Kathy & Paul's Adventures Abroad

Located in the south east of Beijing near subway station Tiantandongmen, the Pearl Market is similar to the Silk Market. Next door to it is Toy City which our grandkids will be glad we found. Here is where Kathy started to show some real haggling skills. She began slowly but it was like a dam broke and out of nowhere a haggler appeared. After a trial run at Toy city I went with my newly-found haggler to the big time – the Pearl Market!!

This market had everything from kids’ watches for 15 RMB ($2.00) to pearl necklaces for 125,000 RMB ($20,000). With Kathy’s newly acquired haggling skills we got most of our Christmas shopping completed in an afternoon. I was very proud of her – she held her own with seasoned sales people and I believe we did very well.

I think we are finally beginning to understand the haggling game even though haggling is serious business – serious as in a person’s livelihood. This haggling allows both seller and buyer to enjoy the game. By the end of the day arriving at a final price usually involved lots of laughing and joking. We really did enjoy ourselves!

In one of Kathy’s haggling sessions I said without thinking or premeditation “That sounds good.” If looks could kill I’d be finished! In the world of haggling this is the ultimate treason. I was later informed by Kathy that when she is haggling I should leave or at least fade into the background. I’m okay with this because I’m tired of the salespeople verbally beating up on me and taking my money!!