Turkey Shopping Tips by Weissdorn Top 5 Page for this destination

The Bazaar: Shopping in Turkey

I can still hear it in my ears: "Hello Madame! Could you please tell me what time it is?" The tricks they use to entice you into their stores are endless. If you're really not interested, you will have to be rude and don't anser them, and don't look at them in the eye.
But if you are going shopping, take time along with you, especially in a bazaar. Turkish salesmen find it distasteful when foreigners don't barter.
The best bartering trick is to pretend a vague disinterest. Those who pretend not really to be interested in the goods, but somehow happen to develop a sudden vague but indefinite interest in them usually have the best cards. Sort of "Well, I really didn't want to spend any money at all today, but because I just happen to have take a liking to you, I just might be inclined to buy it, but I'm still not really sure...." In other words a definite maybe.
A favorite tactic is to keep changing the subject or expressing vague interest or dissatisfaction. My husband once bought a small high-quality hand-woven carpet that is on our coffee table, which normally costs 300 US$ for only 25 US$, simply because he tried to entertain the salesman with stories from home, while I kept going in every 15 minutes, and yelled at him, "Would you come on?! We don't need a stupid carpet!" After the salesperson had 'invested' two hours in my husband, he finally decided to sell the carpet cheaply, rather than to have 'wasted' the whole customer dialog.
The skeptical Germans have a saying: 'Turkey is the only country in the world where you dicker your way down to a ridiculously cheap price, and you're still being ripped off.' The basic tactic you ask how much it costs. They answer with a price that is absolutely off the wall. Then you counter with a price that makes them laugh at you (start with a price you would only offer at a garage sale). Then you're in the running. Somewhere you will meet in the middle.
Another tip is to go to the bazaar when it opens.

What to buy: Turkish salespeople are often superstitious, and the first customer who leaves without buying, brings bad luck for the whole day.
Carpets, but if you want a good deal, visit the shop for a whole week - this drives the salespeople crazy!
Cotton clothing with every fake brand name you can imagine.
Middle Eastern ceramics, lovely designs, but rather fragile.
Gold jewelry and designer watches (copies)
Leather clothing

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