How to negotiate with Pettah street vendors effectively.
They always quote massive prices when they see foreign tourists. How do we bargain fairly.
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3 Answers from travellers
Negotiating in Pettah is an essential survival skill. Vendors instantly quote the tourist price, which is often triple the actual value. Your very first counteroffer should confidently be exactly half of their initial asking price.
Before you even start bargaining, quickly ask two or three different stalls for the price of the same item. This immediately gives you a solid baseline of the going market rate before you commit to buying.
Keep the negotiation friendly and lighthearted with a smile. If they stubbornly refuse to lower the price to something reasonable, use the most effective tactic simply say thank you and slowly walk away. Nine times out of ten, they will call you back with a much better offer.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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