Bargaining in Albania – when is it expected and when is it rude?
I embarrassed myself in Albania by trying to bargain at what turned out to be a fixed-price supermarket – the cashier's expression said everything. But then I overpaid at the same market because I didn't realize bargaining was completely expected. The rules of when to negotiate and when not to in Albania are not obvious to outsiders. Can you give a comprehensive guide? In which settings is bargaining the norm in Albania – tourist markets, local markets, souvenir shops, taxi fares, tour packages, guesthouses? And where is it inappropriate? How aggressive should the negotiation be in Albania? What are the social cues that indicate a vendor expects you to negotiate vs. a final price? Any specific language or phrases that open a polite negotiation in Albania?
