WARNING! MADABA HANDICRAFT CENTER "BAIT & SWITCH" and other Jordan Warning Or Danger Tips

The MADABA HANDICRAFT CENTER is a huge souvenir shop near Madaba on the road to Mt. Nebo. They demonstrate how mosaics are made, have an enormous variety of mosaics and souvenirs and a large staff which is overly-attentive. They are, unfortunately, mentioned in the book "Jordan Jubilee".

I purchased an expensive (350 JD) hand-painted ostrich egg in this shop on Oct. 14, 2007. They packaged the egg and taped the box while I was paying for it. When I opened the box a week later, I discovered that they had switched the egg I paid for, for a less-expensive egg. I contacted the manager of the shop and he offered to exchange the egg if I returned it - of course, I had already left Jordan, which, I'm sure is exactly what he had counted on - or sell me the egg I had already purchased for "half price". He also didn't seem the least bit shocked about the "bait & switch" with the egg and never apologized. He acted as though this was a regular part of their business practice.

I did some investigation and discovered that I am not the first victim of this shop's "bait & switch" practice. Another couple purchased a mosaic table for more than $2,000 and when it was delivered, they discovered that the table shipped to them was not the one they paid for, but a less expensive one. They had difficulty getting their money back and incurred additional expenses just trying to return the table. Please see their letter at: http://www.aramcoexpats.com/Articles/Pipeline/Opinions-And-Editorials/1461.aspx

PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THIS SHOP! I am reporting them to the Board of Tourism and Madaba Chamber of Commerce because they are committing fraud on tourists. If you are going on a tour, please notify your tour agent of the Madaba Handicraft Center's practice of fraud. Also, please warn anyone who might be traveling to Madaba or Mt. Nebo not to go to this shop.

I would like to add that we met many wonderful people on our trip to Jordan. The kindness and generosity of those people more than makes up for the dishonesty of this one merchant.

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