Shopping in Hoi An, Vietnam

Huge disappointment. I’d seen that Friendly Shoe Shop was recommended by a blog. I went there with the intention of buying a small leather backpack. I visited once for a look around, then went online to compare prices with shops in Europe, like Marius, which specializes in leather. I realized that for the same price ($145 US), I could find the same thing in Paris. I went back to Friendly Shoe Shop and tried to see if it was possible to negotiate. The saleswoman immediately reacted. With a smile, she took the bag, put it back on display, and told me: "If you want to negotiate, go to the market!" Basically, she was telling me to get lost. You can easily apologize by saying prices are fixed and non-negotiable, but it’s unacceptable to react that way when the prices are excessive. It’s really taking tourists for a ride.

When you know the cost of living in Vietnam, this price is nothing short of a scam. I’m not questioning the quality of the product. If the workers were paid 3 or 5 times the normal rate, I wouldn’t mind. But there’s no indication that’s the case.

In summary, in Hoi An, you have the choice between: - Quality shops where you’ll pay the same price as in a European capital, which gives the owner a huge margin since they don’t pay import taxes, transportation costs, and manufacture directly, etc. - Counterfeit shops where you won’t pay much for mediocre quality.

Friendly Shoe Shop has nothing friendly or fair about it. It’ll suit people who travel for two or three weeks, have the means, and want to say when they get home that they bought a bag or shoes in Hoi An. For everyone else, there’s nothing fair about it…

Bitter and upset because we couldn't treat ourselves to a little indulgence at a "third-world" price: it was really worth starting a thread to share the huge disappointment that came from it... Don't miss the snap judgments at the end—they're also worth a careful read...

Annoyed at being poorly received and treated like an idiot the moment she saw I wasn’t the usual sucker! Plus, the owner responded to my Google review by brazenly lying. Prices are similar to those in Europe, even though there are no customs taxes or shipping fees. At Paul Marius in the Marais, right in the heart of Paris, it’s the same prices. $145 for a small backpack in Vietnam! It’s outrageous. If at least it were fair trade, I wouldn’t mind, but that’s not the case. So the owner is making a huge profit. That’s what we call taking tourists for fools. But clearly, you don’t read carefully and judge hastily.

I have a cousin who's a wholesale supplier of paper tissues. I'll ask him to have a pallet delivered to you.

Given the cost of living in Vietnam, this price is neither more nor less than a scam.

Hello,

I understand your disappointment, but in the case you’re describing, there’s no scam. In other words, there was no deception about the product. It was exactly what you expected from this item. We weren’t trying to mislead you about its quality. Sure, the seller could’ve been friendlier—more like a proper salesperson—but as you mentioned, since the bags sell so well, she had no reason to give you a discount.

Friendly shoe shop has nothing friendly or fair about it.

Based on how the transaction went, it’s true it wasn’t "friendly." "Fair trade" is one of those buzzwords that sells but doesn’t really mean much.

Thanks Djalma, You're absolutely right, and your message is the most reasonable one in this whole discussion—including mine. As you understood, what infuriated me was the behavior of that saleswoman, especially in such a highly touristy area where you feel like you're seen only as a walking wallet. I've traveled and lived abroad enough to realize how I'm perceived... Thanks again for your reply.