Bargaining (பேரம் பேசு)

Bargaining for anything from vegetables to auto-rickshaws is a common practice in Tamil culture. There is a saying in Tamil வாயுள்ள பிள்ளை பிழைக்கும் meaning 'a talkative person will make out very well' (lit. 'the child with mouth would survive'), which reflects very well the idea of bargaining in stores. Both the store owner as well as the customers tend to engage actively during the process of bargaining. The customers usually start with half of the asking price (பாதி விலை, 'half-price') and both parties attempt to adjust the scale steadily until they come to an agreeable price.

Especially with foreigners, sellers will attempt to get the highest price they can. It is always a good idea to ask a Tamil who isn't involved in the transaction what a good price would be. There are no specific patterns of speech in the discourse of bargaining, but one has to use the language as well as the general knowledge about the market in order to purchase things cheap.

Begin with a pleasing tone of voice, and end with a rough tone of voice:

Both parties normally start with buttering each other up with customary phrases like: நான் பெரும்பாலும் உங்கக் கடெயிலெதான் வாங்குவேன் 'I mostly buy only in your store', உங்கக் கடையிலெ எல்லாம் ரொம்ப நல்லா இருக்கும் 'everything is very good in your store'; உங்களுக்காகத்தான் நான் வெலெயெ கொறெக்கிறேன் 'I reduce the price just for you', எங்களுக்கு உங்களெப்போல வாடிக்கையாளர்தான் வேணும் 'we require only customers like you' etc. By the end though, the mood will be somewhat rougher than in the beginning, with expressions like இவ்வளவுதான் என்னாலெ கொடுக்கமுடியும். இதுக்கு மேலெ ஒரு பைசா கொடுக்க முடியாது 'This is what I can afford, and can't pay even a cent more than this', இப்படியெல்லாம் வெலெயெச் சொன்னா, நான் வேற கடையிலெதான் வங்கவேண்டியிருக்கும் 'if the price is this way, I will have to make my purchases in other stores now onwards'; இதுதான் கடைசி வெலெ. இதுக்கு மேலெ ஒரு பைசா கூட கொறெக்க முடியாது. 'this is the final price and I can't reduce even a cent on this', இதுதான் கடைசி வெலெ. இந்த வெலெக்கி வாங்குனா வாங்குங்க இல்லேண்ணா போங்க! 'this is the last price. Buy it for this price, otherwise leave!'.

Below are some of the conversations one would normally hear in stores during the course of bargaining.

Customer's point of view:

பக்கத்துக் கடையிலெ கொறைக்கச் சொன்னா ஒடனே கொறெப்பாங்க! நீங்களும் கொறெச்சிக் கொடுங்க
The neighboring stores usually make a good deal when asked, why don't you also reduce the price?

அடே அப்பா! என்ன இவ்வளவு அதிகமா வெலெயெச் சொல்லுறீங்க?
Gosh! your price is outrageously expensive!

உங்க கடெயிலெ எப்பவும் வெலெ கொறெச்சலா இருக்கும்ணு வந்தா, என்ன இவ்வளவு அதிகமா வெலெயெ சொல்லுறீங்க!
We came to your store thinking you usually sell things at a cheaper price, but your are giving us a very expensive price!

Store owner's point of view:

வெலெவாசியெல்லாம் ரொம்ப ஏறிடுச்சி. கொறெக்கிறது ரொம்பக் கஷ்டம்.
Everything in the market is very expensive these days, and it would be very difficult for us to reduce the price.

மழெயே பெய்ய மாட்டேங்குது! காய்கறியெல்லாம் சரியாவே வெளெயலெ!
There has been hardly any rain! The vegetables didn't grow as expected!