Shopping in paradise
Haggling
Bargaining over prices is not especially common in Mexico
By law, prices for goods must be posted (in pesos)
Nothing forbids a merchant from discounting
Mexicans almost always pay the posted price anyplace with a cash register
Department stores
Supermarkets
Restaurants
Car dealers (Mexicans usually pay "full sticker price" for new cars!)
Places you can (and possibly should) haggle
Flea markets
Private sales
Street vendors
Stores where someone calls you in off the street
Stores in the Plaza del Sol (the large "flea market" building at the back of the zócalo)
Stores in the pedestrian part of 5a Avenida
Be cautious when bargaining in currencies other than pesos
Know the exchange rate
Find out the price in pesos right away
If the vendor has to compute the price in pesos, be especially wary
They're used to dealing with tourists paying in dollars
They're not following Mexico's consumer law if prices aren't in pesos
Know what things are worth
Not everything is a bargain
Mexico does not make Swiss watches or Persian rugs nor have diamond or tanzanite mines
Some things are sold in tourist areas simply because there are tourists with money there
Check what something would cost you at home
"Duty-free" is essentially a sham
The entire state of Quintana Roo is a duty-free zone
"Duty-free" shops often sell the same product at higher prices than other local shops
You must still pay import duty on anything above your personal allowance when you return home
Be careful about high-ticket items
Mexico has very strong consumer protection laws and takes fraud seriously
However, you probably can't deal with a problem from 2,000 miles away
Returns on retail purchases are not typical
Most sales, even at department stores, are final
Inspect purchases carefully before completing a purchase
There ARE some great bargains
Amber
Artwork and handicrafts
Handblown glass
Leather goods
Opals
Silver
Stone (onyx, for example)
Textiles
Turquoise
Pottery and ceramics of many types and styles
Punched tin mirrors, frames, and other items
There are some great merchants
Deja Vu Leather and Silver for shoes and jewelry
He has some unique and wonderful items
We trust him and think his prices are great
I get all of my shoes made there
We get silver jewelry custom-made there
Yes, it's both handcrafted leather and handcrafted silver. Also excellent hammocks.
His English is completely fluent
Los Cinco Soles for jewelry, handicrafts, housewares, and clothing
They have high-quality jewelry, including well-known Mexican designers
They have high-quality handicrafts from all over Mexico
They have good clothing
They have nice souvenirs of good quality and low kitschiness
Their prices are fair, though some of their products are inherently costly
Most employees have good English and there will be someone working who's completely fluent
Sergio's Silver from Taxco for jewelry
They've earned a great reputation for quality
Taxco is the "silver city" in central Mexico famed for their products for centuries, but Sergio's makes some items locally
The silversmiths speak very good English
Zapateria Elsy at the Mercado Municipal for Yucatecan linen clothing
Her shop is on 25 Av. about halfway along the building, under an awning
I get all my linen guayaberas there
She has nice embroidered huipils, ladies' tops, and dresses
She's a nice woman who will treat you well and smile when she sees you
Her English is no worse than my Spanish
Unfortunately, that's not saying much...
Communication can take some time
Any minor struggles with communication are well worth it, and usually involve a lot of laughing