As we all know, shopping is a very popular pastime in China. Bargaining is a key part of shopping, as who doesn’t love to get a bargain? Learn how to save money and find out about the strategy to get the best deal when you are out in the market. You’ll soon become an expert ‘bargainer’…
In this Podcast, you will learn:
(i) To negotiate the price of something you wish to buy
(ii) How to offer a price you want to pay and accept if shop owner agrees
Dialogue:
Everyone loves to bargain, just like these two friends:
（在路边小店）
(zài lù biān xiǎo diàn)
(at a roadside stand)
A:老板娘，这个包儿多少钱？
Lǎo bǎn niáng, zhè ge bāo er duō shǎo qián?
Owner, how much is this purse?
B:这是纯皮的，358块。
Zhè shì chún pí de, sān bǎi wǔ shí bā kuài.
This is all leather, it’s 358 Yuan.
A:我老在您家买东西。您还不给我便宜点儿？
Wǒ lǎo zài nín jiā mǎi dōng xi. Nín hái bù gěi wǒ pián yi diǎn er?
I always shop in your store. Can you lower the price for me?
B:好好，但这是新款，只能给你打个九折。
Hǎo hǎo, dàn zhè shì xīn kuǎn, zhǐ néng gěi nǐ dǎ gè jiǔ zhé.
Okay, okay, but this is the new style. I can only give you ten per cent off.
A:那算了，我还是再转转吧。
Nà suàn le, wǒ hái shì zài zhuàn zhuan ba.
Forget it then. I’ll just look around elsewhere.
B:哎，别走别走。（低声说）这样，我给你打个七折？250块怎么样？
Āi, bié zǒu bié zǒu. (dī shēng shuō) zhè yàng, wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ gè qī zhé? Èr bǎi wǔ shí kuài zěn me yàng?
Hey, don’t leave, don’t walk away. (lowers her voice) How about this, I’ll give you thirty per cent off? How does 250 Yuan sound?
A:嗯，好。
Èn, hǎo.
Um, good.
Chinese words and phrases mentioned in this Podcast:
老板娘：female store owner
包：handbag/purse
纯：pure
皮：genuine leather
老：always
您家：your store
便宜点儿：lower the price
新款：new style
打九折：ten per cent off
算了：forget it
再转转：walk (look) around
别走：don’t walk away
这样：how about this
打七折：thirty per cent off
怎么样：how does… sound
Cultural/Grammar note:
老板娘is a polite way to refer to a female store owner.