bargaining/haggling

[hazelfern]

In what situations is it expected or appropriate to haggle? When are the stated prices truly the stated prices? The last thing I want to do is offend a vendor, but I do not want to be taken advantage of, either, so it would be helpful to have some guidelines.

[Joshua Berman]

Great question! We cover this in the "Essentials" chapter of Moon Nicaragua -- here is an excerpt:

Bargaining
Looking for a good deal is a sport in Nicaragua--half social, half business, and is expected with most outdoor market vendors and taxi drivers. But be warned: Bargaining is al suave! Aggressive, prolonged haggling is not cool, won't affect the price, and may leave ill feelings. To start off the process, after you are given the initial price, act surprised and use one of the following phrases: "Que es lo menos?" (What is your lowest price?) or "Nada menos?" (Nothing less?).

Remember these guidelines when bargaining:

• Bargaining is social and friendly, or at least courteous. Keep your temper under wraps and always smile.
• Go back and forth a maximum of two or three times, and then either agree or walk away. Remember that some Nicaraguans, to save face, may lose a profit.
•When bargaining with taxi drivers in Managua, bargain hard, but agree on a price before you enter the cab--once the vehicle is moving, your leverage has vanished in a puff of acrid, black exhaust.

[erik nelson]

Moon Nicaragua points out also that it's a good idea to find out from a local what is the going rate for a taxi ride or even for a market purchase.  I won't even bargain with a taxi driver who asks me for three or four times a reasonable fare, I just walk away and look for someone else. 

[¡Un Buen Viaje! Jessica]

Every time I come I ask the locals what the going rates are before hitting the road. Last year at this time taxi drivers were asking me for 30-40 cords for a ride around Managua. I usually got in for 30. However, right now in Managua the drivers are asking me for 20 cords without so much as a haggle - generally speaking, I have found Nicas willing to do things for less than last year. Economy? I agree with Erik, if a taxi asks for an obviously ridiculous amount, walk away, the next taxi will be along in seconds.

Also, a note about how I catch a cab. *I* choose the taxi, I don't let them choose me. By that I mean, when I'm standing on the curb I pretend to be doing something on my phone, or looking slightly away from the street, all the while I'm looking out the corner of my eye to see who's driving my way. I'll hail a cab in the far lane if I can see that it is empty or I'll hail the cab right behind the one that's pulling over to get me. Not sure if my theory is one of the crackpot variety but I figure if I flag down the ones that don't have "tourist" on their mind they're likely not the ones looking to take advantage. Also good: older drivers, newer cars, taxi signage on top of car and in windshield. Virgin icons dangling from rearview could go either way.

[khelzy09]

Great question! We cover this in the "Essentials" chapter of Moon Nicaragua -- here is an excerpt:

Bargaining
Looking for a good deal is a sport in Nicaragua--half social, half business, and is expected with most outdoor market vendors and taxi drivers. But be warned: Bargaining is al suave! Aggressive, prolonged haggling is not cool, won't affect the price, and may leave ill feelings. To start off the process, after you are given the initial price, act surprised and use one of the following phrases: "Que es lo menos?" (What is your lowest price?) or "Nada menos?" (Nothing less?).

Remember these guidelines when bargaining:

• Bargaining is social and friendly, or at least courteous. Keep your temper under wraps and always smile.
• Go back and forth a maximum of two or three times, and then either agree or walk away. Remember that some Nicaraguans, to save face, may lose a profit.
•When bargaining with taxi drivers in Managua, bargain hard, but agree on a price before you enter the cab--once the vehicle is moving, your leverage has vanished in a puff of acrid, black exhaust.

thanks for the info..

[erik nelson]

Jessica, above, has covered this well.  I'd add, it helps if you see a taxi with someone getting safely out of it--always a good sign.  We're in control, not the drivers.  We owe nothing to drivers who try to bully and harass us.  I'll never take a taxi that honks at me.  I'm sick of taxi drivers crowding around my bus, shouting "Where are you going?", even grabbing at my luggage.  Let's all punish boorish behavior by using only taxis whose drivers treat us with respect. 

[erik nelson]

I shop at the market nearly every day, and have for two years.  Yet I almost never hear bargaining.  The going rate for any item is generally well known and you pay it or you don't.  In my experience, the majority of market stall operators don't try to rip off foreigners. 
At hotels, it does pay to ask for a better rate if you're quoted a price that's out of your reach. In the current economic slump I've found that occasionally I'm the only guest at a hotel, and the hotel across the street is nearly empty too.  The clerk may be able to give you a break. Perhaps you can stay at a hotel that would otherwise be outside your budget. Arriving weary and sweaty, I don't push for a great bargain, because there's plenty of time the next day to look for the best deal.
I'd guess that even taxi drivers are honest close to 50% of the time and will quote you a price that is fair, if not rock-bottom.  Once I haggled a driver down to 100 cordobas, less than five bucks, for a ride that took an hour, two passengers.  I didn't feel very proud of myself.  It's got to be a miserable existence, driving a taxi in Managua.  As a matter of personal dignity we don't like to be ripped off, but neither do we need to squeeze the driver hard.  If a driver asks for 40 cordobas he'll probably do the trip for 30, and we've saved 10 cordobas--all of 49 cents US, but does it really make sense to be so cheap?
Buying souvenirs or more expensive items, I ask for the price, I try to look sad, and I walk away slowly and reluctantly.  This generally leads to a better offer.  I'll only do this if the price seems a bit high.