Bartering in Cozumel

[Lynda Silk]

Hi,
I am kind of nervous about bartering but one of my ports of call on my next cruise is Cozumel. Do all of the shops near the port use the bartering system? How do you know when the price is too much or if you're being a fool and paying too much! Does anyone have any advice on how to do this? How low do you go when you start bartering? If something is $20, do you start at half that price? If anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it!

 

[JLSE50]

We did not shop in Cozumel as we wanted to snorkel and so spent the day at Chaukanaab National Park and loved it.

But

When we were in St. Martin we found a little area with booths set up by locals that had some neat homemade necklaces I liked. The lady said they were each $8 American. That is what I paid. When I told others later they said I could have bargained her down and she probably thought I was a foolish American since I paid her starting price. I figure, so what if she thinks I am foolish. It was a reasonable price, like I would have paid in the States at a craft fair. And the money she makes puts food on her table and sends her children to school.

When we were in Nassau we saw a lovely ring in a fancy jewelry store but the price was more than I wanted to pay. As we walked away the salesgirl kept lowering the price. I think that if I had wanted it, I would have bargained that way. Not giving her a price, just acting disinterested and seeing what she did. Maybe going out of the store and then later coming back, finding the same girl and looking at the same ring.

DCL gives you a list of approved stores too so that if you are buying EXPENSIVE stuff you are better able to count on them being reputable. I would hate to pay for a diamond and when I got home find it is a zircon.

Jan

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks so much for replying, Jan! You made me feel a lot better! I too feel that if I'm willing to pay a certain price for something, I'm okay with that price. But I had heard so much about the shop venders being contemptuous of people who don't barter and/or who pay way more than what they will actually accept. I probably won't buy anything too expensive, just small souvenirs. But I didn't want it to turn out to be a bad experience.

Your tip about acting disinterested was a good one and I'll keep that in mind too.

Thanks again for your feedback, Jan!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Easiest way to barter, if you are going to do it, is ask the price of an item that you are interested in, when they give you the price, just look disinterested in that price, or suprised that it is so expensive (even if it is a 5 dollar item). Talk amongst yourselves saying things like.... I saw one of those over there for less......I don't have that much on me.....I don't like it that much....
They will definitley know by the look on your face and what you say to each other that you will barter for a better price. Let them give you their price and start walking away, they will offer once again and if it is what you want to pay, then pay. You will know if you are getting ripped off. Many times you will walk away and find the exact same item in the next store and you will get it for half the price.

I was nervous the first couple of times I bartered and felt like I was cheating them, but you will soon learn it's all a game and they LOVE to play! Just enjoy, laugh, make them feel like you LOVE thier wares and want to buy from them and you will find it fun and interesting....and get some great things! One thing that you really can't bargain for is Silver in the jewelery stores. They charge by weight and really stick close to prices on it.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thanks Mrsfuzzmo! I didn't only want to avoid being thought a fool and having a bad experience, but I had heard from so many people how much they enjoyed bartering and how much fun it was that I wanted to "play" too! Thanks for the advice! This doesn't sound too hard and I'm feeling less nervous!

Thanks again!

 

[ZebraStripes]

When we were in Cozumel last year, it was my first time with bartering. I was very intimidated at first. However, I got the hang of it quickly. We found some maracas to bring home as gifts for some neighborhood kids. I can't remember what they were priced, but I'd guess around $8 a piece, I offered $4 knowing it would be low. I think we settled on $5 a piece. I also bought a painted clay sun for the wall from a vendor at a table in the complex you have to walk through when you get off the boat and go up the escalader. He said price was as listed and I paid it because it was reasonable and I really liked it.

 

[MHDTS]

Just returned from the Magic 1/31 and found shopping the deals in Cozumel to be fun and fantastic. A few tips: 1) as many others have said, if you are interested in buying something, act disinterested. Start to leave, politely say "no thanks" and the prices will start to fall. 2) The further away you shop from the cruise ship shopping promenade, the better the prices. There are some fantastic small boutiques off the square about six blocks north of the Magic cruise ship terminal that have beautiful clothes, jewelry, etc. for excellent prices. 3) Cash US) is king. Few of the merchants take credit cards, so take cash if you're serious about buying anything. 4) The later the time of day, the better the deals as the merchants are trying to get their last few sales in. We bought a beautiful tanzanite and opal ring late in the day for $150 less than the first price offered earlier. 5) I wouldn't trust the ATM's scattered through the main streets.

The merchants can be aggressive; you just have to be cool about the whole shopping process. We observed one woman and a merchant screaming at each other about her shopping habits and his sales ethics -- great entertainment!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Thank you to everyone for your tips and advice! I feel a lot less nervous about the whole bartering issue and feel much better prepared to go and have some fun! I'm going to print out all the advice and bring it with me on the cruise.

I really appreciate all the feedback; everyone is so nice and so helpful! Thanks again!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by JLSE50
When we were in St. Martin we found a little area with booths set up by locals that had some neat homemade necklaces I liked. The lady said they were each $8 American. That is what I paid. When I told others later they said I could have bargained her down and she probably thought I was a foolish American since I paid her starting price. I figure, so what if she thinks I am foolish. It was a reasonable price, like I would have paid in the States at a craft fair. And the money she makes puts food on her table and sends her children to school.

I just wanted to say that I think this is a great outlook!

 

[CACruiser]

(Bartering is actually a trading system. Bargining is deciding on the price)

Oh, my Dad was a wonderful "haggler". He loved the game of it too. (I miss him!)

He taught me that on most things (think highend clothes, jewelry, art, etc) in Mexico is marked way up just for the purpose of haggling. He would'nt "nickle and dime" over T-shirts, small token items unless he was buying several.

For a high-ticket item...lets say a beautiful FANCY inlade silver bracelet he bought my Mom. Was listed for 150.00. Dad would offer 60-50% of the asking price. So, he would say "How 'bout $70 cash? The salesperson might hem and haw and Dad would be serious, not goofy or overfreindly. His attitude is that he will get this kind of bracelet SOMEWHERE, so he might as well spend his money there. You can do this when you are shopping in areas with a lot of the same thing. If the person said no, Dad did'nt get offended. Either the clerk would offer another price...usually a 10-15% discount. So, lets say he says....No, how about 135.00

It seemed like Dad had a guideline of getting at least 30-40% off the asking price. So, after this up and down process, it might look something like this....

135.00? No...how about 90?
90? No, too low....100.00 No more.
Well, if Dad did'nt get in the range he wanted...he might go for an "add on".

100.00 US cash, plus that silver chain for my daughter. (I scored a lot of jewelry as a teenager this way-LOL

So, for 170.00 in retail cost...Dad would pay 100.00

For lower priced items...lets say T-shirts. He would sometimes bargin...buy 3...get one free? Or, buy four and get a hat, bag, etc?

Above all, I am always polite and respectful. I NEVER act like I am above any salesclerk or humble street vendor.
Part of that is to always be grateful for the potential to haggle. I use the words please and thank you.

If it is not in my range..or not something I really want. I will be polite and say..."No thank you, then. I was looking for a better price." That way they know your intentions! Many vendors will think that it is better to make a 30% profit with you than giving the business to the next guy.

As for street vendors, I will often pay closer to the asking price if a woman is alone, etc. But, keep in mind that in a culture such as Mexico, the money still often goes home to the man of the home and he decides what to do with it.

Also, be smart and do your homework back home. Know what you would pay for in your area for such an item. It's really easy to impulse buy on vacation. If you have a set plan on what you are looking for and a definite range..your bargin hunting will pay off!

LisaCA

 

[inkkognito]

I was amazed in Cozumel at how nearly everything can be bartered for! At Chankanaab, I figured that the prices for the snorkel equipment rental at the sheds near the water were set. Hubby and I stopped at one to ask the price, as we were thinking about snorkeling later in the day. We were quoted a price and thanked the vendor...as we were walking away, he said be sure to come back to him and he would give us a discount (I can't remember how much). We ended up running out of time, but we would have gone back to him rather than haggling to see if someone else would have undercut him...the price was very reasonable.
At the PeePee Station after our jeep trip, hubby was interested in some sunglasses and figured the price was set because they were inside of a store. We were interested in multiple pairs, but I thought they were too much...as soon as we put them down, the merchant was there to bargain!
Just remember that some things are not open to haggling, like the taxi prices which are set and posted. I witnessed an American family literally shouting at a cab driver, trying to force him to give them a discount. They told him that he HAD to...finally, after he got sick of explaining that the fares are set, he just drove away.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[MrsPete]

I agree with another poster: I do not care if Cozumel shop keepers are contempuous of my actions. I will not rage or yell at anyone over a price, but instead will be polite to them. In the unlikely case that they are rude to me, I will leave. If they like or don't like me after I leave their shop, I don't really care.

According to my grandfather, who lived most of his life in Panama, haggling over prices is entertainment. According to him, you should immediately say "no" to the first price, regardless of what it is. You should immediately say "no" to the second price, regardless of what it is. You should listen to the third price and decide whether you really want to buy the item -- but don't assume that it's the lowest price possible.

 

[eye R.N.]

We "haggled" at a non Disney store in Cozumel with a credit card and got our number lifted. If you are going to play the game make sure you have the right tools.

Next time the credit card company will know in advance where we are if we are buying big ticket items.

 

[Lynda Silk]

Wow, you guys are great! Thanks so much for all your advice! Now I'm looking forward to shopping in Cozumel! You've all really added to the pleasure of my trip!

And LisaCA, your dad sounds wonderful! I'll certainly keep him and his guidelines in mind when I'm in Cozumel!

Thanks again! Lynda

 

[tinarena2000]

just to let you know I have not been to cozumel, however I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and Central America And have done the barter thing,
1. look around first to see how much the others are asking.
2.then go to back to where you think might be the better deal
3.Please Please Don't assume the money goes back to the husbands, these women could be the only provider.
4. Treat people with respect, to them this is not a game, trust me. this is their work and they take pride in being able to provice for their family.
5. Really what is a dollar? (to you)
sorry for being so frank, but my family comes from both sides. Central America and the U.S.

 

[CACruiser]

Whoa, I think you missed something I said.

I believe in being VERY respectful and appreciative.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I have traveled extensively through Mexico and Central America. (Guat. and Belize)

I have been in exspensive touristy places and local mercados.

I know that I am very wealthy by many of the people I meet in these regions. I am not there to take advantage of them, nor do I want to be taken advantage of. I want a fair deal like the locals would.

I do not assume that the women I buy from are just fronts for their male relatives/spouses...but they often are! Not an assumption...but a fact. I did'nt generalize by saying ALL or most.

Sorry if I ruffled any feathers, but there is no shame in being a GOOD consumer. I am going to do that anywhere I am.