Remember to bargain in Singapore.
So long as you are polite, you won't cause offense and you might save yourself some money. We used to have a saying in England, look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.
In Singapore, I went to Lim's store, upstairs in Holland Village. The entrance to the upstairs shops is an escalator indoors and set back in a small lobby beside the entrance to the supermarket.
I used to browse and shop a lot in Lim's. This year I saw a rack of dresses by the shop open front with the tempting sign above the dresses for $12.
I asked the store owner if she had anything cheaper, or could reduce the price. She said, "already low price".
I looked all around at her other designs. The least expensive were those caftans beside the doorway. Large armholes, so sure to fit me. I liked several of the colours.
But I really wanted to pay only ten dollars. I decided first to check out the store across the way.
Over at Kim's I saw a caftan with an elephant pattern. Same price. Twelve dollars. She showed me several other dresses, beyond my budget.
I was short of time, meeting friends shortly, and had already found an item I wanted near the price I wanted to pay.
But I had in mind spending ten dollars, not twelve. So I asked the seller, "What is your best price, how about ten dollars?"
She thought, then said, "eleven".
I sighed, "Ten."
She shook her head. "Eleven."
I thought. Then accepted. At least I had saved a dollar.
I asked, "Cash or credit card?' I knew her answer was going to be cash.
Later I told my Singaporean friends how I had offered ten but ended up paying eleven.. My friend Chia said, "You should have offered eight! Then she would have offered ten."
Useful Addresses & Websites
New Kim Dressmaker
Alice Ong
211 Holland Avenue #02-29
Holland Road Shopping Centre,
Singapore 278967
Tel: (+65) 6467 2056
Hp: (+65) 9834 3220
singaporeair.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
So long as you are polite, you won't cause offense and you might save yourself some money. We used to have a saying in England, look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.
Singapore flag.
Lovely Large Lim'sIn Singapore, I went to Lim's store, upstairs in Holland Village. The entrance to the upstairs shops is an escalator indoors and set back in a small lobby beside the entrance to the supermarket.
I used to browse and shop a lot in Lim's. This year I saw a rack of dresses by the shop open front with the tempting sign above the dresses for $12.
I asked the store owner if she had anything cheaper, or could reduce the price. She said, "already low price".
I looked all around at her other designs. The least expensive were those caftans beside the doorway. Large armholes, so sure to fit me. I liked several of the colours.
But I really wanted to pay only ten dollars. I decided first to check out the store across the way.
Over at Kim's I saw a caftan with an elephant pattern. Same price. Twelve dollars. She showed me several other dresses, beyond my budget.
I was short of time, meeting friends shortly, and had already found an item I wanted near the price I wanted to pay.
But I had in mind spending ten dollars, not twelve. So I asked the seller, "What is your best price, how about ten dollars?"
She thought, then said, "eleven".
I sighed, "Ten."
She shook her head. "Eleven."
I thought. Then accepted. At least I had saved a dollar.
I asked, "Cash or credit card?' I knew her answer was going to be cash.
Later I told my Singaporean friends how I had offered ten but ended up paying eleven.. My friend Chia said, "You should have offered eight! Then she would have offered ten."
Useful Addresses & Websites
New Kim Dressmaker
Alice Ong
211 Holland Avenue #02-29
Holland Road Shopping Centre,
Singapore 278967
Tel: (+65) 6467 2056
Hp: (+65) 9834 3220
singaporeair.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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