Selling to the Salesman: San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico

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Similar to most touristy areas, income generated from tourism is a main pillar to the San Cristobal de las Casas economy. It has not taken long for the locals to figure out that many of these tourists enjoy the arts and crafts that the Chiapas region produces. Indeed, arts and crafts are on display everywhere in this city, not only in the market but just about everywhere a saleswoman could encounter a customer. Most ingenious of them are the walking saleswomen who have realized the uselessness of waiting all day behind a stand for tourists that never show up or purchase, better to go look for them directly. Consequently there are armies of saleswomen marching through town approaching every tourist in sight. It is impossible to find refuge from these entrepreneurs (except in your hotel room), they even enter restaurants (feeling no shame) move your plate a bit to the side and spread out their merchandise on the dinner table and refuse to leave until you make a purchase. Initially amusing but after a few days annoying, my friend Saul and I had to think of a solution.

The plan was simple; we would beat the saleswomen at their own game. From that moment on, I was a professional photographer and Saul a watch salesman. Every salesman that approached us, we would advise that we were also in the business of selling and if there were so kind as to buy one of my professional photographs or Saul’s watch we would gladly return the favor and make a purchase from them. The strategy worked like a charm. Most saleswomen disappeared within 2 seconds of hearing that they were supposed to buy something. Others just stood there in astonishment not quite sure what was going on.

Not only did we have a lot of fun with our sales efforts (I have to admit that I failed to sell a single photograph and Saul still has his watch) but from then on we were able to move about the city in peace.