How to Avoid Getting Overcharged Abroad – Part 3

In the first post in the series we talked about how outward appearance can affect someone’s perception of a backpacker (and consequently how much they think they can get away with charging them) and in the second post about, how when buying things, a traveler’s actions have the potential to change the outcome of any given transaction.

This next post is more of a general one dealing with other things we can do to lessen the chance of paying over the top for stuff.

Avoid touristy areas – Not only will prices will be higher in established backpacker hangouts but people working full time in these haunts are bound to have had at least one experience of a tourist flashing a bit too much cash about. All it takes is a backpacker to pull out a big wad of bills whilst looking for small change or try to buy a baguette with a $100 bill, for instance, for a vendor to start assuming that any similar looking backpacker is made of money. Even if these stunts are few and far between, if someone only earns a few bucks a day then it’s bound to stick in their memory – and within a small circle of traders, good news travels fast.

Be confident – A backpacker that appears overly vague, lost, or bewildered may encourage someone who’s partial to taking a chance with the odd tourist to do so with you. If you appear particularly unsure of your surroundings then there’s more chance that some may feel that they can get away with charging more and not run as greater risk of being rumbled. Not only might someone try and charge you more as a direct result, it can also highlight you as being ‘someone in need of help’ and draw unwanted attention from hustlers and touts that may assume you’re an easy target.

Avoid interactions when under the influence – Again, if you’re drunk or mega-stoned – you’re easy pickings. Either plan ahead or wait for the effects to wear off before you go on a shopping spree – no matter how bad you got the munchies…

Be friendly – Appealing to someone’s better nature may make them warm to you and not be as harsh with any overcharging. A smile goes a long way, in fact anything that lightens the mood does.

Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated – this goes for everyone really, but especially with hustlers. At some point though you may still have to deal with the odd chancer, and when you do, you may find that if they can’t make any headway using wit, guile or honeyed words then they may adopt a different approach – one of which may be apply a bit of pressure. If this prompts a reaction then they’ve found a chink in your armour and will then hassle you endlessly as they now think that you’ll end up parting with your money for any one of a whole host of reasons – either just to get rid of them because they are annoying you, or because they make you feel uncomfortable, or because they make you feel guilty (ie with a story about needing money to help pay for a sick relative’s medicine, or food for their family and stuff).

But if you think they are a hustler or simply not playing fair then don’t get sucked in by it.
If you do want to try and help others then either donate to, or work for, a charity organisation – at least then you know for sure that your good intentions end up on a child’s dinner plate instead of in some parasite’s crack-pipe.

Be cool – Whatever happens, try to stay cool and relaxed and deal with any situation as calmly as possible. Don’t lose your head – certainly don’t become aggressive or look agitated – as it plays right into someone else’s hands, muddles your own thinking and brings you one step closer to parting with a chunk of your cash.