Things to Shop for in India

I was browsing on the web, looking for some shopping attractions in India & stumbled upon an article which by the way, I accidentally misplaced its bookmark. Yes, its silly & not my usual style; I always state references & sources in my informative articles. I do apologize. Ok, moving on with the topic, I shall list the things that can be bought cheaply in the article. Also note that it you should avoid some unscrupulous individual(s) offering you a deal where you pay half now & half after you receive the package.

Some of the things to buy at good bargain prices in India:

· Kashmir is a heaven for carpet lovers. You should know what you are buying as the features that affect the price of carpets include percentage of silk, number of knots, & type of carpet. The theme for the carpet design is usually a melody & it becomes the pattern on the carpet. It is unknown how the melody of a song is translated into the melody of the pattern but at least its not nuclear psychics. Prices range from 200-300 rs ($5 to $7) pr/foot.

· Unbreakable paper mache made into boxes, lamps, plates & even some accentuated with gold. Prices are as low as 15-20 rs ($0.35 to $0.47) each.

· Quality of paper affects the price of beautiful Hindu mythology & hunting scenes on silk paintings. India is a predominantly Hindu country so the Hindu religion is infused into artwork too. Expect to pay 30-35 rs ($0.70 to $0.82) for a 40x60 cm sized silk painting.

· An excellent buy in India are bedspreads & table covers. You can buy them for as little as 50 rs ($1.20)!

· Another excellent buy in India is cloth. Good quality cloth can be had in India & can be tailor made for you into clothing. The cloth is cheap & some may even look like silk but us actually a special kind of cotton. Knowing the difference between the two will help you avoid being cheated.

· Good quality shoes come cheap in India but you must bargain for them! I have a full leather sandal present from my mother on her trip to New Delhi, India which cost about $20. I still think & believe that the item is overpriced.

· Printed Special Indian Edition books are very much cheaper than the exact book for many western universities. The price difference could show the Indian version books to be about 10-15 less than its western counterpart! No wonder there are many clever people in India!

· Sandalwood can be found throughout the country so its products can be had cheaply.

· Precious & Semi-precious stones enthusiasts will like being in India. Star ruby, Amethyst & Aquamarine can be had in India. Having good knowledge of the stones will help you buy them at a cheaper price.

A lot of cheap stuff can be bought in India. Still, like Beijing, Bangkok, or the night markets in Kuala Lumpur; receiving a cheap price would depend heavily on your bargaining skills. You may want to use the bargaining tips below; I try to practice them wherever, anywhere, & in any destination.

Some Bargain Tips for Your Trip to India:

• Have at least some knowledge of the things you are going to buy. You shall be in a better bargaining situation with more knowledge of the particular item. E.g. seeing the difference between cotton & silk is not easy.

• Never look interested or excited over something that you want to buy. The seller seeing you being less interested is better for you.

• Sellers start out by trying to sell you an item which is 10 multiples its original price. Some more audacious sellers will go for 20! No matter how sad or disconcerted the seller looks after having sold you things at a price you think is a real steal, don't be influenced as the sellers will never sell you anything below their profit comfort level! You are not even close to the real price as long as the seller is smiling!

• Mentioning your price without the seller offering a lower price will end up with a shoe in your mouth; not literally of course! Allow the seller to lower the price first before you mention other price comparisons from your survey & inform them of your wanted price.

• Use the smallest defect on an item to your advantage. Bargain down the price!

• The Indians are good at bargaining. So, watch & imitate to learn.

• Always be conscious & vigorously defend your advantage of being the buyer & that he/she is selling.

• Demand discount for buying a lot from the same shop.

• The sellers have years of practice. You on the other hand, like me too actually, are just beginners! At best, try to have somebody who is experience do the bargaining for you until you become good at it too!