5 Tips for Bargaining in Thai Markets

Perhaps a little obvious, but important to remember: the first price is usually inflated to catch unsuspecting tourists out. This price could be just a little over what most people would call fair, or it could be vastly increased. The general rule of thumb in Bangkok is that the real price will be somewhere between 25% and 50% cheaper than what is first asked.

Before you start bargaining, work out what you are willing to pay be comparing it against your native currency and use that as your benchmark. If you’re happy with what you get for the price, then it’s a good deal. As a last resort, count out the amount of money you're willing to pay beforehand and keep it separate. Take the money out and show it to the shopkeeper. Tell them "that’s all I’ve got" – often the sight of cold, hard cash is enough to tip them over the edge.

At many markets in and around Bangkok, you'll find several shops selling the same or similar products. Use this to your advantage by enquiring at more than one shop to see how much the price differs. It can be a little annoying for shop owners to spend 10 minutes bargaining for an item only to see the customer walk to the next shop and do it all over again, but imagine how annoying it is to find your new purchase on sale much cheaper at another stall when you had been promised ‘the best possible price’.

If someone else is buying an item you like the look of, try to get a sneaky view of how much they are paying, or you can even ask other people how much they paid for theirs, especially if they're locals. There’s a chance they won’t understand you, but for true bargain-hunters, it’s a chance worth taking.

If you find an item, pick it up and declare "I love it! How much?", don’t be surprised when the shopkeeper asks for double or triple its true value. When you see the item you want, instead of heading straight for it, look around a little and even ask for the price of something else first. When the seller thinks you are only slightly keen, they might start their bargaining lower than they usually would.

Acting nonchalant does not mean acting in a rude or derogatory way. Making negative comments about items you are bargaining for is impolite and will only make the seller less open to affording you a ‘good deal’. A smile and a joke go a long way in Thailand.

‘The walk-away’ is the strongest weapon a tourist has when bargaining, but it's also a risky manoeuvre. If done well, the shop owner will call you back and drop the price to meet your offer. If done poorly, you walk away but are unable to return for fear of losing face. When you're genuinely interested in an item, but the price is deadlocked and neither party giving in, you can say "thank you" and slowly start to move away. If you can pull off the walk-away technique and grab yourself a great bargain, you can consider yourself a bargaining professional.

‘The walk-away’ also helps visitors gauge if the price was fair. Shopkeepers who know you're keen but unwilling to pay rip-off prices might call you back and offer a realistic price, but if the price was already fair, they'll never call you back.

In many of the wholesale malls – especially those in the Pratunam district of Bangkok – the biggest discounts are reserved for those willing to buy multiple items. Buying things in batches of 3 or more will see prices automatically drop by at least 25%. But this shouldn’t be your only strategy. Start by bargaining for 1 item, and then suggest multiple purchases for the absolute best price you can get. It’s not uncommon to see tourists buy in bulk and then purchase a new suitcase to fit it all in!