3. Bargaining

In a departement store

Shirley          :  This is nice material. What is it ?

Shopkeeper  :  It's cotton  

Shirley          :  How much is it ?

Shopkeeper  :  It's very good material. It's four dollars a metre 

Shirley          :  Four dollars! That's too expensive. But it's very 
                        attractive.

Shopkeeper  :  How much can you pay, madam ?

Shirley          :  I'll pay three dollars a metre.

Shopkeeper  :  I'll make a special price for you, madam. 

                        Three dollars seventy five a metre.

Shirley          :  How about three dollars fifty ?

Shopkeeper  :  Just for you, madam. Three dollars fifty cens a metre.

The italic sentences above are expression asking about price and bargaining

Here are expressions for asking about prices :

   - How much is it ?

   - How much does it costs ?

   - What does this book/sweater/shoes/dress/etc costs ?

   - How much is this book/sweater/shoes/dress/etc ?

   - How much is that altogether ? 

   - How much do these pens costs ?

   - How much will that be altogether ?  

If you as customer do bargaining you could use this expression :

   - How about ................. dollars ?

   - How about ................. rupiahs ?

   - Can you make it lower ?

   - Can you lower the price?

   - Can you give me a discount ?

   - Is there any discount ?

   - That's too expensive, how about Rp. .............. ?

   - Oh, that's rather expensive, how about ................... ?

   - Is there any discount for this dress/shirt/sweater/etc ? 

What do you say if you as a seller accept the bargaining ?

To accept the bargaining we use the expression as :

   - Yes, I'll give you ................. % discount.

   - That's ok.

   - Well, just a little.
   - Just for you, madam/sir. .................. 
And you could use the expressions below if you as seller refuse the bargaining :

   - I'm sorry, it's the fixed price.

   - I'm affraid you can't bargain.

   - I'm sorry, we don't put discount on this product.