business in Zambia

Well, my trip to Ndola was eye-opening, to say the least. (it looks
like my pictures didn't make it through, either -- bummer) Here's a
example of me trying to buy some cloth to make some OR drapes:

Go into store, where there are about 9-10 men standing behind various
counters. No one makes eye contact.
Go up to man, ask where the heavy-weight calico is, get vague gesture
towards cloth bolts across the room
Go over to other side of room, begin looking at cloth, none of which is
labelled
Ask second man where the heavy-weight calico is, get vague gesture that
intersects the line of the other man's gesture about halfway
Look around in general area, find some canvas and silk.
Ask third man to take me and show me the calico
He takes me over to a bolt of cloth standing literally 1 foot away from
where the 1st man was
I ask how much the cloth costs
I am told 14,000/meter. I frown. I am told 13,000/meter. I frown. I
am told 12,000/meter.
I say I would like to buy some cloth, and ask how much is on the bolt.
He says around 30 meters.
I say okay, I would like to buy the bolt. He takes the bolt over to the
table, and begins stripping it off the bolt, measuring it in a vague way
by arm widths.
I am told there is 40 meters. I say I would still like to buy it. We
then proceed to roll up the bolt and now measure it again using a ruler.
I am told there are 49 meters. I say I would still like to buy it.
They begin folding up the cloth.
I say I would like the cloth to be put back on the roll. They recruit
three other men to help them roll it up, foot by foot. I am told the
price will be 14,000/meter.
I frown. I say they agreed on 12,000/meter. The boss comes over and
agrees to give it for 12,000/meter.

Pretty much everything I buy works the same way. Tiring, to say the least.