March 24, 2008

One of the millions of reasons why I should not be living in Egypt…

I do not know how to bargain!!!

I am a price-list girl. I ask for the price of whatever it is that I like (I prefer price-tagged stuff), if I think it’s appropriate and affordable, I pay with a big smile and a warm thank you then I leave. I even advertise for it!!!

Life shouldn’t be hard that way when the price is out in the open and you and me (i.e. the customers) are able to make an education and rational decision; or at least what we would like to call our own educated and rational decision.

Why do people insist on embarrassing themselves by asking for a discount or a special price?? Why do my girlfriends flirt with sales people and endure their lame jokes to get it?? My friends make fun of me saying that with my expensive taste and the way I talk, I am more likely to get higher prices!!

Which reminds me; why do people ruin my own victory (yeah, I love buying things) by telling me I could have gotten whatever it is that I got for less? Why do they say lame phrases like “enty edda7ak 3aleiky”? And why do I find things for better prices just around the corner when I have already bought the same item???

I am a loyal and dedicated shopper damn it, with an expensive taste and I don’t mind paying when I think it’s worth it; I deserve more respect that that!! Hell, I demand that respect!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

You said it sister...but I don't think Egypt is going to be changing anytime soon

Anonymous said...

i think that "el3'aly tamano feh" so u r not "eda7ak 3leeky " :)

R

insomniac said...

arima, i know!!! this is why i shouldn't be living in it, hehe


R, my dad always tells me "el ghaly tamano feeh, wel rekhees ghaly", i always believed it... i just hate it when people bargain, there is a reason why there is a price tag...

and yeah, when ur buying stuff from places like khan el khaleely, u HAVE TO bargain, i always get ripped off that way because i suck at it...

Maat said...

It's not just Egypt, it's a middle east thing, and a South American thing, a Mediterranean Country thing (think Turkey or Italy, and not malls), and probably a developing country thing in general! YOU want to live in Europe or Canada!!

We (people who suck at bargaining) are not alone, and Egypt is NOT alone! Still however, although I don't think I belong in this world aslan... it still feels like the only right place for me is right here.. where people have to bargain and i have to breathe polluted air and perverts make moves at you in the street... umm... i was supposed to say nice things.. but I didn't feel like it!

insomniac said...

what's wrong with europe and canada???

anyway, you already said what i felt like saying, thanks for not feeling like saying nice things...

Unknown said...

Dude I am a living example at sucking at bargaining, not because I sound elite, but just because I don't like to do it, I am the kind of person who is not willing to choose the product in five minutes and then spend the next thirty minutes bargaining the price, I am quick at selection because I like to get in, get out, go do something useful...

However you hit me as the person whom sellers might wanna take advantage and make high profit of your purchase given the way you must talk...

Ok, now I feel better about your comment with the whole "OLD LADIES" statement... Oh that is gonna haunt you for long...

insomniac said...

yeah, i remember your shopping post... ur a busy guy who has no time for bargaining :)

there is nothing wrong with the way i talk... i just sound too decent, they can't help taking advantage of me :p

so my comment hit a nerve? did it hurt your feelings?? ok, i'll go check your blog and see if you had anything to say... just let me tell you that i do not get scared, no haunting there dude!!

Mo'men said...

What's interesting is that friends always know "a guy" or "a store" where they can get what you just bought for less money.

They always convey the notion that you've been cheated out of money and they are smarter than you when it comes to shopping.

that's a strange psychology!

Shimaa Gamal said...

My sister always call me "habla" because I don't see a value of bargaining. She has the patience to try getting any kind of discount. I personally believe that it doesn't really worth it and that's why I don't buy anything that doesn't have a price tag. If I know that I will have to buy something with undetermined price I will always take a friend :) I don't ind being "habla" at all :) To be habla wana 3arfa a7san makoon habla wana bafasel :)

Deeeeeee said...

Well, I have two problems that arise alongside to my shopping addiction:

1.Whatever I pick is terribly pricy relative to its category (starting with chocolate!) they say I inherited that gene from my mom!

2. I'm always flat broke! So I'm not really bargaining, its more of "not thinking before I speak". So just a couple of weeks ago, I was buying a skirt and the lady told me it costs 400 LE, automatically I replied.."OMG! I guess I'm not eating for the rest of the month!", so she goes: "take it for 350!" (btw, that was in City Stars!!)

That wasn't the actual case, but it was more of an instantaneous calculation of how much money I have, and an expected expenditure estimate. Doesn't being mathematical suck?

I don't tell people how much I got something for, I find it an extremely nosey question, and can usually work my way out of it.

insomniac said...

mo'men,

yeah, i know what you mean; it makes you feel like ur getting shitty treatment (which is really the standard) just because you're not "connected"... strange things however, i never ask for discount even at places where i know people, i say it jokingly and they know i say it to look like i know how to bargain!!!

welcome!


shimaa,

well, here is another thing... i get too embarrassed when my friends start bargaining although i ask them to come along to help me!! they start their routine, and i blush and kill their attempt by agreeing to the first they're offered.... in my defence, they do get carried away i feel sorry for the vendor!!

insomniac said...

wow, i wanna go shopping with u, hehehe

well D, u know, i do have the same kind of expensive taste... i mean i would pick something slightly different, and it would cost like twice the price... people make me feel guilty about it :-/

i find it rude to ask people for the price for which they bought anything... people usually ask, and i end up answering and they start comparing prices!!