The Overthinker’s Scorecard: haggling in the Marrakech souks
Haggling in the Marrakech souks turned out to be far less intimidating than I’d imagined. The shopkeepers expected a bit of negotiating, I expected to accidentally insult someone’s ancestors, and somehow we usually met somewhere in the middle.
The problem wasn’t the bargaining itself. It was me. I have one of those faces that broadcasts every emotion in real time. Excitement? Visible. Doubt? Obvious. Embarrassment? Apparently detectable from outer space.
Marc quickly developed a strategy. Whenever negotiations began, he suggested I casually wander off and admire something approximately 300 metres away. According to him, my face was weakening our negotiating position. He was almost certainly right.
Ironically, a few minutes later I’d be summoned back because someone needed to work out exchange rates, percentages or whether buying three bowls at one price actually made the fourth one a bargain. Suddenly my complete lack of bargaining skills was forgotten because, as Marc likes to point out, my brain is strangely good at maths.
In the end, I learned that haggling isn’t an argument; it’s part of the shopping experience. Nobody expected us to pay the first price, nobody seemed offended when we countered, and everyone seemed perfectly happy once we’d settled on a number that suited us both.
If you’re planning your first visit, my 2-day Marrakech itinerary shows how we explored the medina, including plenty of time to wander the souks without feeling rushed.
The Overthinker’s Scorecard
Negotiating skills: ★★☆☆☆
Competent in theory. Completely undermined by my facial expressions.
Embarrassment level: ★★★★★
Marc’s official recommendation was to stand at least 300 metres away.
Expectations vs. Reality: ★★★★★
Expected: awkward confrontations and offended shopkeepers.
Reality: friendly conversations, plenty of laughter and prices that everyone seemed happy with.
Would Future Alexandra do it again? ★★★★☆
Yes. I’d still let Marc do the talking, but I’d happily step back in when advanced arithmetic is required.
One thing I’d tell a first-timer:
Smile, keep it friendly and don’t be afraid to negotiate. The first price is rarely the final one, and walking away politely is perfectly acceptable. Just don’t bring someone whose embarrassment is written all over their face… unless they happen to be very good at percentages.
More Overthinker’s Scorecards
Riding a camel in the Moroccan Sahara
Sneaker waves at Reynisfjara, Iceland
Street food in Thailand
Suspension bridges in Bukit Lawang
Travel with an overthinker.
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