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It's been part of the culture for centuries. In fact, where haggling is popular in many places around the world, THEY find you disrespectful if you don't.

In Spanish-language publications, the idea of "regatear" (try to get an artisan vendor to lower a price) is truly being discouraged and most thoughtful people, foreigners and Mexicans alike, agree that asking for a lower price on an artisan's goods is incorrect. Most artisans price their products substantially below a retail price. For example, if you shop at Mexico City's Museo de Arte Popular, the items are priced approximately three times the vendor's price if the vendor sold direct to you. At the Casa de Artesanías in Morelia, the same is true. Worse yet, the museums accept the items on consignment from the artisans and a much of the time the artisan doesn't get paid at all for what the museum sells. The artisan has to go to the museum any number of times to ask for payment for an item or items that are no longer in the museum stores, only to be told, "Oh, that item broke," or "Sorry, but it's been lost somewhere," or "Come back next month, we don't have the funds to pay you right now." If the vendor's stated price is more than you want to pay, say gracias and go elsewhere. If you hear a vendor offer an item to another client at a substantially lower price, an identical item to the one that interests you, ask if you can have it at the same price. You don't know the story behind the sale: maybe the potential buyer has purchased extensively from that artisan in the past and is giving a discounted price to a well-known client. For example, I know many, many artisans in various states of Mexico--as do many of you. If you or I have purchased items from Sr. Fulano in the past, he might well say, "The price is 500 pesos--but to you, it's 400." You don't know the reason, you just think you're getting the higher "gringo price". If you look hesitant to buy, and the vendor OFFERS you a lower price, buy the item. Watch for these words in publications about artisans' work: "DI NO A REGATEAR." "Say no to bargaining."

I have always gotten good competitive pricing and great service from Cristina's in the El Torito mall

While I know that most store owners/vendors are open to negotiation of their prices, I had no idea the same may be true of pharmacies! I asked for a medication that I usually fill in Chapala and for which I'm charged 37 to 53 pesos, depending on the pharmacy. At this pharmacy, I was quoted 110 pesos by the woman at the counter. When I walked away, she said she would take 100! How about that? Only a hundred...

Mudgirl is absolutely right. When I'm on the west coach at the various beaches, I know after 20 years of doing this that they at least double the price before they start. And listen, when the dealing starts with the vendor dropping the price, the game is afoot. When I say double, I don't mean the price they expect to get but the price they probably paid. But of course we are all grownups: I'm pretty sure most of us are capable of figuring out when haggling is fair and when it's not. It's also quite true that items at the Monday tianguis in Chapala are overall priced lower than items at the Ajijic tianguis on Wednesdays. Whether this is worth haggling over is not for me to say.

I would just point out that most of the vendors we deal with make a lot less money than most of us get every month. Haggling with them over a few pesos that you can well afford is crass. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. IMHO

Gracias, More Liana, that is the point I clumsily tried to make. I have heard expats brag about the "deal" they got from an artisan and it saddens me.

I don´t know exactly which pharmacy the OP was referring to, but here in Chapala many people claim to get the best prices at the Farmacia Ahuacatlán, right across from Santander Bank. And Ahorros Pharmacy right before the bus station is another option for good low prices.

I have as well, and I feel they know what they are doing. I had a prescription and it said take 3X for a week. The girl said know that will kill you and called the doctor who admitted the error. I was to take one ,,,once,

That depends. In the situation described, the poster was normally paying half or less than the quoted price elsewhere and the shopkeeper should have offered a better price. A certain amount of negotiation is expected in other situations. It is not uncommon to be quoted a "gringo price" which is higher.😉

I find the whole notion of haggling with artisans, vendors and shopkeepers disrespectful and demeaning.