If you are Morocco travel, then one of the things you may be eager to check out is the assortment of amazing markets. You are likely to find a great bargain here, but even if you don’t, you’ll find that the atmosphere and the hustle and bustle are worth the trip alone.

That said, with so many interesting trinkets available, it will no doubt add to the trip if you can bring back some sort of souvenir, and you’ll want to try your hand at bartering here so that you get the full experience. Here are a few tips to help you grab a great deal without offending anyone.

Be Polite

When you walk through the markets, people are going to shout out to say hello and ask you where you’re from. Yes this is an attempt to get you to pause long enough to sell you something, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t also genuinely interested in chatting and practicing their English. There’s no need to be rude and ignore them; just answer politely but keep moving if you want to.

The 30% Rule

If you’re not sure if you’re getting a good deal or not, then the simple guide is that you should be aiming for around 30% of the asking price. If you go for much lower than that, you risk offending the store owner, and if you aim for much higher, then you aren’t really getting a great deal.

Be Incremental

That said, even offering 30% right away isn’t going to be met well. You need to play the game and that means gradually working out a price and going through the general back-and-forth camaraderie. Make sure you go shopping with lots of free time because this can take a while.

Be Wary of Free Gifts

While many stall owners do want to chat as mentioned, this doesn’t mean you should be completely naïve. When store owners offer you free gifts before you’ve bought anything, they, of course, are doing this so that you’ll feel obligated to them and you’ll want to buy something—and sometimes they will try and hold this over you. Just say no politely.

Ask for Other Gifts and Deals  

That said, when it comes to time to seal the deal, it’s time to see if you can’t get them to throw in something else small. If you show interest in more than one item, or if someone else is shopping with you, you may be able to get a little something extra thrown in, which is a great way to get an even better deal (because it means they can stretch their profit margins a little more).

Be Prepared to Walk Away

This is the single most important factor and the single thing that will get you the best deal. If you are willing to walk away from the deal then you’ll be in the stronger position. Shop owners will sense that they need to win you over. Your last bargaining technique should be to say thank you but no and start leaving at which point the price will probably drop considerably. Don’t worry—the store will still be there tomorrow if you can’t seal the deal today.

Build a Relationship

If the store owner likes you, he will be more likely to offer you a good deal, so that’s another reason not to be rude. If you see something you really want then stop by for a few days to chat and look. Make sure they know when you’re leaving the city, and you’ll find that you probably get offered a good deal on your last day.

Written by Sarah McPherson, a travel enthusiast who has travelled to different countries like New Zealand, India, the Middle East and South Africa besides exploring her home country of Australia. She currently writes for www.onemilebeach.com.au.

Photo by _Pixelmaniac_.