Bilingual Brits driving a hard bargain abroad

When it comes to haggling abroad, if you don’t ‘interroger’ you don’t ‘obtenir’ – as Brits who are willing to give bilingual bargaining a go save an average of £345.25 on their trip.

The study, from home phone specialist Gigaset, shows those who have the confidence to engage in native-speaking negotiations are reaping the benefits, with average savings of:

£127.50 on hotel stays

£105.30 on day trips and excursions

£89.70 on car hire

£62.10 on souvenirs and shopping

Despite this, only one in ten British people (12.8 per cent) even attempt to haggle in a different language on holiday. 

The majority (64.1 per cent) avoid haggling abroad because they are concerned about the language barrier. Of these ‘bashful bargainers’, nearly a quarter (23.6 per cent) are worried that they wouldn’t understand the vendor’s reply if they haggled.

On the other hand, 16.3 per cent think their own accent wouldn’t be understood while 17.4 per cent would just feel too self-conscious. One in ten (11 per cent) would be intimidated by the prospect and the remaining 30.8 per cent say they simply wouldn’t attempt to haggle. 

People from Norwich are least concerned about the language barrier when haggling, with 42.4 per cent saying it doesn’t bother them. Mancunians are close behind, with 42.2 per cent unconcerned about bartering with somebody who speaks a different language. 

The most het-up hagglers hail from Cardiff, with 72.2 per cent worried about the language barrier, followed by Nottingham, where 70.7 per cent of the population find it to be a concern. 

Amy Ward, marketing manager at Gigaset, said: “When it comes to getting the best deal on your holiday – whether booking a hotel or simply bartering with a vendor at the local market – knowing the language is a big advantage.

“However, you don’t have to be fluent to be able to pick up the phone and see how far your negotiations take you. Our survey results show that simply having the confidence to ask for a discount could save you hundreds of pounds, so those who just make a few quick clicks to book online may be losing out significantly.”

Top haggling hints

1. Know your price. Before you enter a negotiation, decide on the highest amount you’re willing to pay for something. If you’re not sure how much an item or service should actually cost, try asking a local or shop around to get an idea

2. Give yourself some room. When you start haggling, start a little lower than the price you actually want to pay to give yourself room to manoeuvre. However, don’t go overboard – if you start too low the vendor may simply be insulted

3. Be willing to walk away. If you’re at a local market, simply shaking your head and walking away can quickly secure the deal you’re looking for. This can also work if you’re booking something over the phone – just politely tell them you’re going to look for a better price elsewhere 

4. Don’t be afraid to haggle. Bargaining for a better price is expected in some cultures – so if you don’t haggle, you may end up paying well over the odds. Knowing a few basics of the language can be very helpful here too, for example you may want to learn numbers and a few pleasantries. Remember, though, that most foreign hotels and holiday companies will have employees who speak your language 

5. Be pleasant. Haggling isn’t about trying to rip somebody off, it’s about trying to strike a deal you both find agreeable – so things should never get heated. And if you come across as likeable, people will be more willing to give you a better deal