“I will take you home, to Marrakech.”

I’ve started practicing my pseudo-french haggling skills at the marché aux puces at Saint-Ouen this last Sunday. My first attempt was unfortunately unsuccessful: I tried to get Danica this framed photo of some cats and the Eiffel Tower for 5€ instead of 6€. “Combien coûte?” “Six euros.” “Cinq.” “Non.” I was too frazzled to continue and she ended up purchasing it for 6€.

However, after a few hours of practicing, I was able to get this gorgeous bag down from 80€ to 50€ by incessant ogling and touching then walking away, longingly. When I came back about three minutes later, he looked at my key necklace and asked me if it was silver. After refusing to barter my necklace, he offered it me for 50€, as well as a trip to his home, in Morocco. I graciously thanked him and hurried away.

On a separate day on my way to the Mosquée, I stumbled upon la Maison-Franco-Orientale (19 Rue Daubenton), I managed to get these two rings down from 43€ to 25€. Later that day, I also made up for my failed first attempt and scored Danica a snail/Eiffel Tower sketch for 10€ down from 15€.

Upon re-reading this entry, this entry is just an exposé of Danica’s weird (and lovable, I suppose) purchases with a lot of unnecessary euro signs. So, here are my tips for haggling, which may or may not be obvious: aim for at least 50% of the proposed price — the first price you say should be something ridiculous. In the case of my bag, I should’ve said something outrageous like 30€. If you’re planning to buy multiple items, it’s easier to bargain; in this case, try for a buy-one-get-one-free price. Belinda was able to get two wooden rings down from 24€ to 12€ by being equal parts sad and cute. If you’ve got a longing stare, use it. Try it on, keep it on, touch it a lot. Then walk away very melodramatically. Also, feel free to throw in a backward glance as you walk away and use that longing stare again. If the shopkeeper’s heart isn’t made of stone, it will melt and s/he will most likely try to offer it to you for a few euros above your original offer, but will eventually fold to your original offer. Also, don’t let anyone take you to his home in Morocco.