7 Examples That Explain How Shopping With An Indian Mother Feels Like You’re On A Hunt

Written by Niharika Nayak, BA (Media & Communication)  • 

Sometimes, we end up in situations where we have a lot of money to shop with but nobody to accompany us. So who do we always go to? If you said, “our mums”, you’re right. Your mother is the one person you go to for shopping advice whether it is shopping for clothes, utensils, or house supplies. Just like a lioness, your mother is the one who heads to the market to prowl various small shops in order to indulge in some good old retail therapy. Although her tastes may change over time and mature as she grows older, a few things will remain the same. Her bargaining skills are unparalleled and she can get the price much lower than what the seller is asking for. So, here are seven ways in which shopping with an Indian mom resembles going on the prowl for prey:

1. The Approach

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While shopping at the bazaar, your mum will never enter a shop and stick around. She’ll prefer standing outside the shop and calling out to the shopkeeper. No matter how much he tries to cajole her to step inside, she will refuse and instead will say “Bhaiyaa, woh dikhana.”

The shopkeeper himself will pull out all stops for your mum. From asking the staff to bring her a chair to offering her a lime soda. It’s funny because you never receive the same treatment.

2. Driving The Point

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Despite all the shopkeeper’s attempts at making the shop look cozy and inviting for your mom, she’ll maintain a cold stance, stare down his soul, and ask “How much?”. But now begins the game of cat and mouse. The shopkeeper will quote an exceedingly high price and your mom will bring it down to a lot lower. After a lot of bickering your mom will finally quote a price that she thinks will suit both of them (favoring her). In her own words, “Naa mera, naa tera.”

3. The Shopkeeper Puts On A Brave Fight

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Just like a gazelle trying it’s hardest to run away from the lioness, the shopkeeper too will keep trying to escape from your mom’s haggling. He’ll keep telling her about how incredibly good quality the products are and she will keep insisting that he’s quoting a much higher price than the product is actually worth.

4. Preparing To Pounce

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The shopkeeper will try to pacify your seething mother with some treats like biscuits and chai, but she will refuse to humor him until he lowers his price. The shopkeeper won’t be afraid to pull out all stops to sell his product. He will refer to your mother as his “sister” or “bhabhi” and try to play on her emotional side. However, your mother wasn’t born yesterday. She can see through the shopkeeper’s guise and will not give him attention unless he takes off at least 30 rupees from the price tag.

5. Offering The Bait

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It’s now time for your mother to go full Rambo-mode on the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper will dejectedly ask your mother to quote the final price that she is ready to pay. After your mother probably states a large cut, the shopkeeper will be left dumbfounded at how low a price she is asking for.

6. The Final Cut

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The shopkeeper will then go on a tirade about how expensive the raw materials are and how he is barely making a profit off the product. He’ll give sob stories about his children going hungry and his wife pressuring him to take up another job and try to beg your mom to pay him fairly. Your mom, however, will refuse to yield to his pricing and stand her ground.

7. Hook, Line, And Sinker

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But alas, the shopkeeper’s words fall on deaf ears and your mother pretends to make an epic exit out of the showroom. Seeing his meal ticket walk away will inspire a new sense of understanding in the shopkeeper and he will suddenly be ready to succumb to your mother’s will and lower his prices. Begrudgingly he will state, “Theek hain madam, aapki marzi.” and pack up the product neatly for your mom. Another successful shopping trip complete!

While you may not always agree with your mom’s haggling techniques, you sure as hell admire her for her ability to stand strong against people twice her size. She might have all the money in the world, but in the end, her mom instincts will kick in. For your mother, it has nothing to do with money but more to do with paying a fair price for the product you are purchasing. But hey, as the saying goes, “Mommy knows best” and you are bound to eventually inherit her bargaining skills as you grow older. Do you agree with our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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