Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-01-05
IN MEXICO
Women Get Plenty Of Excitement
In Making a Purchase.
BARGAINING AS A FINE ART.
The Descent From the Asking Prie-
to the Last Price and From That to
tho Final Selling Price Works o.s
Something Like a Farce Comedy.

When woman goes shopping In the
City OF Mexico. especially If she speaks
Spanish. she gets far more excitement
Tor her money In the course OF an aft.
ernoon than she could hope 70 compass
In years time in America.
In the Spanish and French dry goods
houses. where the trade is almost ex-
clusiyely feminine. the goods are
marked with the asking price," which
Is mere mathematical figure of
speech. and the first question that the
experienced shopper always asks of
the salesman is, "Who- is your last
price?"
This "ultimo precio' is generally
about % per cent less than the selling
price with which the goods are tagged.
1t forms. however. a certain basis from
which to start the bargaining. which
thereafter is carried on with all the
Skill and fury that characterize such
transactions everywhere throughout
Latin America. The woman customer
may wish to purchase a few yards of
silk. for example. The marked price
Is. say, 50 a yard, and the last price"
- 5ANCh 40 PlsOO. ut WOUDdn WIFI
look at the piece she desires with the
same unconcerned scorn with which
she regards everything else that IL
shown her. She will disparage it from
every point of view and finally ask for
something that is not likely to be in
stock. at last she will sigh and look
about in despair.
"Caramba, but I'm weary with this
vain task OF endeavoring 10 find some
thing that wish in this second class
establishment! The prices are far high.
er than anywhere else, but try to
patronize this place because the pro-
prietors are friends of my husband.
Now, that rose silk is not the shade I
wish, but j might be able to use it
some time IL could buy it at a rea-
sonable price,"
The salesman. who has been listen
Ing with an assumed air of sympathy,
responds with all the flowery elo-
quence that he can command and with
constant play of rapid gestures, his
lighted cigarette in one hand describ-
ing little arc of fire somewhat dim
mer than the diamonds he wears on
his fingers.
"Senorita, we place at your feet this
establishment and all that it contains.
1t is your house, and you may do with
1t as you will. But the very last price
at which l can offer you this silk is
SLIPS yard. i do this with q fear Of
losing my position, but with the hope
that the proprietors will pardon my au-
dacity when they learn that your hus-
band is one Of their personal friends"
II thank you, senor," responds the
shopper. 81 appreciate your consid-
GRAFTON, but l could not possibly ac-
cept the silk as a gift. Nevertheless
would be willing under the circum-
stances. so that you might make
reasonable profit. to give you so cents
yard for two yards"
At this the salesman drops on the
floor the stub of the cigarette he has
been smoking. This leaves both hands
free. and IL he Is a master of the sell
ing art rs known In that country tears
come TO his eyes and he wrngs his
hands apparently in the depths of
despair and chagrin. The Mexlcans
dearly love acting and discrimination
of all sorts. and this byplay of the
clerk is but part of the price of the
goods. After frenzied CALCULATIONS he
puts the price down to 81 yard, say
ing that TINT figure is the last of the
last prices" The lady has been gaZ-
ing about iDdifferently and gathers up
her pocketbOok and other impedimenta
as she rises TO depart AS an after
thought and with cOndescPnsion that
amounts almost to pity she remarks:
sixty cents-uo mere. 1t is my last
word. Adios. senior"
One little moment. senorita. DO
not depart IN anger. Rather than let
YOU go thus you may have the silk at
30 cents Il yard, and / will make up
the difference from my own pocket"
The lady hesitates, turns back as il
Indifferent, yet undecided. Then she
again starts toward the door. speaking
the phrase of piOus farewell which is
the Spanish equivalent Of final good
by.
May you go with God. senior"
She almost has reached the portal
when the salesman clutches up with
her. He has had time TO light anoth-
er cigarette TO fortify himself for the
final struggle, and. waving this in one
hand. he begs her. almost OH Bonded
knees, to return and take the silk at
80 cents yard. she looks languidly
upon him. She has concluded that 80
cents would be about the right price
and probably the best she can do. Yet
she returns uudauuted and i'm the soft
est Of voices breatbes the Spanish
words which are the equivalent iu that
tongue for 20 cents After ten min
utes more of Hrmuess on the shoppers
part and every aspect OF poignant
grief by the salesman two yards Of
silk finally change hands at 80 cents.
The same furious bargaining is the
rule In the grocery stores and I'm the
sidewalk markets. New York Press
His Taste.
u