That's negotiable

Papa Dumpling and aka The Works were measured for custom-made pants last week, and yesterday I returned to the Fabric Market with with a friend to pick them up. We didn't have any tailor recommendations, so we decided to try 2 different tailors to compare the results. I think they both turned out pretty well, but time will tell. Since the Fabric Market  is quite a distance from home, I decided to make a few additional purchases while I was there.  The Paying Customer has taken my bathrobe hostage, and I was bent on securing another robe so that we could each have one to wear. After locating a booth with suitable robes, it was time to begin the negotiations. The shop keeper opened with an offer of 120 rmb, which is about $19, a fine price for a nice plush bathrobe in the U.S. But we are in China and in small shops and markets the FIRST price isn't the REAL price. And actually, there is more than one real price depending on if you are a foreigner or Chinese. So, I make an offer, and the salesman counters that he is already offering me his best price. I start to walk away, and suddenly he is willing to come down in price. Sometimes this doesn't work, but no matter, since the thing you are trying to buy is likely available at another shop very nearby. It took about 4 more exchanges, but eventually it was agreed that I could have the robe for 85 rmb, or $13.50. Quite a lot of work to save $5.50 but in the end I think we were both happy. (At least until I got home and aka The Works declared he would like a robe, now, too! Of course he does, why didn't I know that?) I also bought a Chinese style jacket for myself, and I am sure I paid too much for it but I was so excited to find something that fit off the rack that I just went with it.  My best deal was a sturdy (counterfeit) Swiss Gear backpack that I bought to replace Paying Customer's worn out one, which I got for half of the initial asking price. I've heard that most items can be gotten for 1/3 the initial asking price, but I'm just not that good at negotiating prices. But I am getting better.