"how many shiny things do your chickens cost at your local market in the forrest clearing?"

I live on a desert island, so trade mainly in shells, fish and coconuts.

could I send you a chicken in return for say 6 shiny things and a large seashell? or do we negotiate from here?

nanabee

yes you have to! and I do!

Have you read "The Dark Heart of Italy" by Oliver Tobias?

nanabee---just be careful if you take the cash discount and be sure to get a receipt. Otherwise you could find yourself in trouble with the tax police.

Switch the shell for a coconut, and we've got a deal.

Is she a good layer?

The only place I bargain is at Boot Fairs!! (AKA. Jumble sale/garage sale/flea market etc etc). The whole 'bargaining/haggling' custom is extremely alien to the British.

Waring

Two a day without fail but she does have a nasty sniffle.

Do you know how much coconuts are going for in our forrest clearing? they are worth at least 4 sea shells - I wouldn't want you to think that I had sold you short!

In France and in Greece I have asked the same question at antique stores and flea markets that I ask in the US: "Is this your best price?" The price almost always comes down.

Many flea market dealers in Paris, especially those at the permanent stalls at the Clignancourt market, accept credit cards.

At a pottery shop in Athens, the woman in the shop offered a discount for several items, then another discount for cash.

Actually you can bargain in Greece, which is in the EU, especially in the small shops on the islands or in a town like Delphi. Two weeks agoI was offered 10% discounts at several jewellery stores on Rhodes if I paid cash. However, I certainly wouldn't try to bargain at Cartier in Athens. :)

I think you may try to bargain at independently owned shops in Italy, France, or Spain. It couldn't hurt to try, especially if the shop owner is having a bad day selling. Several years ago, my mother contemplated over a ring in a shop in Prague. The owner offered her a discount in order to cinch the deal.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

Thanks Nora for the good advice regarding getting a receipt for cash purchases, I didn't think about that.

Markrosy, I have not heard of Dark Heart of Italy. Sounds interesting, since I am going to book store today I will take a peek at it.

10% off isn't bargaining. Ten percent of the TOTAL, now that's bargaining.

There are places in the US that offer a discount for cash, or a surcharge for credit, but it is absolutely against the rules of the credit card company, and merchants can have their accounts yanked if they do it.

nanabee

its by a British journalist who is posted to Italy and basically recounts his experiences of every day life in Italy - ie what normal Italians put up with.

Its far better than the usual - I bought I house on the hill in Tuscany and now I'm wrining about it novel!

BTW all you US tourists - I run retail businesses in the Uk and a comment like getting a discount on a slow day to me is appalling.

Tipping in restaurants is a concept that I am unable to comprehend - along with many Europeans. However, in the US I understand the pay structure so I do it. When in Europe it may be an idea to appreciate our local business culture - knocking a shop owner down on a slow day - IMO is as low as it gets!

I agree and I intentionally shop at locally owned businesses and knowingly pay extra to support community owned shops rather than something like Wal-Mart.
I believe in the long run I actually save money. If my local book store owner (who may charge me an extra few dollars) goes out of business and I end up driving 20 miles away to Barnes and Noble I have spent just as much on gas.

p.s. markrosy- i have ordered the book (from my local book seller - no bargining though!)

Keep in mind that in France, the inventor the the chip card, the VI/MC commission is the lowest in the world. Always under 1% and often as low as 0.5%. So paying with a credit card will not scare any of the merchants as it does in countries with 3% commission.

&quot;<i>In Europe you can barter with seashells, blankets, chickens and shiny things.</i>&quot;

Troll! Everyone knows it's nylon hose and chocolates. I saw it on Hogan's Heroes once.

nanabee - I hope you enjoy it - you get two of life's great flavours in one book - the English dry sense of humour and the Italian sense of Opera - if you like the genre (ie non pretentious Italian everyday life) -

ALSO try : &quot;Vroom with a view&quot; - driving round Italian on a 1960s Vespa

and &quot;The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro&quot; the story of a lowly Italian soccer team that makes it to their top division of superstars - very well written by an American journalist

- both books have greast characterisation and are in the can't put down class.

Chill trevelers! I saw this post in another forum and decided to ask. You are as always sooo nice...NOT!

Actually you can bargain on big ticket items - even at the chain stores. You'd be suprised at the movement they can give you.

Of course barter is also effective - offer either sex or drugs.

markrosee,

where did you get that chicken?

the &quot;best &quot; commercial layers produce about 300 a year, and are then thrown away. That's less than one a day. our marans only manage about 1/2 that. [and we don't throw them out, we eat them].

:S-

I'm trying to read the dark heart of italy, but finding it a bit heavy going.

In my experience, it is possible to bargain in antique/junk shops in europe, but apart from markets, [and car boot sales of course, but that's another story] but that's about it.

regards, ann