Who does not like shopping? Have you ever thought that a shopping experience can be different in every part of the world?

I have been in the United States of America for almost three years now. I am fully adapted to everything pretty much. However, there is only thing I still cannot get used to; it is the fact that you cannot haggle or negotiate the prices when shopping in the mall. Let’s say I have special feelings for haggling (My negotiations professor would appreciate it).

Yesterday, my friend and I went to the mall, and there I saw “it” – so beautiful and mesmerizing hanging on a mannequin. A beige knee-length autumn skirt. I loved the skirt no doubt, but I did not really like the price. I almost took it off the mannequin, to the cashier, and asked if I could pay another price for it; but I did not. Imagine what kind of reaction they would have at the store. That would have been priceless.

In some countries, shopping does not necessarily mean being in an enormous fancy place with uncountable numbers of stores and restaurants. For example, in Ukraine and many other European countries there are open-air markets where people shop. Why are they open air? It is simple – they sell everything, starting from nails and ending with luxury fur coats, in the open air. This is a perfect place for haggling. But there is a certain technique to it, and there are rules you have to follow.

My uncle is American, and when he came to Ukraine for the first time to meet us, we took him to this open-air market to buy a leather jacket. Each place had different prices for the same model of jacket. We found a pretty good deal on it, but you always can make the deal even better. It is a haggling place, right? While my uncle tried on the jacket, my mom and aunt and looking at the jacket from every angle and acting as if they are not really impressed. So my mom starts bargaining with the store assistant to lower the price. The shop assistant hesitates. So my mom takes out the money from her pocket – the amount she wanted to pay for the jacket – and acts as if this is all she has and will buy it at this second for this much. You know what kind of affect people have after the “Show me the money” action.

The grand finale is turning around as if leaving. At the second you do that, 98 percent of the time they agree to sell the products for the price you want. So, we got the jacket for the half of the price she initially offered. Isn’t it amazing?

However, there are also nice malls that are the equivalent of the River Town one. It is your choice to which one you go. Mostly, people go there for entertainment, fun and experience.

I find it fascinating how shopping can be so different in every culture.