I found this recently and it explains VERY WELL the idea of using the one dollar bill to have fun, help out the local economy and get what you want. READ ON!
When arriving in Egypt you will notice that Baksheesh is something that will cross your path every day.
It is hard to translate Baksheesh because the practice has at least 3 different forms.
1. A way of giving alms. Giving alms is a common practice in Egypt because it is one of the 5 pilars of Islam. You will notice that there are a lot poor people there depending on alms. Give them a few piasters or pounds.
2. As a kind of tipping. There are a lot of people in Egypt that will serve you in any kind of way. Most of the time unasked. They will open the door for you, carry your luggage, help you in and out a car, clean your room etc. All these services demand baksheesh. Also a few piasters or pounds will do.
3. To open doors for you that otherwise would be closed. You will find that there is a lot possible in Egypt. A Temple closed because of renovation activities? Some baksheesh can make it opened for you. Something special to see at a certain site? Be sure someone will offer you to show it for a small baksheesh. Have your picture taken with that pitoresk fella on his donkey car.. Baksheesh!
I can go on and on about this subject.
Some people will get annoyed by it. To me it is part of the charm of Egypt. You will be surprised what a small amount of Baksheesh can offer you. If it was only the interaction with the people.., that is a priceless experience in itself.
Make sure you have small notes!
Because of the practice of Baksheesh it is a must to have small notes. But trying to get these can be quite a hazard, because the people in Egypt tend to keep them. Possibly for the same reason you want to get them.
Best way to do it is to buy some things, like candy, on the streets and pay with bigger notes. Buy them one by one and not in a bulk! ;-)
My daughter got some chicken wings from K.........y Fried Chicken and got paid back in only one pound notes. Great service!!! She learned the practice of Baksheesh very quickly!
But a BIG warning is at place here! Learn soon to recognize the bank notes in Egypt! There are some villains that try to give you 50 piasters in stead of 50 pounds! Also it can happen that you give 50 piasters thinking it to be 50 pounds, or the other way around.
A 50 piaster note is mostly always recognisable because it is more outworn, because it changed hundreds of hands. Keep them in a special part of your wallet, away from the 50 pounds notes.
The art of bargaining.
Haggling is also something you need to learn when coming to Egypt.
Some people love it, some people hate it.
To haggle is not just in order to get the best price. It is a way of socializing. Egyptian people are very open and love a good joke. They want to know you or at least show interest in you.
The game goes both ways. You might fall for them and you will pay far to much, or they will fall for you and give you a bargain.
But they will always give you the idea that you got a bargain.
It requires special skills.
1. Ask someone you know and trust what would be a reasonable price. That might be your guide. Don't do this in front of the salesman. You will not get an answer.
2. Don't buy in the first shop you enter. But go on and compare prices and qualities.
3. Don't show interest in an item you want to buy. That will give the sales man a head start.
4. Have in mind what you want to pay and don't go above that. Walk away! Big chance the sales man will come after you and settle for your price!
5. Think up front if you really need the article. A lot of people buy things during holidays that end up a few years later in a boot sale.
6. Look for short comings in the items! A poorly sown dress or a difference in colour, what ever. If it is easily set right or not noticeable it still can be a good buy and it will give you a good chance for a discount!
7. Try to buy in a bulk! If you buy more items it is reasonably to ask for a discount. Remember this when you are with a group!
8. Bargaining is not only is applicable on the streets. In a restaurant, when you are with a group you can bargain for extras, like a free desert or something.
9. Also in Hotels often prices are negotiable, even by phone or on the Internet.
10. And remember: Egypt is a Third World country! You have more to spend in a week than they will earn in a year or even more than that. So be a bit "easy" when it comes to spending money.
It is easy to do in Egypt, because everything is cheap compared to what most of us are used to.
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