China can be a shopper’s paradise or a shopping nightmare best forgotten. Most visitors know that the ‘country where everything is made’ should offer some great deals but trepidation often kicks in once confronted with the often lively (read: pushy) sales people at the various markets and stores. Depending on how much you want certain items it helps to prepare for your shopping day by understanding the bargaining process and in many cases even having an idea of what the cost of the item(s) should be before you even arrive

A guide to Buying in China

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Where to bargain and how much Chinese people know instinctively where they can drive a bargain and where prices are fixed. As a foreigner, it is much harder to know where a deal may be stuck and to what extent. There is no hard and fast rule to help you work out where you can and cannot bargain as much will depend on the region you’re in, but typically, these are the types of outlets, markets and stores where you can and cannot bargain:

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The Fake Markets Despite a mild crackdown on counterfeit goods in recent years, the fake markets remain active and very popular places to shop for visitors. If you’re looking for knockoff fashion goods, fake brand electronics and watches, board and console games or the typical Chinese souvenirs, these markets are cheap and ubiquitous. Most importantly, you need to bargain very hard to get a good deal.

TIP 1: instead of trying to figure out a good starting price when you have no idea where to begin,

ask the seller to show you the price on their calculator (as they all do) and then start at 15% of that cost. Many people will offer 50% or so of the seller’s starting price and that’s OK if they are happy with that, but know that you would be overpaying by a very wide margin. Start at 15%, expect to settle at around 25%.

TIP 2: with watches in particular, be aware that there are several grades of watches and the best

ones are typically not on display. The visible ones will sell at a very low cost but will break down very quickly, while the high quality replicas can last for years! You need to ask the seller to show you the best quality, typically hidden behind a secret door (really).

TIP 3: If you have mobile access while shopping, launch the Taobao website (China’s largest online marketplace) and check the cost of the desired item before you start bargaining. If the seller refuses to settle for a cost that is lower or at least somewhat similar to the cost on TaoBao, know that you are overpaying. Of course, TaoBao is for Chinese people and as a tourist you should expect to pay a premium, so don’t be surprised if the sellers refuse to match TaoBao rates.

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If you’re facing mass market tailors in the fashion markets of Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities, bargain hard. Prices can drop by as much as 50% if you combine orders. Famous markets like Yashow in Beijing and QiPu Road in Shanghai offer the cheapest prices but also the most low quality goods (though still quite good). If you approach some of the more high-end tailors in independent city locations and with their own storefronts, expect to be able to negotiate but not to the tune of 50%.

TIP 1: be careful with the ‘bait and switch’ technique employed by some (but certainly not all)

tailors. You can end up spending lots of time and careful checking to pick out a beautiful fabric only to end up with a piece of clothing of lesser quality, using a fabric that looks identical or very similar, but of lower quality. Ask for a small sample of the chosen fabric, even if you have to pay a small premium.

TIP 2: try and visit the tailors just before closing time when they have already seen traffic and

turnover; you will likely get a better deal, or at least an easier bargain.

Tailors

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Typically there are no discounts or bargaining at malls or other shopping street stores. That said, some retailers will offer discounts for large order or high value items. In China, there is no shame in asking. Many offers and discounts are not publicly advertised, not because they are unavailable but simply because there would be no point in offering a fixed discount. Discussing price and negotiation is as much about protocol and courtesy as it is about pure economics.

High Street Stores

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There are no discounts at supermarkets or food stores, and bargaining here would only lead to confusion. You may at times see locals bargaining at food markets but as a foreigner you would not be expected to do so, nor would you have too much luck with it anyway.

Spas, Massages and Treatment Centers

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There are no discounts at supermarkets or food stores, and bargaining here would only lead to confusion. You may at times see locals bargaining at food markets but as a foreigner you would not be expected to do so, nor would you have too much luck with it anyway.

Supermarkets & Food Stores

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Only buy here if you know what you’re doing and no matter what, bargain hard. Jade (and stones resembling jade) comes in a dazzling range of colors and grades so it would be very hard for you to know what is what unless you have an expert with you, which is highly recommended for the ‘serious’ buyer. Pearls are equally tricky and if you intend to make an investment purchase make sure you have an expert by your side. Large discounts are a red flag in this case as high quality pearls and jade sell themselves and need no considerable discounts. 10% discounts are possible for good quality jade or pearls from a reputable shop. Remember that certificates of authenticity are also easily faked, or assigned to fake items.

TIP 1: if you can scratch it, it’s not jade (ask the seller to scratch it with a knife, real jade is unaffected and harder

than steel). If you can hold it up to the light and see air bubbles, it’s not jade. Jade is very dense and should feel surprisingly heavy compared with, say, a piece of glass of the same size.

Pearl & Jade Markets:

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It is illegal to purchase and export historical items and antiques considered ‘non-renewable cultural resources’ regardless of how old they may be. Pre-1900 artifacts are pretty much all banned and you can face hefty fines and even prison for buying and trying to export these. That does not mean however that newer items are automatically OK for export. Tread cautiously when buying anything that looks old and never ever attempt to take an item away from China unless it is authorized and stamped by the Public Security Bureau (Police) or the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau. You can bargain for antiques items and sometimes you may be given a hefty discount which probably means the item is fake and you’re still overpaying, or worse, the item is stolen and you could face a world of trouble. You’re better off buying replicas of old items in tourist markets in this case and bargain as you would at the fake market.

Antiques