Travelers who have been to other parts of the world are sometimes surprised at how little bargaining goes on Mexico. Or, if there is bargaining, how small a discount is offered. Bargaining goes on here, but it's subtle, and you shouldn't expect to bring prices down 50% or 75%, as happens in places like Southeast Asia.

Here in Oaxaca, people use the phrase "¿Me da precio?" when trying to get a (slightly) better deal. Literally, it means "will you give me a price?", probably a close English translation would be "What's your best price?" Naturally, you won't want to try this at a supermarket, or chain department store but, at a public market, such as Benito Juárez, or Mercado de Abastos -- especially if you're buying a number of items, such as crafts, or souvenirs -- you can bring the total price down a bit.

Plus you'll sound like a real oaxaqueño!