Post by yenilira on Nov 1, 2011 1:41:10 GMT 1
It could be one of the main reasons why some people avoid particular shopping districts altogether. Others find it an irresistible challenge. There's no escaping it in Turkey in most shops and markets.
What am I on about?
"Haggling” of course.
As a tourist you may well think that haggling was invented for non-Turks, (or wherever you may be- Ventimiglia, Napoli, Obagul, Praha, Dubai, Mumbai, Bali, Bangkok) but of course that's not the case.
Haggling is an inextricable part of day-to-day life here and you'll notice that a calculator is always within easy reach!
(That is not just to show us linguistically-impaired dumb foreigners what they mean when they say - “Otuz tek bir lirasý” *....but that's by and by).
Turks will often haggle fiercely over the final price of, for example, furniture, jewellery, or clothing, even between themselves, but when a “Yabanci”** hoves into view, the price rises a notch or three.
Yes, that is certainly true, as many a tour guide will tell you that the 'first price' is around 50+% higher.
So here's a few tips on how to go about the business of “Pazarlik Etmek.”
Firstly, familiarise yourself with the local currency. In Turkey, it's more often than not better to stick with the Lira, and not pay in Euros (€), Sterling, or US Dollars. You could end up paying more through their exchange rate (cambio) calculations.
I always draw up a list of Lira prices (ie.25 kuruþ, 75 Kuruþ, 1 Lira, 2 TL, 3,50TL, 12,75TL etc etc) with the Sterling and Euro equivalents for whenever I go abroad, and carry it around with me.
Next: If you want to find out how much something costs, ask as if you aren't really bothered. This could be done at a number of stalls until you've got a fair idea how much the stallholders would roughly charge.
Don't let on that you really want something, as the price is then inflated.
Thirdly: Only start if you really are prepared to haggle for something. If the trader agrees a price with you and you then don't want it, you could find yourself in a spot of bother. (This is where the Zabita sometimes have to step in).
Fourthly: When you start negotiating, pay attention to the trader's temperment and demeanor; the more serious they get, the closer you are to a 'good price'. Even when they say that such and such a figure is “..my best price...” you know that whatever they state is still open to negotiation – just.
If they ask for, for example, 10 (lira), you offer 5 or 6. Less sometimes. I usually start on 3 or 4 out of ten, and more often than not, we come to a good compromise.
Fifthly: If you don't agree to the trader's final offer, and they start moaning, politely say goodbye and walk away. If they call you back you know you can get the item cheaper or at your last price.
At one stall in Obagul market last year, my wife walked away two/three times before she bought the item she wanted.
Mind you, she did want this item.
However, if they don't call you back, you know your final offer was too low. One thing is not to fall for any tales- they will plead and tell you sob stories about his leprous children and his dying parents, or he's got an ailing wife and ten children to feed, how can he make a living at your price? etc etc.
Just don't fall for any of them, no matter how heart-rending they seem.
They're just a load of b******s – he knows it, you know it, and he knows you know it, but hey, that's all part of the fun of haggling.
Of course, it helps to be able to communicate in the vendor's own language, so you can toss in phrases like "I wouldn't even let my camel sleep on that filthy rug!" But I'm guessing you don't speak Turkish, but what my wife usually says, when the price is still sticky, “... I can get the same thing cheaper in (Bury) market back home in England...” or words to that effect.........
A negotiated deal is always sealed with a handshake.
Be prepared (if you understand some of the lingo) for some mild insults cloaked in a syrupy smile if the vendor thinks the deal is not going his way.
When's the best time to haggle?
Early morning or before the market shuts?
Debateable, but at the day's end, most will be wanting to get rid..............
The more you buy from any one stall, ie. T-shirts and shorts, obviously the cheaper it gets.
There's no way I, and my wife, will ever get bored with it. It's part of your holiday, it's a challenge to see how far you can drive the price down, it adds a bit of spice to your day, and do you know what, traders expect you to haggle.
If you don't, they find it very strange.
Last season, whilst going through the local markets, my favourite ploy was when at footie clothing stalls, especially when the stallholders became a bit persistant, was to ask them ..
“...have you got a Blackpool top/strip?” ? That shut 'em up a bit!
Eðlenin!
YL.
* thirty-one lira.
** 'foreigner'.
p.s. Might be an idea to copy/save this, those who are thinking about a visit to Turkey next year?
What am I on about?
"Haggling” of course.
As a tourist you may well think that haggling was invented for non-Turks, (or wherever you may be- Ventimiglia, Napoli, Obagul, Praha, Dubai, Mumbai, Bali, Bangkok) but of course that's not the case.
Haggling is an inextricable part of day-to-day life here and you'll notice that a calculator is always within easy reach!
(That is not just to show us linguistically-impaired dumb foreigners what they mean when they say - “Otuz tek bir lirasý” *....but that's by and by).
Turks will often haggle fiercely over the final price of, for example, furniture, jewellery, or clothing, even between themselves, but when a “Yabanci”** hoves into view, the price rises a notch or three.
Yes, that is certainly true, as many a tour guide will tell you that the 'first price' is around 50+% higher.
So here's a few tips on how to go about the business of “Pazarlik Etmek.”
Firstly, familiarise yourself with the local currency. In Turkey, it's more often than not better to stick with the Lira, and not pay in Euros (€), Sterling, or US Dollars. You could end up paying more through their exchange rate (cambio) calculations.
I always draw up a list of Lira prices (ie.25 kuruþ, 75 Kuruþ, 1 Lira, 2 TL, 3,50TL, 12,75TL etc etc) with the Sterling and Euro equivalents for whenever I go abroad, and carry it around with me.
Next: If you want to find out how much something costs, ask as if you aren't really bothered. This could be done at a number of stalls until you've got a fair idea how much the stallholders would roughly charge.
Don't let on that you really want something, as the price is then inflated.
Thirdly: Only start if you really are prepared to haggle for something. If the trader agrees a price with you and you then don't want it, you could find yourself in a spot of bother. (This is where the Zabita sometimes have to step in).
Fourthly: When you start negotiating, pay attention to the trader's temperment and demeanor; the more serious they get, the closer you are to a 'good price'. Even when they say that such and such a figure is “..my best price...” you know that whatever they state is still open to negotiation – just.
If they ask for, for example, 10 (lira), you offer 5 or 6. Less sometimes. I usually start on 3 or 4 out of ten, and more often than not, we come to a good compromise.
Fifthly: If you don't agree to the trader's final offer, and they start moaning, politely say goodbye and walk away. If they call you back you know you can get the item cheaper or at your last price.
At one stall in Obagul market last year, my wife walked away two/three times before she bought the item she wanted.
Mind you, she did want this item.
However, if they don't call you back, you know your final offer was too low. One thing is not to fall for any tales- they will plead and tell you sob stories about his leprous children and his dying parents, or he's got an ailing wife and ten children to feed, how can he make a living at your price? etc etc.
Just don't fall for any of them, no matter how heart-rending they seem.
They're just a load of b******s – he knows it, you know it, and he knows you know it, but hey, that's all part of the fun of haggling.
Of course, it helps to be able to communicate in the vendor's own language, so you can toss in phrases like "I wouldn't even let my camel sleep on that filthy rug!" But I'm guessing you don't speak Turkish, but what my wife usually says, when the price is still sticky, “... I can get the same thing cheaper in (Bury) market back home in England...” or words to that effect.........
A negotiated deal is always sealed with a handshake.
Be prepared (if you understand some of the lingo) for some mild insults cloaked in a syrupy smile if the vendor thinks the deal is not going his way.
When's the best time to haggle?
Early morning or before the market shuts?
Debateable, but at the day's end, most will be wanting to get rid..............
The more you buy from any one stall, ie. T-shirts and shorts, obviously the cheaper it gets.
There's no way I, and my wife, will ever get bored with it. It's part of your holiday, it's a challenge to see how far you can drive the price down, it adds a bit of spice to your day, and do you know what, traders expect you to haggle.
If you don't, they find it very strange.
Last season, whilst going through the local markets, my favourite ploy was when at footie clothing stalls, especially when the stallholders became a bit persistant, was to ask them ..
“...have you got a Blackpool top/strip?” ? That shut 'em up a bit!
Eðlenin!
YL.
* thirty-one lira.
** 'foreigner'.
p.s. Might be an idea to copy/save this, those who are thinking about a visit to Turkey next year?