTS for that purse! 1. there's no way he'd give into THAT price, and 2. I know it's worth more than that.
Em: That's the point. They tell you something high, then you tell him something ridiculously low, then you meet in the middle. Then if the price is still high, you just walk away and tell them that there's no way you'd pay that and that you don't really need it anyway. But, just be aware that they love to make you feel bad. Whenever you give them the first super low price that you want to pay, they're going to tell you that that's such an ugly price and that it's worth so much more, blah blah blah. Don't let them suck you in. When you finally get a low price that you'll agree to pay, then they really try to slap on the guilt trip to try to guilt you into paying more. They'll look like they're about to cry and look really upset about settling for such a price. But don't let that stop you from a deal, because we know that if they aren't still making a profit off of it, then they wouldn't sell it to you. Also, whenever you decide to hold the product just be aware that they won't take it back, trying to make you buy it. Just be prepared to set it on the ground or something. You can do it, Mal.

Ok so let's recap: 1.) Say a really low price after the first price. 2.) Don't show weakness for their story of why it's worth so much or show that you really want it. 3.) Start to walk away and tell them that you don't need it and you won't pay that high price. I got this.

 After this little lesson of negotiating we headed to the wood market in Maputo which is open only on Saturdays. It's basically an area where a bunch of artists get all their art and figures and jewelry-souvenirs, really. The first thing I spotted was a bracelet made of sea shells that were painted different colors..super trendy, had to have it. Here's how that went...

I stayed neutral. The person selling it was a teenage boy. I asked him how much he told me 250. 250?! No way, kid. I walked away. He came after me with the bracelet as I was looking at more art and stuff. At first I ignored him and told him I didn't want it. Then he said 225. Then I looked at him and said I wouldn't pay that. He asked me how much I wanted to pay for it. 75 MTS, I said. He laughed and said that wasn't possible. Then he came down to 200. Then I told him 100. Then he said no he couldn't do that and that this bracelet was worth so much more because he made it himself and painted it and it's well made and beautiful. I then told him that I didn't have to have it, I'm not a tourist and that I live here and I could eventually find the same thing for cheaper. Then he put it in my hand and let me try it on. I took it off and tried to give it back and he wouldn't take it! I continued to tell him 100 MTS. He kept saying ohh sister that's such an ugly price. After a few minutes he told me he'd sell it to me for 150. I told him 100. Then he told me the lowest he could sell for it was 120. I then told him the most I'd pay for it was 110. He agreed. So I reached into my wallet to pay to see that I only had a 100 and a 20. I handed it to him and told him I needed change of 10 MTS. The look on his face was absolutely depressing because he knew I had what he was asking for. A few minutes later he brought me the change and the look on his face as he gave me the 10 MTS automatically made me feel horrible and I almost told him to just keep it until I heard Emily tell me to not give in, that 110 for the bracelet was reasonable. I went back for the purse a few days later and bought it for 180 MTS.

 Negotiating's pretty fun!