Today the topic is on my experience at the Silk market in Beijing. The Silk market in Beijing has 5 floors that sell all the clothes you could ever need. Each floor has sells a different type of good, for instance the first floor sold shirts and jackets and the basement sold shoes and bags.

The Silk market has been the most amazing experiences so far. I have never in my life received so many compliments in an attempt to sell me things from t-shorts to tailor made suits. In the market you can find 20 stores trying to sell the same types of clothing, it is up to you to pick and haggle away.

My technique is to go into the market having an idea of what I want to buy; otherwise you could leave the store having spent over £500. I walked in confident that all I wanted to buy was a pair of trainers. I walked to the shoe section of the market and prepared myself. Having been at the market yesterday I knew which tactics needed to be employed. Go in with my generic story, “I am a student so give me your best price.” So I walk into the first stall, I felt a bit cheeky so I asked for a trainers and refused to pay anything over 50 yen (equivalent to 5 English pounds.) I knew it would never work but fancied my chances. It did not work so I moved on to the next stall. At the next stall I asked for the price of the trainers. She picked up her calculator and while smiling at me typed in the number... she turned the calculator towards me and I saw 500 yen (equivalent to £50). I put on my shocked, face after all I could have got the trainers for the same price in England. I said “no,” there was no hesitation so she said “ok what is your price?” Now the game had begun. I had decided that I was not going to move from the price that I told her, they would be no negotiations. I said “100 yen (£10),” she said no 7 times but I decided that no more would be paid. So I decided to do the classic walking out of the stall slowly routine. She agreed to the 100 yen (£10), but I can tell you she was not happy.

In a place where bartering is needed there are tips I offer, they are as follows:

-          Be consistent (if you have your price don’t keep going up)

-          Do not try on clothes until a price has been negotiated

-          Emotional (be as dramatic as you can, create a seen if you must)

-          Try the old walking out of the stall slowly (whatever you do don’t turn around unless they call you, or they will now you will pay more)

Those are my key tips; the market in Beijing was an amazing experience that I will remember forever.

The trainer I brought from the market has been uploaded.