Essay · 8 min read
How to Negotiate like an Indian - 7 Rules
Tim Ferriss · tim.blog Free Beginner India
Sabeer Bhatia, who sold Hotmail to Microsoft, traces his negotiating instincts back to haggling in vegetable markets in Bengaluru, and this piece lays out the rules he actually used, like never assuming the first price is the last one. It is a quick, concrete reminder that hard bargaining in India is a known, learnable game, not a personal insult aimed at your business. Read it once before your next big negotiation to recalibrate your expectations.
- Assume the quoted price is a starting point on both sides of the table, not a final number.
- Walking away, or being willing to, is real negotiating leverage.
- Patience beats urgency in a culture where negotiation itself is part of the relationship.
