Writer didn’t do Mexico justice

I hope prospective first-time travelers to Oaxaca do not look to “To Market, to Market in Oaxaca” [Nov. 14] for clues on how to behave as a tourist from the north in Mexico.

Author Kevin Brass’ ethnocentric read on bargaining and on what he characterizes as sleepy chauffeurs too transparently belies the stereotypes of getting items cheaply in Mexico and of inferior Mexican work habits and initiative, and is an ugly stain on the Travel section of the major English-language paper informing Southern California’s diverse population.

When my travel companions ask me about bargaining, I suggest that they don’t even ask about price unless they see something in which they are genuinely interested. Then the vendor, who is often the artist or a family member, has the option of initiating a conversation about his or her best price, rather than engaging in a demeaning give-and-take over an object that is not genuinely desired.

It’s true that sometimes a vendor, seeing a hard-to-miss tourist, may double the price. But in the second-poorest state in Mexico, especially in the markets, this is done less today than in the past, because people desperately depend on making that sale and want to offer an appealing and fair price more readily.

Marie Unini

Juniper Hills, Calif.

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I was disappointed in what you called your Mexico issue, which was really not about Mexico but about shopping. I can go to Olvera Street and buy Mexican products.

Mexico is an interesting and exciting country, and you didn’t even scratch the surface.

Tom Ireland

La Crescenta