"Kapag hindi binigay sa akin sa gusto kong presyo, bibitawan ko talaga. Sasabihin ko, 'Mahal naman!' At alam mo namang may makikita ka pang iba, sa dami ba naman nila!
"Minsan nga sa kaiikot mo, mababalikan mo ulit yung pinagtawaran mo. Bigla ka pa nilang lalapitan na, "Sige na nga, pero sa 'yo ko long ibibigay ng ganyan 'yan, ha, kasi artista ka.' Ewan ko, pero baka ek-ek long 'yon."—John Lapus on haggling
JOHN LAPUS: "Ang mindset mo dapat: everything is cheap. Never buy anything above P100. Remember these are second hand, and actually donations from other countries. Maghanda ka na ng tig-P100, 50, 20 sa pitaka mo.Siguraduhin mong alam mo na rin what you want. You would need P500 at least. Marami ka nang mabibili niyan. 'Pag tatawad ka, always round off the price to the nearest hundred. Kahit P500 pa siya, ang tawad mo lagi P100. Kung
ayaw, di 'wag. Punta ka sa ibang shop. Kung P85 naman, P50 ang tawad mo. Kahit hindi mo magagamit ang jackets sa Manila, buy some for travels abroad. Imagine a thermal jacket for P100! Wala kang mabibilihan ng ganyan dito!"
ANGEL AQUINO: "Bring a lot of patience. You have to go to the old ukay-ukay. Don't look for nice stylish tops because they're not as durable as jackets, pants. Be in comfortable clothing. Get ready to sweat. Know your budget. Don't go over that. You have to keep in mind that the people selling the items don't get them as high. If they don't give you the price that you want, you can always go to other shops and see cheaper stuff."
Angel Aquino, TV host/actress, was already shopping at the ukay-ukay while still in college.
Even before everybody "discovered" Baguio's ukay-ukay, Angel had already shopped there. For Angel, shopping at the "hilltop" back in college was not a matter of fashion savvy but of plain necessity.
"When you're a student, you don't have the budget," she recalls. "And at school we need mga pants so you work around your allowance as budget for shopping."
Just the same, Angel, who was never a big shopper, was overwhelmed by the choices.
"P1,500 is the most I've spent in the ukay-ukay. Today, I get tempted when I see the stores here in Manila pero hindi na lang ako pumapasok. I would compulsively buy for my kids though."
AGOT ISIDRO: "Don't buy stuff like fur-lined jackets but if you really have to use it, fine, buy it. See the need for it first."
Agot Isidro, TV host/singer, has been to the ukay-ukay thrice. We asked Agot,"Do you go to the ukay-ukay?"
Her excited reply: "Yes! Yes! You know what really keeps me excited among all things is getting something in a bargain. Gustong-gusto ko yung, 'Tingnan mo ang ganda-ganda pero ang mura niyan!' Siyempre tumatawad ka rin.That's the fun of it."
