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The 10 Rules of Haggling in India by strict obeyer of rules I'm in India. And compared to the United States things are cheaper here. That is, if you are looking to buy little wooden elephants and decorative sandalwood turtles. However, if you are American, especially if you are American, those cute little wooden elephants with the adorable little tusks can cost more than they do at the Pottery Barn in Brentwood. The reason is simple. Americans have never had to learn how to bargain. At least not for elephants in the wood genre. Those faithful, secure *price tags* that we Americans have read more often than any newspaper or textbooks have numbed us to the agonies and ecstasies of haggling. I do not claim to have any great skill in the art of haggling, but with my moderate amount of experience in the bazaars of India I have come up with.... THE 10 RULES OF HAGGLING IN INDIA 1. Do not make purchases in the dark. 2. Do not look American. The best way to do this is not wear clothing with American Flags on it. 
3. Never state your price first. Let the merchant name the price first. Then, if you are an American, divide that by two and then divide it by 2 again. This is a decent place to start. 4. Merchants are not your friends. They do not even like you. Most likely they hate you and all you cargo short attired friends. 
5. Avoid feelings of guilt. Even if you are haggling with a child. Do not feel bad that you make in an hour what they may make in a couple days if they are lucky. And especially do not let the cute kids manipulate you into feeling that you have been given a better life than they. At least they do not have to go to school. 
6. Use a decoy. When being approached by an aggressive merchant selling something you could not possibly want or use, say, "Me? I'm poor." Then point him towards your buddy and proclaim voluminously, "But, see this guy, he's rich!" 7. Throw a tantrum. Nothing weakens the resolve of a determined merchant than a 27-year old man who behaves like a cranky baby. 8. Shop as much as possible with your grandmother. Grandmothers are wise, have lived long and do not believe in the concept of inflation. (This only works if your grandmother is Indian). 
9. Practice your Columbo impersonation. If you ever watch T.V. on Sunday afternoons, you would know how many bad guys you can catch by pretending to be incompetent. Also, Indians just adore Peter Falk. 
10. You are always getting ripped off. 
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