Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-01-22
SHOPPING IN MEXICO
Women Get Plenty of Excitement
In Making q Purchase.
BARGAINING AS A FINE ART.


Iity Of Mexico, especially il She speaks
Spanish, she gets far more excitement
on her money iu the course OF ana aft
'ruoou than She could hope TO compass
% % years time in America.
lu the Spanish and French dry goods
houses. where the trade is almost OK
'lusiycly feminine. the Goods are
marked with the asking price" which
is mere mathematical figure OF
speech ana tine first question that the
experienced shopper always asks of
hn salesman is. villa is your last
Dricot'
This "u!timo precio" is generally
about - per cent less than the selling
price with which the goods are tagged.
1t forms, however, certain basis from
which to start the bargaining. which
thereafter is carried on with AN the
elIll ana fury that characterize such
transactions everywheg0 throughout
Latin America. The woman customer
may wish to purchase a few yards OF
silk, for example. The marked price
is, say, 81 yard. and the last price"
IS given rs $50. The woman WEI
look at the piece she desires WIFI tie
same uncOuccruod scora with which
she regards everything else that is,
shown her. She will disparage it from
every point of view ana finally ask 10:
s7mething that Is not likely totbe in
stock. At last she will sigh mud IooR
about in despair 49,
'Caramba, but I'm weary with this
vain tasl, or endeavorlng 10 fHalsome.
thing that I wish an this scconA class
establishment. The prices are FAR high.
err than anywhere else, but / try to-
.patroniZc this place because tfi6; pro-
prictors are friends of my husband.
Now, that rose silk is not the shade
wish, but ! might be able TO use Il
some time IL could buy it at a rca-
'onablc price"
The salesman who has been listen
ing with an assumed air of sympathy,
responds with all the nowcry elo-
quence that he can command and with
IL constant play OF rapid gestures. his
lighted cigarette in one hand dcscrb-
in" little are OF fire somewhat dim
mcr than the diamonds he wears on
his fingers.
"Senor.ta. We place at your feet this
establishment and an chat it contains.
II is your house, aud YOU may do with
II rs YOU will. But the very last price
at which | can offer you this silk is
Sl.2J yard do this with a fear OF
losing my position. but with the hope
that the proprictors will pardon my au-
dacity when they learn that your hus
band is one of their personal friends"
II thank son, senior" responds the
shopper Il appreciate your cousid
Grafton. but / could not possibly &C.
cept the silk as a gift Nevertheless
1 would be willing under the circum
stances. so that you might make
reasonable profit. 90 give you so cents
n yard for two yards"
At this the salesman drops or the
floor the stub OF the cigarette be has
been smoking. This leaves both hands
free. and If he is master of the sell
come to bis eyes and he wriugs his
hands apparently iu the depths OF
despair and chagru. The MeNicans
dearly love acting and discrimination
OF an sorts, and this byplay OF tic
clerk is but q part OF the price of the
goods. After frenzicd calculations he
puts the price down TO $ yard. say
ing that that figure is the last Of the
last prices" The lady has been gaz-
ing about iudiGcrcuty and gathers uu
her pockctbool, ana other impcdimcntu
as She rises 60 depart AS am after.
Thought and with cOudcsceusiOu that
amounts almost to pity she remarks: