India: Expected — Haggling Is the Norm.
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Expected — Haggling Is the Norm. Haggling is expected in markets, with auto-rickshaw/taxi drivers without a meter, and at tourist shops — opening prices for foreigners are routinely inflated 2-5x. Fixed-price government emporiums and malls are the exception.
India: Expected — Haggling Is the Norm. Haggling is expected in markets, with auto-rickshaw/taxi drivers without a meter, and at tourist shops — opening prices for foreigners are routinely inflated 2-5x. Fixed-price government emporiums and malls are the exception.
Haggling is a normal, expected part of shopping in India — sellers typically quote an inflated opening price anticipating negotiation.
Street markets, independent vendor stalls, and tourist-facing souvenir shops — never at supermarkets, malls, chain stores, or anywhere with posted, printed prices.
This reflects general local norms, not a rule for every seller or situation — always haggle with a smile, know when a price genuinely is fixed (posted price tags, receipts, government shops), and never negotiate over small amounts that matter far more to the seller than to you.
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