I see what u all mean and can, to a certain point, agree with what it said.
BUT only away from home, ie diffrent citie, vacation........
Couple of real examples.
#1. I buy quite a bit of stuff every month in an agrovet in a nearby village. Dog food, corn for chicken, ant poison......
Lets note first, I go there for cheaper prices. The same brand of dog food is 200/300 pesos cheaper than lasirena.
Anyway, after the second month, one of the employees ( who is a real nice guy-----other reason I go there and not elsewhere) says to me, the boss ( a nice elder lady ), gives u a 10% discount on brands ( like pedigree pal,.....) and 15%on non-brand ( corn, alimento....).
I never asked for anything, I just shopped there cos they are nice and fair priced.
#2. An occasional maid, whom I would pay by the day, wondered if I could employ her full time ( well my wife and her "ganged up" ).
I explained that no only could I not afford to pay her. She then quotes 3000 pesos a month. I explain to her she would earn just the same working only 6 days. "No importe, that way I have a fixed income to count on"........
#3. Took my parents to eat fish at "el castillo" beach. The lady had redecorated, with those taino/haitian colourful paintings. My parents wanted some, so asked where we could buy them. So address, phone and price ( 400 pesos ) and all......
She comes back to serve the food and tells me we can buy them off her and she will get 2 more off the painter. I expected a ridiculous price...... but no she says 400 pesos.......... in the end of course we left her a nice tip.....
So same as back in europe, I shop in certain places and avoid others. Use certain workers/services and avoid others......
Also I noticed that my parents will get quoted one price and me another in touristy places..... but we are all white and blond and speak broken spanish....the diffrence in my opinion....... shorts and flip flops dont cut it here, neither do flashy western type clothing....... just saying.