Moroccan Markets: Not Hustlin', Just Hagglin'
- thereseholland
- Apr 11, 2015
- 5 min read
When traveling to Morocco, it's important to know that haggling is a cultural norm here. If you plan on shopping in Moroccan marketplaces, plan also to negotiate the offered price. How exacly does a Westerner approach this new ettique of currency? Well, I am here to help.
And yes, this is more than just trying to get a good deal, this is vital cultural ettique.
This is a general rule of haggling anywhere, so memorize it if you're planning on buying some awesome Moroccan goods...
Offer 50% of his original asking price.
Woah, you say, that's way too low. Who is this chick and why is she so stingy? I'll barter with 90% of the asking price instead. See! I'm bartering!
Okay, don't listen. Send me some of this money you don't seem to have an interest in saving! (I accept Paypal. You can send donations to hollandtherese@gmail.com)
You need to start at 50%. His original asking price is a ridiculously high number that he doesn't actually expect from you. I know this is hard to wrap your head around, since BEST case sinario, you'd probably get kicked out of H&M if you tried to pay less than what's on their price tag, but your economic culture isn't the buying trend in Morocco, so you need to trust me if you want to hold on to those dirhams* and walk away with the best deal.
Start at 50%, because he has accounted for the fact that you probably will negotiate.
Again, this is the norm, and he knows that better than you do. When he said he wants €100, he said that because he anticipates you settling on the neighborhood of €80. Of course he would be delighted if you're foolish enough to pay more, but his first asking price is not the price he has in mind.
When you offer 50% he'll try to reason with you, most likely by then offering 90% of his original price. If you are persistent, and believe in yourself and what I've told you, you two will decide on 65-75% of his original price. Between him asking for the original 100%, and your rebuttal of 50%, some antics will probably include:
him acting appalled that you are trying to barter (listen to me: he is not actually appalled)
you walking away, pretending you actually do not like his beautiful painted plate or unique leather good that much (even though it's freakin' awesome and you and I both know it!)
the salesman admitting he will settle just shy of his orginal price
you remembering my advice and refusing to settle
you both deciding on something around 75% of his original asking price
Let me be clear, and apologies if I have not been: whoever is selling to you is not a bad person. He/she/they're like any of us—out to get the better end of the deal. On top of that, as I have tried to make clear, this guy is fluent in a cultural tend in which you are not well versed. Although you trying to steal from H&M might make you a bad person (probably not. See: crop tops manufactured in China), this guy is participating in a normal economic activity in his country. He's not hustlin', he's just hagglin'.
Cause here's the thing: negotiating does not make you an a-hole. It means you've done your research.
When you end up spending 150% of the original asking price (this will happen if you start at 90%, smart ass from before) that guys not going to say, Wow! What a kind hearted Westerner who is giving me the Western help I've always wanted! Nope. He knows what's up. He's going to say Nice! And do the cultural equivilant of fist bumping his best bro. That's because: you are not participating in a charity. You are buying stuff from a guy who sells stuff as his job. In this country, they sell things differently, that's all. You thinking this guy isn't an active participant in this charade actually kind of makes you the a-hole.
Because here's the thing: he doesn't have to sell you anything. If he truly doesn't want to sell you something at 60% of his original price, he won't. He wouldn't have sold it if he was losing money on the deal. He is capable of saying no to you, and he totally might. Think you're helping him, and he will allow you to "help" him a lot (wouldn't you?).
One more thing...
When a deal has been decided, you should NOT try to wager down.
Haggling is 100% fair game, until both parties have agreed, and it's clear the game is over. To jump back into the game after this point is a big no-no.
Let's say you've both agreed to €50 after all this, but actually, he's more lenient than you expected, so you decide to try to change it to €40. This is kinda rude.
In the bartering world, when you have agreed, all of the nonsense is over. You played a game, and now it's over. Do this, and now he thinks you're an a-hole trying to screw him over. He might back out of the deal or even lose his temper with you (I've seen it happen). So, be aware of the game and when it ends.
Another thing to know: if he's stuck on selling you an item for a price, and I mean really stuck, ask him to throw something else in. Let's say he first asked for €50, and won't budge past €45. Show your stuff, and ask him to throw in something else small. Again, remember this is ettiqute, so don't ask for anything simply crazy to ask him to throw in. The small thing should be small, and not really something you would have otherwise considered on its own. Think bracelet or simple necklace, or some kind of trinket. Consider typical freebies you get with anything: nice to have, not nice enough to buy yourself, and probably not super valuable on its own.
So there you have it. The Moroccan Marketplace as told my someone who followed these rules, and was happy with the result.
Recap:
Settle at 75% of his asking price by asking for 50% originally
Remain respectful, know you are playing a game and know when it ends
Ask for a freebie when he seems tougher than you
Any questions? Please leave comments below and I would be happy to answer them.
Footnotes
*Dirhams are the currency in Morocco. Typically, the Euro, and sometimes even the dollar is also accepted in market places with Western tourists.
A note from me: Apologies for the generalizations made in this post. I am not an expert on the Moroccan economy nor do I assume all people selling goods in Morocco are the same. I simply have had some experience in the market places there, and hope to shed some light how to haggle in as lighthearted a way as I can when writing about culture. Thanks for reading.
Comments