A short time in Delhi

Trip Start Aug 21, 2006
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Trip End Dec 18, 2006


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Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Took a short flight from Jodhpur to Dehli and arrived safely to my hotel for the night in the Karol Bagh area of the city.  Since the 21st of November I had been trying unsuccesfully to obtain a refund for a carpet I had returned the day after purchasing it my second day in Delhi.  I got caught up in the charm and charisma of the gentleman selling me the lovely silk carpet but quickly came to my senses after coming back to the hotel and running my travel budget.
I casually mentioned my problem to my driver DD in Jodphur and he made some phone calls to some people and made arrangements for my refund to be given to me in cash before I left the country.  The guys I bought the carpet from are from Kashmir and the people that own the travel agent he works for are from Kashmir so as DD put it "they are related".  Now, whether they are actually related by blood or just by region and religion seems a minor detail as regional and religious affiliations seem to carry more weight around the world than at home.
Anyway, three guys from the carpet company showed up at my hotel with an obscene amount of Indian Rupees and the negotiations began. It was a bit of pressure by numbers and a bit of guilt wrapped up in it all.  They money guy, nervously rubbed some beads in his hand while the other two guys spoke to me in English and then to him in Hindi.  Back and forth, guilt inducing stories of hardship and cost etc. Family financial loss blah blah blah. We finally got out the calculator and compared each of our aggregious 'real or imagined' out of pocket expenses due to this deal and then split the difference.  I wrote them a letter absolving them of any further financial obligation on the deal and we parted ways quite amicably.  Smiles and saving face worth a mint here.
In America, we really don't appreciate the nature of negotiation and business like others I have encountered on my trip.  EVERY price is negotiable...except for a few exceptions.  There's always a presentation, why their product is best, discussion, usually some type of beverage consumed etc.  A price is offered...in India I found that my counter price is usually 40 - 50% of the first offered price. This is then greeted with frowns and more stories of how this possible couldn't be the correct and FINAL price.  Another price is offered up and then countered back and forth until I finally walk away, they agree to my low price or they refuse to sell the item.  It's exhausting but also fun when you have the energy to do it. Definately can't fall in love with anything if you want to get the best deal. 
I imagine myself back in the states refusing to pay list price.  Oh, you want $70 for this...I'll pay you $35.....wish that could happen!
Slept very well knowing that my one major problem I had encountered in India had been resolved quite satisfactorily.
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