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Shopping
Shopping isn't like a trip to Wal-Mart. Rarely, if ever, will you find
items priced. When you do find a shop with set prices, bargaining isn't
allowed but deals may still be made if you
In the end, a "good" price is the price you can live with. It all depends on what an item is worth to you. If it's worth 5,000 Rupee to you, it's a deal even if your roommate gets the exact item from the same, or another shop, for 500 Rupee. Don't worry about spending a few Rupee more than the next guy. It'll happen, more than once I assure you. But have fun with it and get what you want at a price you can afford. Check the Links page for a currency converter. Tips for the born again bargain hunter.
You should know that
you begin the dance when you enquire as to how much an item costs. It's
considered rude to ask the price of an item and then leave. If you
are interested enough to inquire, you should at least make a counter
offer, an offer that is well below your intended purchase price.
Expect shop owners to appear quite amused or even insulted at your counter
offer. It's part of the game and is often followed with "I give you good
price, this is best quality.. how much you pay?". You will almost never
hear "no". Expect to pay too much a Another GREAT strategy is to identify the hard core bargain hunters in the group. On every trip there are always a few master bargain hunters. Find that person and shop with them. In all likelihood, they are having a great time getting that "bargain fix" and would love to help you spend your money. Some of the shop owners play hard ball and will not budge from the "high" (tourist) price. Quietly telling your shopping partner that you saw the item in another town (i.e. Bhaktapur) for less works now and then. One last bit of advice: You must always be willing to walk away. These guys are pros at playing the game and they will not lower their price if they sense that you really want the item. The shop owner will pretend to be insulted at a price substantially above what he could get from a Nepali and you must act as if the item is of lesser quality than you really want and that you will reluctantly settle for it. If the price isn't what you want to pay, walk out. You can always come back and you will probably find the same thing two shops down the street. So what's out there?
The vast majority of
shopping is done in Thamel or Durbar square in Kathmandu (every town
has a Durbar square). But other areas can be reached by "taxi", another
service you must bargain for. You will find a dizzying array of items for
sale in the shops and
You will find some
items for sale on the street at prices that are, in some cases, well below
that of the prices in the shops. Look these items over carefully, some
are damaged or of lesser quality. But it's still a bargain if you really
like it and it's a good price.
The roving street venders are a bit persistent at times and you must learn to deal with them. Simply looking in their direction or displaying even the slightest interest in what they are selling is perceived as an invitation to begin bargaining with you. Ask a street vendor the price of an item and you WILL buy it, maybe two. Trust me. The best strategy for avoiding the unwanted solicitations of a street vendor is to simply ignore them and avoid eye contact (sunglasses work very well). Under no circumstances is hostile behavior toward any Nepali citizen appropriate. One very popular thing to do is have something embroidered. There are shops all over that do custom work. They can embroider your back pack, hat, fanny pack, T-shirt .. whatever. It's a great way to "make" your own souvenir from Nepal. One last note. If you are looking for Khukuri knives, you should ask the advice of Clay Hollenback (Dr. Littrell's husband) or Dr. Ring. They know a great place to get top quality army surplus knives at a discount. Clay usually organizes a "Knife expedition" on one of the first free days and will escort anyone interested to the Khukuri house and then show them around Thamel and answer any questions you might have. Please keep one thing in mind--if you buy it, it's your responsibility to get it home.
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are
buying in bulk. Everything else is open to bargaining. The art of
making a deal is an age old tradition, long forgotten in the states. It is
a beautiful dance of give and take, offer and counter offer. Getting what
you want at a price you can live with may take some time. But learning the
moves that get you the prize can be fun. Never expect to walk into and out
of ANY store in only a few minutes with a bag of goodies.
few times until you learn the rules. But have fun with it and remember ...What
is it worth to you ??? 
on
tables that line the tourist areas. With little effort you will find
beautiful hand carved wooden masks and statues, incense, folding handmade
paper lamp shades, silk and wool fabric, pillowcases, handmade drums,
glass beads of all sizes and colors, Tibetan and Nepali items too numerous
to mention, and the most sought after gift for every male member of your
family, the famous Khukuri knives. With a little more effort, you can find
truly unique and wonderful items for sale. Kathmandu is a fabulous place
to find Christmas or birthday gifts for the whole family. You will spend a
fraction of the money you will here and get unique gifts that your loved
ones will cherish forever. 