When I first came to Cambodia I bought a "nice" bike. At first I thought a bunch of guys and girls loved it and wanted to check it out but ultimately I figured out all they were doing was using the big sideview mirrors to pop their zits.

OK, this is not a Why, Y,Y, question, but a When, when when a traffic cop blows his whistle, what does it mean?

Username Taken wrote:

Duncan wrote:OK, this is not a Why, Y,Y, question, but a When, when when a traffic cop blows his whistle, what does it mean?

Something along the lines of "Don't panic Mr. Mainwaring".
This is a message to all within earshot that something is happening but the cop isn't sure how to respond.

It's to wake himself up? Or to show others that he is awake ?

Samouth, I have a question about Cambodian culture I was pondering today. It is sort of a newbie question I guess, but I've never felt sure about it. If you're in a market and see something without a price, does etiquette dictate that you offer a price first and then let them counter or do you ask the price and if dissatisfied, counter offer? Or does it matter?

MekongMouse wrote:Samouth, I have a question about Cambodian culture I was pondering today. It is sort of a newbie question I guess, but I've never felt sure about it. If you're in a market and see something without a price, does etiquette dictate that you offer a price first and then let them counter or do you ask the price and if dissatisfied, counter offer? Or does it matter?

Normally all the products and good in all super market or malls have price tags, so this is easy and you will never feel that you are ripped off. For normal market like Ou Russie, Olympic, Beoung Keng Kang and etc, you have to ask the price first, normally the seller always try to rip costumers off. I hate it. Don't get me wrong. They are not only try to rip off barang, they also rip off khmer. I have been the victim for many times when i first moved to Phnom Penh. I always paid more than other. One thing you have to bear in mind is that Cambodian has a belief that if someone asked for the price for any products ( literally first customer) then they didn't buy that product. The seller will completely pissed off. As they believed that you brought bad luck for them on that day. Their businesses will not going well.

Discrimination
Most of vendors in many markets in Phnom Penh as well as other provinces are ethnically Chinese-Cambodian. They always believe that pure Cambodians are not smart and mostly poor. Sometime if you are just from the province judged by the way you look and your appearance, some of those vendors will not want to talk to you as they believe that you don't have enough money to buy. I am half Chinese-Cambodian, but my tan skin doesn't categorise me as Chinese- Cambodian. So, i experienced that kinda discrimination a lots.

Thank you, great explanation. I will have to give karma later, because I'm on tapatalk.

One thing you have to bear in mind is that Cambodian has a belief that if someone asked for the price for any products ( literally first customer) then they didn't buy that product. The seller will completely pissed off. As they believed that you brought bad luck for them on that day. Their businesses will not going well.

This can work to your advantage if you are the first customer: make me a good price for this and I will buy it and bring you good luck. You will have good business all day. Good for you, good for me.
Sometimes this actually works as a bargaining strategy.

As for Khmers getting ripped off - yes, I thought for a long time that a Khmer would always get a better price than me at the market. This is not so, and my limited scientific experience on the subject leads me to believe that women are better bargainers than men.
Very interesting what you say about Chinese-cambodians Samouth. I have sometimes got the feeling that my nephew, who is a Khmer originally from the countryside, does not like to bargain - especially at the markets in PP- because he thinks it makes him look poor. And he would rather pay more than he can afford than have people think that he is poor and look down on him. I thought he was being a bit silly, but I understand better now.
It comes back to "face" doesn't it ? It is easier to bargain hard when you don't care what people think of you.

This can work to your advantage if you are the first customer: make me a good price for this and I will buy it and bring you good luck. You will have good business all day. Good for you, good for me.
Sometimes this actually works as a bargaining strategy.

I always have done this after experienced so many ripping off. i always bargained every time i bought some stuff. i always asked them to offer me the best price if they don't want to have bad luck for the rest of the day. it actually worked most of the time.

As for Khmers getting ripped off - yes, I thought for a long time that a Khmer would always get a better price than me at the market. This is not so, and my limited scientific experience on the subject leads me to believe that women are better bargainers than men.
Very interesting what you say about Chinese-cambodians Samouth. I have sometimes got the feeling that my nephew, who is a Khmer originally from the countryside, does not like to bargain - especially at the markets in PP- because he thinks it makes him look poor. And he would rather pay more than he can afford than have people think that he is poor and look down on him. I thought he was being a bit silly, but I understand better now.
It comes back to "face" doesn't it ? It is easier to bargain hard when you don't care what people think of you.

I finally got someone who believed that barangs don't pay more than khmer for most of the time. some time you guy get better or cheaper price than us. You are right that most of women are better bargainers. They always get better price. So it is good to ask them to buy stuff on behalf of us.

For a few years ago. i was completely like your nephew. I was so much into saving face. i was always so concerned and worried how other people might think about me. However, thing has absolutely changed, i started to bargain and did whatever i wanted to do. i really don't care what other people might think about me. i can't stop them from having negative ideas about me, so why bother to concern instead of just let them be and have a great day for yourself.

I'm not good at bargaining too, but I always bring my friend to go shopping with me because she is really good at it.