Free Spanish Lesson 46 – The fun of “el regateo.”

Vocabulario semanal – Weekly Vocabulary

de compras – of shopping

debe experimentar – should experience

un precio más bajo – a lower price

o mercado – or market

no se hace – is not done

una de mis cosas favoritas – one of my favorite things

o mercado al aire libre – or open-air market

¡Es muy divertido! – It is very fun!

un ejemplo – an example

usar todas estas frases – to use all of these phrases

vamos a decir que – let’s say that

un reloj nuevo – a new watch

primero, empezaría – first, I would start

¿A cuánto está? – How much is it?

¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?

a veces – sometimes

me dan – they give me

digo – I say

¡Soy gringo, pero no soy tonto! – I’m a gringo but I’m not a fool

como si voy a salir – as if I’m going to leave

un precio más bajo – a lower price

pobres – poor

¡Demasiado, ni hablar! – Too much, no way!

¿Cuál es el precio de verdad? – What is the real price?

¡Demasiado! – Too much!

tres o cuatro veces – three or four times

por fin – finally

usted cobra demasiado, lo siento. – you charge too much, I’m sorry

generalmente acepto – I generally accept

la parte más divertida – the funnest part

unas veces – a few times

todos lo hacen – everyone does it

para más información – for more information

¡Está de oferta ahora! – It’s on sale now (today)!

hasta la próxima semana – until next week

The Spanish culture has a wonderful system de compras that I think everyone debe experimentar. It is called “regateo” [reh-gaw-tay-oh] or in English “bargaining”.

Not only is “regateo” fun to do, but it earns you un precio más bajo, and is actually expected as part of their culture. You can bargain at any small shop o mercado, but usually at larger grocery stores or department stores bargaining no se hace.

Una de mis cosas favoritas in the world to do is to go into a small shop o mercado al aire libre and bargain with the people for a lower price. ¡Es muy divertido!

Let me give you un ejemplo of my personal technique. Feel free usar todas estas frases the next time you go shopping in Mexico or Latin America.

Vamos a decir que I wanted to purchase un reloj nuevo.

Primero, empezaría by saying, “¿A cuánto está?” [ah quan-toe ess-tah?] or “¿Cuánto cuesta?” [quan-toh cwes-tah]

A veces, just because I’m a gringo (foreigner) me dan some ridiculously high price. If they do, digo in a playful tone, “¡Soy gringo, pero no soy tonto!” [Soy green-go peh-row no soy tone-toe]. Then I immediately and resolutely start walking towards the door como si voy a salir. Then they will usually say “wait”, “wait”, “wait”, and proceed to give me un precio más bajo (they know that “gringos” usually aren’t pobres).

With this new lower price, I will look at the clerk as if he is crazy and say “¡Demasiado, ni hablar!” [deh-mas-ee(ah)-though knee ah-blar]. Then I say “¿Cuál es el precio de verdad?” [kwal es el preh-see(oh) de bear-thath].

Then they’ll give me a price that’s a little lower and there will be a series of me saying “¡Demasiado!” and him lowering the price tres o cuatro veces.

Por fin, when I see he’s gone down in price quite a bit, I will look directly at him and say “Usted cobra demasiado, lo siento.” [oo-stead co-brah deh-mas-ee(ah)-though, loh see(en) toh]. Then I will start to leave again and the clerk will usually give me one final offer to keep me in the store. Generalmente acepto this final offer.

To me, la parte más divertida of bargaining is seeing how low I can get the clerk to go. After doing it unas veces, it becomes almost like a sport.

Always remember, never feel bad about asking for un precio más bajo, it is expected in their culture and todos lo hacen.

Hasta la próxima semana and… Good shopping!

¡Hasta la vista! (“Until I see you next!” – Literally: “Until the sight!”)

[custom_script adID=97]

Written by David S. Clark President/Director, U.S. Institute of Languages. Copyright © 1999-2010 US Institute of Languages All rights reserved.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.