Why we bargain only in certain places...

[AriJay]

Continuation of the post:
http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/showthread.php/19063-How-is-life-for-a-Non-Gujarati-in-Ahmedabad/page3


Originally Posted by dbs [INDENT]

It is not a question of R. 20. It is about being fair. Why haggle with the vegetable seller for Rs 5 There are a number of small payments one makes, adding to each can come upto a large amount. Further, it does not make a difference to you, but there are others, not in such fortunate circumstances that have to atleast occassionally use the autos. They also get affected by your agreeing to pay extra. If you want to pay extra, bu all means do so, but it should not be demanded as a right. You do give a tip to the waiter, why not pay 25% next time, just double the amount given to a taxi driver. Extending to the clerk in the driving license office. He is also poor, by your standards certainly, why bitch about the corruption when he demands an extra 200. This is what is leading to corruption in India.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by AriJay

It is the demand that fix the price. If there are lot of auto running or public transportation is efficient, they can't charge more. Same thing applies to vegetable vendors too. A clerk in the driving license office will receive salary which is guaranteed. No one will raise their voice for a fair salary to him. The sixth pay commission will tell that. In the similar lines this MNC is giving millions of India rupees as salary. In this case also no one raise their voice.

Like wise, RE, if you did not like the price, are you going to argue with them for fair price. Do you think they will mind your voice. The RE price has skyrocketed. I can argue with you lots and lots of things where you won't fight for fair price(Petrol, COKE. BATA shoe mart (Rs 99.99), restaurant....). I am wondering whether you raised your voice for fair price in this places.

The only place where the people will show their courage is to street vendors, auto driver...This are the people fighting for their survival in life. The corruption does not happens here, it will happen in those place where there is more greed (politics, Government offices)...... [/INDENT]

[KirKS]

AriJay,
Bargaining or getting a 'better' price while buying something or getting a service is a human thing. We all do it and pretty much everywhere.

This is applicable to most things. Whether you are buying a Rupees 10 kerchief on the footpath or Rupees 60 lakhs plot. It's a cultivated instinct that we should get less than what's been quoted to us.

Wherever there is no direct option to bargain, like a 'fixed price' shoe shop or a drug store, people look for discounts or coupons. Effectively they try to get the price down using some option.

For things under government control, like Petrol, fertilizer cost or Electricity per unit cost, people vote those who promise the cut in price or more liberal loans. Effectively that's a way to squeeze some price out of those.

So it's incorrect to assume that we bargain at only certain places. Most of us bargain everywhere to get a 'better' price.. whether selling (a plot) or buying (a cloth).. whether giving our services (like an office job) or taking someone's service (like maid). Bargaining is even ingrained into wedding business too.. I can think of only very few places where we don't get a 'better' price.

On a lighter side, I suggest this video from Russel Peters related to bargaining :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0L6pFsNpDM

[AriJay]

AriJay,
Bargaining or getting a 'better' price while buying something or getting a service is a human thing. We all do it and pretty much everywhere.

This is applicable to most things. Whether you are buying a Rupees 10 kerchief on the footpath or Rupees 60 lakhs plot. It's a cultivated instinct that we should get less than what's been quoted to us.

Wherever there is no direct option to bargain, like a 'fixed price' shoe shop or a drug store, people look for discounts or coupons. Effectively they try to get the price down using some option.

For things under government control, like Petrol, fertilizer cost or Electricity per unit cost, people vote those who promise the cut in price or more liberal loans. Effectively that's a way to squeeze some price out of those.

So it's incorrect to assume that we bargain at only certain places. Most of us bargain everywhere to get a 'better' price.. whether selling (a plot) or buying (a cloth).. whether giving our services (like an office job) or taking someone's service (like maid). Bargaining is even ingrained into wedding business too.. I can think of only very few places where we don't get a 'better' price.

On a lighter side, I suggest this video from Russel Peters related to bargaining :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0L6pFsNpDM

Discount coupons are not bargain options. They determine how much they will give reduction and for those who do not have coupon, they will get nothing.

For RE you can't ask for fair price, it is the market which determines the rate. You can do certain extent.

The bargain with autos and street vendors are totally different. People will try to squeeze them to the full extent. In case of autos, the question will be 1. How far from this place. 2. What is the route you are going to take 3. What is the cost of petrol. .......... Do you think one will argue in the same pace with RE Agent or shoe marts...

Have you ever bargained in the mall for clothes?
Have you ever bargained in a restaurant?

I started this thread because one of the posters ( I put that link in the start of this thread) mentioned that she will take the auto driver to police station if he did not agree with fair price.I started to wonder whether she had taken RE agents, doctors, restaurant owners..

[yessireebob]

Discount coupons are not bargain options. They determine how much they will give reduction and for those who do not have coupon, they will get nothing.

For RE you can't ask for fair price, it is the market which determines the rate. You can do certain extent.

The bargain with autos and street vendors are totally different. People will try to squeeze them to the full extent. In case of autos, the question will be 1. How far from this place. 2. What is the route you are going to take 3. What is the cost of petrol. .......... Do you think one will argue in the same pace with RE Agent or shoe marts...

Have you ever bargained in the mall for clothes?
Have you ever bargained in a restaurant?

I started this thread because one of the posters ( I put that link in the start of this thread) mentioned that she will take the auto driver to police station if he did not agree with fair price.I started to wonder whether she had taken RE agents, doctors, restaurant owners..

In my mind it is simple. You do not typically bargain in a place where the prices are indicated upfront and everyone pays the list price. However, once it becomes evident that you can get away by not paying list price, people will bargin no matter what the situation and what the amount it.. since they do not want to " be taken for a ride"....
So yes if people come to know that a specific Doctor is charging different rates to different people etc, they will bargain.

[dbs]

For RE you can't ask for fair price, it is the market which determines the rate. You can do certain extent.
The bargain with autos and street vendors are totally different.

In all circumstances, there is no fair price. It is the market price.
Yes, people do haggle with RE prices and some do succeed.
With autos, it is a rate agreed to by the govt. and the auto union, so it is cheating to ask for more.
Street vendors ofcourse will ask for the sky and settle for dust.

[Mumbai_2009]

I started this thread because one of the posters ( I put that link in the start of this thread) mentioned that she will take the auto driver to police station if he did not agree with fair price.I started to wonder whether she had taken RE agents, doctors, restaurant owners..

Autos that run on meter (autos need licenses from RTO to run on streets) has to abide with the rate card published by RTO. If they don't, consumer has a right to lodge a complain with RTO or ask a cop to interefere.
Let me know if there is similar authority like RTO for RE agents, doctors, restaurant owners. I would definately like to take all those to police stations if they are charging more than the publised rate cards. I don't want to be cheated in paying more than what it is required

[AriJay]

In my mind it is simple. You do not typically bargain in a place where the prices are indicated upfront and everyone pays the list price. However, once it becomes evident that you can get away by not paying list price, people will bargin no matter what the situation and what the amount it..since they do not want to " be taken for a ride"....
So yes if people come to know that a specific Doctor is charging different rates to different people etc, they will bargain.

That means those who put the list price are clever and they change the list price according to the market.
They also keep their price protected. What a poor street vendor or auto driver will do?. Even when there is demand for his auto, why should not he charge the rate as per the demand...

[AriJay]

In all circumstances, there is no fair price. It is the market price.
Yes, people do haggle with RE prices and some do succeed.
With autos, it is a rate agreed to by the govt. and the auto union, so it is cheating to ask for more.
Street vendors ofcourse will ask for the sky and settle for dust.

In the case of RE, they can increase their price when the supply is limited. Why can't the poor auto driver should not hike his price when there is demand for his auto?

[AriJay]

Autos that run on meter (autos need licenses from RTO to run on streets) has to abide with the rate card published by RTO. If they don't, consumer has a right to lodge a complain with RTO or ask a cop to interefere.
Let me know if there is similar authority like RTO for RE agents, doctors, restaurant owners. I would definately like to take all those to police stations if they are charging more than the publised rate cards. I don't want to be cheated in paying more than what it is required

For restaurant I know, you can complaint to the local "Consumer Protection and Price Control". In our state, we have a separate authority for that "http://www.chittarkottai.com/tn_ministry.htm". Doctor rates are dictated by the demand in their location.

I don't want to be cheated in paying more than what it is required.
Even for a small amount itself you do not want to be cheated. How come you are not worried about big ticket item like RE, Doctor, medicine, Rent.......

[returning_indian]

So yes if people come to know that a specific Doctor is charging different rates to different people etc, they will bargain.

Doctors charge different amount to different people all the time and some even free. I have never seen anyone bargain with a doctor.

Autos that run on meter (autos need licenses from RTO to run on streets) has to abide with the rate card published by RTO.

Have you ever noticed the difference between circle rates/govt rates of real estate in Bombay and the actual cost of purchase? Ever filed a complaint against them? Or is it just the vulnerable auto guys (easy target) that are suppose to cater to this socialistic attitude?

Yes, people do haggle with RE prices and some do succeed.

In bringing it down to the govt rates? I will be very surprised if anyone bought property with rates published by govt except the ones that are directly bought from govt (via lottery generally) and then sold to market at 2-5times the price published by govt. Does anyone file a complaint for these crooks?

AriJay,
Bargaining or getting a 'better' price while buying something or getting a service is a human thing. We all do it and pretty much everywhere.

It is human attitude to squeeze out of people who can be squeezed. Middle class cannot do anything against RE mafia or with doctors (when their life is on the line) or with big business mafias. But since auto walahs, sabji walah, milk walah etc are people who can easily be threatened, they are easy targets for middle class to exploit. It not human attitude to bargain it is human attitude to exploit the vulnerable.