Turkish Delight
Bagged a last minute holiday to Turkey this summer? Congrats – the country at the crossroads of East and West – is hot in every sense of the word. There’s a stretch of sand for every taste and temperament, while for those who can’t bear lying on a beach all day there’s St Sophia Museum, the ruins of Troy, Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque to get to grips with. Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar is another must see; this bustling souk (Arabic for ‘market place’) not only offers a fascinating glimpse into the traditional Turkish way of life but with over 1,200 shops, is a great place to pick up a trinket or two to remind you of your time in Turkey.
Local craftsmen sell everything from art and jewellery to Persian rugs while Arabic seasonings and other fragrant goods are sold out of large open sacks making for sensory overload. Just don’t forget to haggle hard; wheeling and dealing is part of the fun and, furthermore, expected.
How to haggle
- Select the item you want and determine the maximum price you are willing to pay for it.
- Start by offering 40-50 per cent less than your maximum price.
- Make sure to flinch. The most common tactical mistake that shoppers make is to remain calm in the face of a proposal. It’s much better to flinch and appear shocked and surprised by an ‘outrageous offer’ – even if it’s not really unreasonable. You might think that a stoic demeanour looks professional but trust us: in the haggling business it will cost you…
- Keep your eyes on the vendor. His or her reaction will tell you how much room to manoeuvre there might be. You’ll get a better price if you buy more than one item, so try to buy in bulk.
- Respond to counter offers from the merchant by increasing your offer in small amounts until you reach your maximum price
.
On The Beach’s top tips
The closer it gets to closing time, the more the shop keepers will be open to haggling.
Make sure you know the item’s value before you start haggling or you could end up paying more than it is actually worth.
If the seller won’t come down to your maximum price, walk away from the deal. Chances are if you’re anywhere in the ballpark of what he or she wants for the item, they won’t let you – or your lira – get away.
Don’t take big money denominations – you may find that you won’t be given change.