Haggle Like a Pro at the Barbès Market
If you’ve ever travelled to certain parts of Africa or Asia, you know that everything from taxi fares to grocery shopping is a negotiation. Most Westerners find street-bargaining uncomfortable and intimidating, which is a shame, as Paris offers some open-air markets where you can walk away with your shopping bag full of great deals. Resembling more bazaars in Marrakech than a typical Parisian Sunday market, it is at these spots where you can test just how street-savy you really are.
Every Wednesday and Saturday, the ethnically vibrant neighborhood of la Goutte-d'Or, or the "Drop of Gold," in the 18th arrondissement conducts an open-air market underneath the train trestle. Here, you can buy anything from your weekly groceries to kitchen utensils, all for a fraction of the cost you would normally pay at a retail store. But, in order to take advantage of these low prices, one must master the art of the haggle.
Image Credit: Ryan Blum
Here are the six tips on how to negotiate in Paris's last bastion of free-market capitalism.
1. Always be polite. There are times during the haggling process where things may appear to get heated. This is a normal part of the bargaining, but never insult someone or raise your voice—even if the vendor does.
2. Never look too interested. Body language is everything here. Don’t let it be known to the vendor that you desperately seek the item in question. Otherwise, the price will reflect your enthusiasm.
Image Credit: Ryan Blum
3. Look shocked. The first price the vendor gives you can be summarized in two words: complete nonsense. Look at him as if he’s just insulted your mother. It doesn’t even matter that you don’t have the slightest clue how much ten avocadoes should cost—this is all part of the game.
4. Remember the one-third to one-half rule. As mentioned, you may or may not know the actual value of the item you’re haggling over. So, as a general rule, propose a counteroffer with a number that never exceeds 50 percent of the original price. Be prepared for the ensuing laughter and/or faux-anger. Don’t let it affect you—he is a professional haggler, and it is his job to make you feel as if you’ve insulted him.
Image Credit: Ryan Blum
5. Play ping-pong. Now begins the back-and-forth verbal romping that would make any economics professor proud. This is where you find the maximum you’re willing to pay, the minimum he is willing to sell, and then you both meet at the median. Practice your acting skills so you can empathetically consider every counteroffer.
6. Be prepared to walk away. Ultimately, the value of any item is what you’re willing to pay for it. If you don’t like the price, walk away. However, make your withdrawal slowly, as the vendor will usually propose one final offer. If he agrees to your asking price, then you are honor-bound to pay.
Image Credit: Ryan Blum
Haggling at Marché Barbès is a different way to enjoy a part of Paris that most tourists will never see. Remember to never take anything too seriously, as the verbal ping-pong game of haggling itself is all part of the fun.
Barbès Market
Métro: Barbès — Rochechouart
Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 2 p.m.
