The bargainer’s guide to Istanbul

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Istanbul

Turkey is definitely not synonymous with Istanbul from a tourist’s point of view, but this amazing city is definitely one of the first things that people who are for the first time in Turkey should see. Not only is it the financial and cultural center of the country, but it is also a great place where you can get acquainted with the friendliness of the Turkish people and many of the customs and rituals that are commonplace in Turkey.

And one of these rituals (and also one of the most essential, if you’re on a budget) is bargaining, which you can do in several places. So here’s a short bargainer’s guide to Istanbul.

Know your target

One of the key elements to bargaining is to know the average price on the market. Don’t just stop at the first stall or shop where you find something that you want – go and browse around as many shops as you can, in order to get a feel of the prices. It’s good to find out how much the locals pay for a particular type of item, especially if the prices are not posted.

Learn to pretend

The secret to convincing the shopkeeper to give you a discount is to look like you’re not overly interested in the item you want to buy. Feigning nonchalance is important, just think of bargaining as of a poker game.

Look around for a while, as if you’re not looking at anything in particular, and don’t ask for prices right away.

Let the shopkeeper make the first move

If a shopkeeper asks you how much you are willing to pay for an item, you should just ask how much they’re asking for it. Usually, the initial price is higher than what the shop people expect you to pay, and sometimes you can get an item for a third or a quarter of the first price. When making an offer, keep in mind the average price of the particular piece you want to buy.

Impress the shopkeeper

If you know some information about the object you want to buy, it never hurts to act like a know-it-all, because chances are that you will be seen as a fellow connoisseur.

If you make it known that you are not completely clueless about carpets, silk or anything else you might want to buy, you might just impress the shopkeeper into giving you a better price.

Keep your promise

Bargaining in Turkey is a social custom, and once you and the shopkeeper have both agreed on a price, it is expected that you should buy the item. Walking away after the price was agreed on is extremely poor manners, especially if the shopkeeper’s spent a lot of time with you.

With these tips in mind, try your luck at the Grand Bazaar, Egyptian Market, Arasta Bazaar and others!

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