How to bargain at Europe's markets

At Europe's lively open-air markets and bazaars, bargaining for merchandise is the accepted and expected method of setting a price. Bargaining can be fun if you learn how to haggle. Among many good markets to practice your skills are Amsterdam's Waterlooplein, London's Portobello Market, Paris' Puces St. Ouen, Madrid's El Rastro and Tangier's Souk.

Some tips:

TIME AND PLACE Determine first if bargaining is appropriate. It's bad shopping etiquette to "make an offer" for a tweed hat in a London department store. It's foolish not to at an outdoor market in Greece. To learn if a price is fixed, show some interest in an item, but say, "It's just too much money." You've put the merchant in a position to make the first offer. If he comes down even 2 percent, there's nothing sacred about the price tag. Haggle away.

AVOID BUYER'S REMORSE Decide what an item is worth to you before beginning to haggle. Many tourists think that if they can cut a price by 50 percent, they are doing great. So the merchant quadruples his prices, and the tourist happily pays double the fair value.

LOOK INDIFFERENT Promise yourself that no matter how exciting the price becomes, you won't buy. Work the cost down to rock bottom, and then walk away. The last price the vendor hollers out as you leave is likely the best price you'll get.

Work as a team with your spouse or a friend. While you bargain, your companion can act the part of naysayer, threatening to squash the deal entirely.

DON'T HURRY Show you are serious by taking the time to talk with the shopkeeper. Dealing directly with the owner can lower the price. If you are truly ready to buy, physically hold out the amount you are offering to pay. The seller will be tempted to just grab your money and say, "OK."

AVOID GUILT If the price is too much, move on. Never worry about having taken too much of the merchant's time. Vendors are experts at making the tourist feel guilty for not buying. It's all part of the game.