The Smart Way to Buy “Pasalubong”
Among Filipino travelers, in particular, it is customary to share with the people back home the experience of a visited place. Yeah, the tradition can be such a pressure on one whose resources – especially monetary – have already been drained during the trip and still has to think up and buy things as “pasalubong” (arrival gift) for friends and relatives.
Or, this may not be exclusively Filipino custom after all, as anywhere in the world the souvenir trade thrives. It seems that in planning a trip somewhere people everywhere would always include the subject of “pasalubong,” by whatever name they call it. Aside from trying to fulfill their dear ones’ expectations, “pasalubong” is also a good proof that the traveler has indeed “been there.”
But since the tourist would be buying “pasalubong” in unfamiliar territory, there’s always that slight worry about being taken in or paying more than one intends to spend. Ms. Vicky, at www.shopback.ph, believes that travelers should learn how to watch out for their own interests (their wallet's contents, primarily). She shares simple tips to avoid ending up shafted (or worse).
Don’t be swayed by sales talk. Street bazaar/ market peddlers have plenty of years ahead of you in the sales talk department. They’ve been trained to spot your sweet spot and press on it until you cave in. Don’t be the gullible sort of tourist by believing everything these peddlers say. When something sounds too good to be true (rare artifact, heirloom of someone very famous in the past, has magical properties, etc.), it usually is. If you must, buy something for its craftsmanship and the material it is made of and how closely it represents the history or culture of the place you’ve visited. When in doubt, just stick with the t-shirt and fridge magnet formula. It always works!
Haggle like a pro. Pinoys are well-known price hagglers. But sometimes, even the best of hagglers tend to get shy in trying to bring the price down, although it could be easily won. No, don’t relent too soon; get going and haggle. It's part of the fun of being a tourist, so indulge in haggling and negotiation! In some cases, though, you’d just feel generous and don’t really mind supporting the independent merchants and that’s pretty awesome, too. Generosity, after all, goes a long way!
When in a foreign land, know the country’s laws on souvenirs, if any. You don’t have to memorize everything by heart, but just be aware of the repercussions of picking up some weird or exotic items. Being caught redhanded with certain objects can get you fined pretty heftily or, worse, get you behind bars. Items such as corals, starfish, and other endangered marine life aren't supposed to be purchased and taken out of certain countries and you should know better than to risk it. Body parts of endangered animals are generally contraband wherever you are, too.
These three simple points will set any traveler off on a good start at souvenir shopping. By the way, one more point: When shopping in crowded markets, the traveler should be very watchful of his or her personal belongings and the people in the surroundings. Pickpockets and other scammers often congregate in these places.