Text 23528, 54 rader
Skriven 2007-11-28 13:47:00 av Carol Shenkenberger (1:261/1466.0)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: Pricing Policies  71125
===============================
 -=> Quoting Glen Jamieson to Dave Drum <=-

 GJ> In Bali, for example, bargaining is a national sport.  On one occasion
 GJ> I was buying some jewellery, with a protracted session of bargaining,
(snip)

 GJ> ride away.  All this bargaining was done according to unwritten rules
 GJ> of behaviour, the most important of which was courtesy and respect.

Yes, and in Korea, a certain about of screetching is expected <g>.  My fav 
lady to get my spices from used to have a ball with me!  She in her Korean and 
me in my english, shaking money at one another.  Me loudly bemoaning her taking
advantage of an innocent tourist, her doubtless saying the reverse.

Some things are fixed price, but much is not.  Even the fixed price, if you 
shop heavy there, you can expect a break.  'Da Crazy Americana'.  Once she 
figured out I bee-lined to her for that Korean sauce I liked so well, would get

5 bottles, then look over the other stuff and get something else, she dropped
the price of the sauce to 'buy 4, get one free' but with the hidden part that
my buddies would get something too.  Neither of us spoke any common language,
but we 'communicated' just fine! 

 GJ> In Singapore, it is actually illegal to tip a taxi driver.  If a fare
 GJ> comes to, say, $7.80 it is usual to round it up to $8, but conversely,
 GJ> if it is $8.10, the taxi driver will often round it down.

Really?  They told us just to round up but never more.  I didnt know it was
illegal to give more.

 GJ> The ni-Vanuatu sell produce in the market at normally fixed prices,
 GJ> and do not bargain, but will sometimes drop prices at near the end of
 GJ> market day, or even give stuff away.  Tipping in restaurants is
 GJ> considered demeaning, as it implies that the diner thinks that the
 GJ> waiter is a sort of beggar, in need of the extra money.

In Japan, at least Sasebo and the parts I went to, same unless it's just the 
change left over.  The way it was explained to me is they charge a fair price
for a fair service, and tipping is considered an insult as in 'maybe if I pay 
you more, next time you'll do better'.

The base taxi drivers though knew the USA meaning and were not offended.  As my
back started to get wonky, I'd tip more due to getting help lifting things. (It
is customary there to put your own bags in the trunk).  My favorite driver at
the end of my tour knew my problems so would even take my groceries up for me.
Tipping in that situation is accepted.

               xxcarol

... 90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]

--- Maximus/NT 3.01
 * Origin: Owl's Anchor (1:261/1466)