Haggling in Japan?

[stratjacket]

My wife and I are heading to Japan on Tuesday, will be there 7 days. We will be around Tokyo. I will have 2 days alone to do whatever I want and those are the days I'm planning to hit a bunch of guitar shops. Also, we will spend 1 day in Osaka (bullet train) and plan to hit a couple of stores there.

I know exactly the guitar I want to try and I've found 2 stores that have one. My question for the folks in the know, should I try to haggle prices at the music store in Japan?

My wife (who is Japanese) says she doesn't think so, but I've seen some youtube videos where people said they did. Any advice would be helpful, thanks.

 

[FourT6and2]

I spent two years in Japan, but I don't recall haggling ever being a thing. I guess it can't hurt to try? The worst that could happen is the clerk might kancho you (ask your wife).

 

[stratjacket]

Appreciate it man.
It’s a 2019 model. With the current exchange rate, the guitar would be about $2290 and is in stock in Japan. The same guitar lists for $2199 in the US and available in June so wondering if I haggled down a bit...anyway I guess I’ll find out next week.

 

[errrrrl]

I don't know man I guess worth trying. I'll be in Japan at the end of the month and booked a hotel just outside of Ochanomizu aka Guitar Street lol... my poor wife and kids have no idea

 

[Candiria]

I went to visit north east music center in the Poconos a few years back. The owner is a big Anderson dealer, also has a lot of PRS and other higher end gear. He said he gets a lot of Japanese customers who come by when they're in New York and not a single one has ever haggled on anything they've purchased. Full price for every Anderson, Suhr, PRS etc, even repeat buyers never haggled.

My guess is haggling is going to seem rude. But then again you're never going to see them again so maybe give it a shot haha

 

[errrrrl]

I was just asking my japanese coworker from Japan about haggling and she said generally no except maybe for a market place type environment. Then I mentioned guitar shops and she said its probably worth trying to ask since you are not from Japan. The worse case scenario is no and you'll just be another tourist. I may give it shot when I'm there.

 

[stratjacket]

Thanks, if I find something I want to buy, maybe I'll give it a go but I suck at haggling anyway so probably won't.