the art of bargaining

i wish there were Art of Bargaining classes. I so desperately need to learn how to haggle with subziwalas and phoolwalas and machiwalas(i dunno why i would haggle with macchiwalas since im a vegetarian...but still!). I get stick from a lot of people over my inept bargaining skills.


Example:

sharanya and i went to buy a bouquet for someone's wedding with strict instructions from my mom to bargain. so my "bargaining" attempt goes likes this....

"bhaiya. yeh kitne ka hain?"

"150"

"140 mein dhoge please?"

"nahi"

"acha yeh lijeye 150....thank you!"

Now compare this with my friend Janvi's superhuman bargaining skills...she goes to a shop(not on linking road or fs or anyway of those places you would associate with getting stuff for half the price after haggling) and browbeats the poor shopkeeper into giving her a bag that cost like 500 for 350!!! And i just stand there and watch awe struck(and embarrassed!!!).

I'm like every shopkeeper's dream customer...I can never see myself arguing over 10 bucks.its just not worth the effort...and that would probably explain why im always broke....:(