"Bargain, Barter....then Barter some more" Vendors Tip by ScubaCat

None of the shop owners nor the vendors in the Flea Market expect you to pay the sticker price on their merchandise & if you do, your a fool. It is customary, to bargain & barter with them to get a better deal on the item you wish to purchase and oh, so much fun. This practice even goes for the fine jewelery store ladies. The only store's that bargaining and bartering is not accepted is in store's where an extremly established artist is showing his works and it is high dollar stuff. Meaning he/she is very proud of his work and has won many awards. Otherwise, all the shops and vendors are fair game. A tip to the wise...if you make a vendor mad or he calls you loco or a jew, then you know you have a good price for the item you want to purchase. Another way to get a good price is simply walk out of the store. 9 times out of 10 they will come running after you offering you the price that you originally offered them.

What to buy: Mexico has a lot of speciality items that you can't get anywhere else. Right off the top of my head is the hand painted blue pottery. Silver jewelry inlaid with onyx, turquoise, coral, maleci, pearl , etc. They have silver and onyx statutes. Handmade lace tablecloth's, beautiful pareos and mexican clothing. You can also purchase local artwork such as handcrafted statues or painted landscapes of Puerto Vallarta. This is just a spattering of some of the things you will find in the shopping areas.

What to pay: For the blue pottery pieces you can expect to spend on average $5.00 for a soapdish up to $60.00 for a turkey platter. Silver jewelery set such as the picture below, around $200.00. Handmade lace tablecloth's barter for them in the flea market & pick them up for around $25.00. Local paintings, depending on the size of the painting...anywhere from $25.00 on up to $75.00. For Pareo's - $15.00 to $30.00. Ladies, if you want the nicer Pareo's go to the stores vs the flea market.

Directions: Most of the shopping is done in the Malecon area and the flea market is at the end of the Malecon as you enter the romantic zone into Old Puerto Vallarta
Theme: Local Craft