Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Art of Bargaining
Friday July 2
Early in the morning on July 2nd Professor John Daniel brought me to Warwick Junction to go to a bead market. Let me first explain the incredibleness (yes that's a word) of that simple sentence.
John Daniel is a South African citizen and holds a B.A. (1964) in political science from the University of Natal, South Africa and an M.A. and Ph.D. (1975) in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has taught at universities in the United States, Swaziland, the Netherlands, and South Africa. He was active in student politics in South Africa and served two terms as president of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). ... blah blah blah same old boring bio right... NOPE- let me finish his bio
Dr. Daniel went into exile in 1968 and returned in 1991 to head the International Studies Unit at Rhodes University. In 1993, he assumed the chair (headship) in political science at the University of Durban-Westville. From 1997 to 1999, he was seconded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as a senior researcher responsible for documenting the South African state's gross human rights violations outside South Africa. In 2001, he joined the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South Africa's national social science council, as a researcher in governance and democracy and as the head of its publishing arm, the HSRC Press. From 2002 to 2006, he co-edited and contributed to four volumes in the HSRC's State of the Nation series.
Yeah thats right- exile- and not from one country but 2.... This man has been termed the "premier political scientist in all of South Africa" by his comrades. His life story - simply incredible and his role in post apartheid South Africa- amazing. Someone was telling me that they were walking through the airport with John and the president of South Africa yelled across the airport- Hey John! How are you!... the president of the country.
Okay so you get the idea... John Daniel is kind of a big deal
So now Warwick Junction.
Durban.gov describes Warwick like this:
Warwick Junction is seen as the main transport hub and gateway into the city and more than 400 000 people who rely on public transport pass through this area on a daily basis.
The rejuvenation of the Warwick Junction area is long overdue. This area is over populated with traders, pedestrians and vehicles. Because of this and other factors, this area is home to one of the country’s worst intersections for fatalities. With hundreds of accidents occurring in the area annually, rampant crime, overcrowding, and other ills concentrated in this area, the revamp is critical for the safety of the commuters, residents and business and all who pass through the area on a daily basis.
Alright...so now the the actual day...on Friday morning's women begin walking from a rural area for hours to be to the bead market by 6am- for the opening. They sell and trade their goods throughout the day before making the long journey back to their homes.
As we approached the market John and I were discussing bargaining for prices inside.
He mentioned that you could bargain- something I've always considered a bit of a sport- walking away proud at how I talked them down from R40 to R30 (the difference is just over $1). As I started growing excited for the upcoming "contest" - John said something so simple yet so powerful. I do not recall his exact words yet t was something to the effect of: "you can bargain here but really for what... the difference in R10 to them is food while to you it is pocket change". What a naive oversight I've had- bargain to get a price lower for the personal satisfaction of a challenge- yet never thinking critically about the consequence of my challenge on the life of another human being. I certainly manage my budget tightly and have to watch costs but John was so right on this one... Why bargain someone from R40 to R30 when financially it is really no difference to me...
Suddenly I thought back to another situation when I was down the coast on an overnight excursion with the students. I was looking at a pair of sunglasses sold on the beach and in a fierce negotiation with the lady selling them. After I purchased them she asked my Zulu speaking friend I was with where I was from. When she heard America she began laughing and then said something to the effect of "Americans- I don't get them- they come hear and bargain for everything down to the very last Rand yet they are rich and me... I'm hungry- *sigh*... Americans..."
Perhaps I am not being as articulate as I would hope. While I believe there is room to bargain to get a fair price the ignorance and stupidity of "walking away" to get that last R10 knocked off the price suddenly seemed absurd, niave, ignorant, careless, selfish- and oh so many other things-
Early in the morning on July 2nd Professor John Daniel brought me to Warwick Junction to go to a bead market. Let me first explain the incredibleness (yes that's a word) of that simple sentence.
John Daniel is a South African citizen and holds a B.A. (1964) in political science from the University of Natal, South Africa and an M.A. and Ph.D. (1975) in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has taught at universities in the United States, Swaziland, the Netherlands, and South Africa. He was active in student politics in South Africa and served two terms as president of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). ... blah blah blah same old boring bio right... NOPE- let me finish his bio
Dr. Daniel went into exile in 1968 and returned in 1991 to head the International Studies Unit at Rhodes University. In 1993, he assumed the chair (headship) in political science at the University of Durban-Westville. From 1997 to 1999, he was seconded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as a senior researcher responsible for documenting the South African state's gross human rights violations outside South Africa. In 2001, he joined the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), South Africa's national social science council, as a researcher in governance and democracy and as the head of its publishing arm, the HSRC Press. From 2002 to 2006, he co-edited and contributed to four volumes in the HSRC's State of the Nation series.
Yeah thats right- exile- and not from one country but 2.... This man has been termed the "premier political scientist in all of South Africa" by his comrades. His life story - simply incredible and his role in post apartheid South Africa- amazing. Someone was telling me that they were walking through the airport with John and the president of South Africa yelled across the airport- Hey John! How are you!... the president of the country.
Okay so you get the idea... John Daniel is kind of a big deal
So now Warwick Junction.
Durban.gov describes Warwick like this:
Warwick Junction is seen as the main transport hub and gateway into the city and more than 400 000 people who rely on public transport pass through this area on a daily basis.
The rejuvenation of the Warwick Junction area is long overdue. This area is over populated with traders, pedestrians and vehicles. Because of this and other factors, this area is home to one of the country’s worst intersections for fatalities. With hundreds of accidents occurring in the area annually, rampant crime, overcrowding, and other ills concentrated in this area, the revamp is critical for the safety of the commuters, residents and business and all who pass through the area on a daily basis.
Alright...so now the the actual day...on Friday morning's women begin walking from a rural area for hours to be to the bead market by 6am- for the opening. They sell and trade their goods throughout the day before making the long journey back to their homes.
As we approached the market John and I were discussing bargaining for prices inside.
He mentioned that you could bargain- something I've always considered a bit of a sport- walking away proud at how I talked them down from R40 to R30 (the difference is just over $1). As I started growing excited for the upcoming "contest" - John said something so simple yet so powerful. I do not recall his exact words yet t was something to the effect of: "you can bargain here but really for what... the difference in R10 to them is food while to you it is pocket change". What a naive oversight I've had- bargain to get a price lower for the personal satisfaction of a challenge- yet never thinking critically about the consequence of my challenge on the life of another human being. I certainly manage my budget tightly and have to watch costs but John was so right on this one... Why bargain someone from R40 to R30 when financially it is really no difference to me...
Suddenly I thought back to another situation when I was down the coast on an overnight excursion with the students. I was looking at a pair of sunglasses sold on the beach and in a fierce negotiation with the lady selling them. After I purchased them she asked my Zulu speaking friend I was with where I was from. When she heard America she began laughing and then said something to the effect of "Americans- I don't get them- they come hear and bargain for everything down to the very last Rand yet they are rich and me... I'm hungry- *sigh*... Americans..."
Perhaps I am not being as articulate as I would hope. While I believe there is room to bargain to get a fair price the ignorance and stupidity of "walking away" to get that last R10 knocked off the price suddenly seemed absurd, niave, ignorant, careless, selfish- and oh so many other things-
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