Advice for Canal Street

Canal street is all about the game of trying to get people to lower their prices.  They always start out at a really high price which almost makes me want to laugh every time.  Do not buy anything from Canal without going back and forth a little bit.

First, think about the price you want for the bag or whatever it is.  My usual price is $25.00.  Once you have the price in your mind for the item that you want I first start out by asking, "How much?"   They will usually say like 50 dollars, then I'll just say no.  Then I think of the price that I want to get it for.  If it's $25.00 then I'll usually say $20.00.  They'll say, "No this bag is real leather, looks like real leather" trying to talk up the bag.  Then just wait, I usually just tell them I'm going to look around at other places and come back.  That is the worst thing they could ever hear.  They know that each place you go to is going to have a similar bag and you'll probably end up buying from someone else.  Then linger around the shop a bit on your way out.  In this time they'll probably start dropping their prices on their own.  Then as they come down a little you move yours up a little until you settle on something for a decent price.  My rule is if it’s within a couple of dollars within what you are asking I’ll go for it.  What’s 2 dollars?  To get an even better deal buy multiple things at the same place, it makes it easier to negotiate.  Follow the same bargaining as above.  If they aren’t going to give you what you want, walk away.  Go to another one of the many other shops and you can probably find the same thing and start all over again.  I find bags I want really fast at Canal, but sometimes it takes time to find “the bag” so be patient.  I used to hate bargaining for a better price but now I am better at it, and don’t make Scott do it for me anymore.

I have had random people on the street ask me who designed my bag.  Jokingly I say, "Oh, it's a Canal Street original."  Then they kind of give me a glare.  The truth is I don't know designers, I just know what I like which is why canal street bags are just fine for me.  I really have gotten a lot of compliments on my bags though, and I'm sure I will have a large bag collection when we leave someday:)

*Pictures from my mom's facebook album