Yes, very rude. But everyone who's said that you should get the money up-front is right. It's hard enough to trust a friend where money is concerned, a stranger shouldn't be trusted at all.
Originally Posted by Randobarf
They are the same people who will bargain someone down five cents in a poor third world country
If you don't bargain for 5 cents in a third world country, you create the illusion that tourists are there to be taken advantage of. For the next tourist to come along, the price will be higher, because clearly if you agreed to the initial offer, the initial offer was too low.