After a recent trip to Turkey, I would like to share my experiences in the art of haggling for rugs in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
Some people seem to think that bargaining is beneath them, or they get angry when a price they suggest is rejected. Others won’t bargain for fear of getting ripped off; a classic example of nothing ventured nothing gained. And there are those who’ll haggle hard to drive a price right down, then walk away without buying.
Once you begin to bargain it means you’ve already decided to buy, at an appropriate price. The seller knows that but doesn’t know your price. And you don’t know his, although you both know the first sum to be mentioned will be ridiculous. This it what makes bargaining such fun. It’s also a fantastic learning experience over many cups of tea.
Go shopping in Turkey early in the morning because it is good luck for the merchant to make the first sale of the day.
Don’t show interest in the item you actually wanted. Haggle over something else then mid-way through your negotiations casually turn your attention to your “preferred” purchase in an off-handed manner while still showing some interest in the original one. It will throw the stall-keeper off.
Never rush! The merchant spends most of his life engaged at this level so don’t feel bad about taking your time.
The art of haggling demands that you learn to feign indifference. Gushing over a rug then asking its price is a disastrous approach!
If you have a local contact in Turkey, do what I did and ask them as to how much they usually pay for something.
And remember; if you bargain yourself senseless over every dollar, you sacrifice a lot of the joy of travelling.