The Unexpected Lesson: From Master Bargainer to Humble Student in Ughelli Market

So guys, most of my friends know me as a master bargainer since I always get things as cheap as possible, all thanks to my bargaining skills. Most people say I am good at this because I am an Economist.

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I have actually being thinking about this for a very long time now. Does being an Economist make one a professional bargainer? Maybe someone would have an answer to this in the comment section.

So I was already seeing myself as a master bargainer, not until I met my match in Ughelli market. Guys, trust me, Ughelli market is no joke when it comes to bargaining. It's like a whole different language which I thought I was ready to speak fluently but it turned out that I was about as fluent as a baby trying to order pizza. You can imagine.. 😂

So, there I was with a pair of sneakers on my mind as I swaggered into the market like I owned the place. I found the perfect pair and I then marched over to the seller, ready to unlease my professional bargaining skill.

"How much?" I asked the seller, trying to sound casual and cool.

"Twenty Five thousand Naira," he said, not even moving an eyelid.

Twenty Five thousand? I immediately told the seller his price was crazy and very expensive and that I saw the same pair of sneakes down the street for half the price he told me.

The seller laughed at me so hard that I started wondering what was actually funny and when he was done laughing, he told me that the one I saw at half that price is probably fake and that his own was the original. But seriously, who would say his isn't original? Everybody's market is original and no one would say his is fake. The seller telling me his was original didn't change anything.

So not wanting to give up as a professional I am, I launched into my master plan. I actually didn't want to get the pair of sneakers more than Fifteen Thousand Naira and so, I pointed out imaginary flaws on the sneakers, and how bad the sneakers looked. Guys, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the sneakers, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures right?

The seller listened to me patiently, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, when I finally ran out of words, he dropped the bomb and told me he wouldn't be selling the pair of sneakers anything below Twenty Three thousand, and I can either take it or leave it.

Guys, I was destabilised. That was not the plan and I am already in love with the sneakers. I tried the last time but this time around I was only able to get the seller to remove just a thousand naira from the Twenty Three thousand. I felt like a loser at that point because my skills failed me.

But then, something unexpected happened. The seller smiled, a genuine smile that warmed my heart. He then told me that I reminded him of himself when he was younger and full of fire and spirit.

And guess what? he ended up giving me a crash course in bargaining. He taught me how to read the seller's body language, listen carefully, and know when to walk away.

Guys, I walked away from that place with more than just a pair of sneakers. I left with a newfound respect for the art of bargaining and a valuable lesson in humility. It was a day that taught me that the best things in life are not always the things you buy, but the experiences you have and the connections you make.

So guys, the next time you find yourself in any market at all, remember, bargaining is more than just a transaction. It's a conversation, a dance, and a story waiting to be told. And don't be afraid to laugh at yourself when you mess up because that's how you learn and grow.

Thanks for visiting my blog.