Agressive Shopping

Trip Start Jul 12, 2006
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216
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Trip End Jun 18, 2007


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Flag of Vietnam  ,
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

As it was our last day in HCMC we decided to do a bit of shopping at the nearby indoor market, honestly what a flippin nightmare it was. It's a big indoor market in a huge warehouse-type place and no sooner had we stepped inside the door we were bombarded with people trying to sell us stuff. The market is quite cramped, with tiny little alleyways between the stalls, probably no more than a foot wide, seperating stalls on both side. Vendors step right in your path holding a t-shirt or some shorts to show you, walking backwards with the goods as you try and make your way past, everyone was calling out "sir, sir, madame, madame, you buy this" it was all too much. Some vendors even grabbed my arm and pulled me back and not in a gentle way either. I was literally dragged to one ladies bag stall. She held my wrist much like a mother holds a naughty toddler to stop them pulling away, then when she'd pulled me back to her stall two other ladies stuffed bags in my face. It was really bad. I wasn't going to buy a bag even if I did see one that I liked because I don't really agree with man-handling as a sales method Beer delivery on a bike, HCMC
Beer delivery on a bike, HCMC
 ! It took me about 5 minutes to convince the bloody lady to let go of my wrist then I made a dash for it, Lee had continued up the alley to look at some clothes and had been similarily restrained.

Not relaxing shopping at all!

The only good bit to the market was they have a fixed price section where clothes and things are priced up with tickets and that's what you pay, much more comfortable for little old me who is rubbish at haggling. And do you know what, I managed to buy a few bits because they were REASONABLY PRICED, probably making the vendor a few bob but I didn't care at all because I was happy to pay the price they were shown at. Why can't it always be like that eh??

I can't remember if I wrote this already or not but a girl was sitting at our table the other night and a little sales kid was giving her a right dressing down. The street kids here sell books and postcards and apparently on the previous night this girl had said she may buy a book today but today she didn't want a book and the kid, all of about 8, was laying into her big time. Really in her face telling her was a liar she was and basically giving her grief. I was scowling at him and saying how dare he treat her like that, if she doesn't want to buy a book she doesnt have too. Then i poked her on the arm and asked her if she was ok. The poor girl was just trying to wait for friends so Lee and I spoke to her till they arrived to save her from the kid. Honestly, he needed a good slap. He was only trying it on to intimidate her into buying abook. Some of the kids here can be ruthless, some have even hit (yes, hit) tourists who won't buy from them. Not nice at all and really leaves a bad impression I think.
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