How to haggle at Chor Bazaar.
When to walk, when to stay quiet, and why the first number is never the real one.
Haggling isn’t a fight. It’s a conversation where both sides already know the ending.
SHOT: STALL-HOLDER MID-CONVERSATION
Never open
The first number sets the room, and it should never be yours. Ask, listen, and say nothing for three seconds. Silence does the first round for you.
SHOT: HANDS ON A DIFFERENT RACK
Handle something else
Wanting it loudly is paying extra. Examine the piece next to the one you want. The trader reads hands, not words. Give his read nothing.
SHOT: FINGER ON A WORN CUFF
Name the flaw, kindly
A missing button, a worn cuff, a faded shoulder. Point it out once, warmly. You’re not insulting the piece. You’re agreeing on reality together.
SHOT: WALKING AWAY DOWN THE LANE, WIDE
Walk once, mean it
The walk only works if it’s real. Leave once, slowly. If the price follows you, it was waiting. If it doesn’t, the price was honest. Respect that too.
- 01Never say the first number.
- 02Hands calm, want quiet.
- 03One flaw, named kindly.
- 04Walk once. Mean it.
Questions people ask.
What is Chor Bazaar in Mumbai?
One of Mumbai's oldest street markets, in the lanes around Mutton Street near Mohammed Ali Road in South Mumbai. It is known for antiques, vintage pieces and pre-owned goods of every kind, and Fridays are traditionally its busiest day.
How much should you offer when haggling?
There is no fixed rule. Let the trader open, then counter with what the piece is worth to you rather than a percentage of their number. Leave room to meet once in the middle.
Can you haggle on SZN2?
No. Every piece on SZN2 has one fixed price set by the curator who listed it. The price you see is the price you pay, with shipping shown separately at checkout.
Chor Bazaar, Mumbai
Friday is closed; go Saturday, early. Practise on something you don’t want before touching something you do.
Trained your nerve? Browse the racks.
Every piece on SZN2 has one price and one owner-to-be. The haggling here is with your own restraint.
FLD 108Western sizing on an Indian body.
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