Bargaining in Brazil
Searching for the best price on products and services from various institutions and asking for a discount is a very common practice in Brazil. In this article we will look at the art of bargaining in Brazilian culture.
Brazilian economists advise that the consumer should always try to bargain without being ashamed. The store will only give a discount if you ask for one. So, do not be afraid of asking for a discount in Brazil but don’t forget to always be humble and friendly when trying to convince the seller. Also, pay attention to the prices, because sometimes people may take advantage of foreigners and charge a higher price, especially if there is not a price list.
Many people are born with the gift of bargaining, finding it inadmissible to leave a store without even asking for a discount. Others are afraid or even ashamed and end up leaving the store frustrated, without buying anything or regretful to have spent too much money. Most Brazilians like to save money, trying to bargain whenever possible.
In addition to bargaining, Brazilians usually do research on prices before buying anything, because prices can vary significantly from one place to another.
In Brazil, similar to many other places, people prefer to anticipate Christmas shopping because the closer to the holiday season the more expensive products will be. To save even more money, some Brazilians wait until the holiday is over, when everything goes on sale.
Tips on how to bargain
When you want to bargain with a Brazilian take direct action. Take out your credit card or money, and before paying ask for a discount or a free gift. The seller will probably not want to miss a closed deal and will accept the proposal. Some consumers highlight some weak points in the product to justify the discount, saying for example that the clothing has a small defect. Another good tip for bargaining is to demonstrate that you are not that interested in the product or that you have found the same product or service for a lower price.
Where to bargain
Despite bargaining being quite a subjective concept, there are rules of common sense that impose some limits. It is not considered disrespectful, but usually Brazilians do not ask for discounts in hotels, restaurants or bars. Only in cases of bad service or if a problem occurred, for example like broken air conditioning in the hotel room. In Brazil you cannot bargain for condominium fees.
Retail and other shops
Retail chains often work with price lists making bargaining almost impossible in some stores. Supermarkets, for example, are almost immune to this practice because their employees have no autonomy to change the prices, their policy is to work with fixed prices.
Another place where is not very common to ask for a discount is the pharmacy, but the major chains often offer benefits to customers who register with loyalty programs with a drugstore. These programs are also offered in supermarkets and department stores.
Transportation and parking
Parking services also have fixed prices, but if you need long term parking, there is room for bargaining, which can be possible if it does not belong to a chain. The same is valid for print shops, where there is no problem asking for a discount, especially if the order is large.
When taking a taxi in Brazil, check on a map which is the best route to get to your destination and ask the taxi driver in advance what the approximate cost of the trip will be. For long distance rides, some taxi drivers arrange with the client a fixed price and do not use the taximeter to calculate the fare.
Street Seller
Bargaining with a street seller is very normal in Brazil, they even enjoy a good negotiation. They stipulate the price of products and depend on the sale, then it is easier to bargain. Generally, the more you buy, the higher is the discount.
Bargaining on Services
Services offered by self-employed workers such as a handyman or an hourly housekeeper, you can bargain with without problem, because they decide what the price is and often have some margin in case the person tries to bargain.
When it comes to closing a contract with any company for services such as catering for a party, a moving truck or a decorator for a wedding, you can also negotiate a lower price. All you have to do is talk to the manager, and if there is no price reduction it may be possible to negotiate other aspects like additional services or special treats included in the original price. In the case of a catering company, for example, getting an extra waiter to attend to a larger number of guests or some special dessert that is not included in the package.
On B2B settings, negotiations are quite common, and your counterpart will often indicate if there is no room for negotiations. In outsourced service companies such as accounting or cleaning it is always possible to argue with the company owner or person responsible for the service and ask for a lower price.
The secret to bargaining in Brazil is not being afraid to ask, even if you are not really sure if the price is too high or if it is fair enough, take a chance and try.