The Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world housing over 3000 shops, is more than just a sightseeing spot. Ever since the 15th century, it has been bustling with activity. Every day locals and visitors are haggling to get the best bang for their buck. Here are some valuable bargaining tips for the Grand Bazaar and other shops around Istanbul.
Notice How Similar Shops Stand Side by Side in Istanbul
After you spent a few days walking around in Istanbul, you’ll notice streets (or even areas) where all shops seem to sell similar items. At Taksim Square you find a string of döner shops, in Galata a street full of musical instrument shops, in Karaköy nothing but DIY tools, etc.
For Westerners this defies all commercial logic. Why would you want to drive competition to the max? But in Turkey they look at it from a different angle. If someone is in the market for let’s say a musical instrument, they know what area or street to go to. As a shop owner or sales person, it’s your job to lure in the customer.
The Grand Bazaar follows the same logic, on an even bigger scale. As we’ll see later, this gives you as a potential buyer a nice advantage.
The Seller Has the Upper Hand … At First
Shops in the Grand Bazaar offer both high quality products and, politely put, lesser quality items. The sales person of course knows the quality of every item, the cost to have it made, and how much profit he can put in his pocket. Chances are you have no clue. At best you know a few tricks to check whether it’s genuine leather, a real hand-made carpet, or an authentic diamond.
Good Timing
It’s unlikely you will deal with the shop owner in the Grand Bazaar. The person attending you is most likely a salesperson working for him. This means that he has to sell a certain amount of goods to reach his daily quota. While reaching his quota is a must, he also receives a commission on what he sells.
Therefore, at the start of the day he’ll be eager to sell. Even at a lower price, earning little or no commission, just to make sure he reaches his daily quota. After a few hours, he may have reached his quota. At this point, the focus will shift from just selling to please his boss, to selling to make a nice commission.
This doesn’t mean you have to wait in front of the shop for the doors to open. Besides looking too eager, you won’t strike a bargain until the salesman has finished a few glasses of tea to get the day going. In my experience, between 11:00 and 13:00 is a good time to strike a deal.
Never Look Too Interested
“Welcome my friend. How are you?”, is a line you’ll hear a multitude of times while browsing the Grand Bazaar. In almost every language on the globe. It’s their way of touching base and get you to have a look around their shop.
If you’re looking for an item they have, by all means, enter the shop and look around. Once you see something you like, don’t stop there. Just check out some more pieces and make a mental inventory of what the shop has to offer. At the same time, it prevents you from showing you’re eager to buy a certain item. Only once you’re ready to start bargaining, you take the item you like and casually ask what the price is.
Don’t Name Your Best Price
At this stage he’ll try to make you value the product by asking what would be your best price. Never fall for this trick. Once you put a price on it, that’s it: you will never be able to go under it.
Instead, make him take the first step and put the opening bid of the bargaining process. Of course, you should look surprised and find the price outrageous. And that’s where the first part of this article kicks in. Put down the product, don’t look at any other product (you already know what’s in the store), slowly start walking towards the door while looking at the items of the shop across, which happens to sell similar items. If he buys your bluff, he’ll be quick to make a new offer. Let the real bargaining begin!
Cafe, Coffee & Evening Tours
Tea Time
Slow and steady wins the race. Never rush the bargaining process. It’s important to keep on sending signals that you’re not sure you really need to buy the product, let alone at the price he’s offering it for. His urge to sell should always be higher than yours to buy.
It’s not uncommon that they will offer you tea. The reason for this is two-fold. First of all, they serve it in a corner of the store, where other potential customers can’t eavesdrop. They don’t want other people to hear the discount he eventually may agree on with you. Secondly, he may seemingly give the bargaining a break and get a bit more personal. To make you put your guard down, and at the same time create some sympathy for the situation he’s in (at home).
Don’t buy a word from it. His child will still be able to go to college if he drops the price a bit more. At the end of the day, he is not obliged to sell.
So, keep on playing the game, uttering ‘ahs’, ‘mmmms’, and ‘uuhms’ until you reach a price that seems right for both parties.
Immerse Yourself in Exotic Turkish Culture
What Kind of Discount Should You Aim For?
Well, there is no golden rule. In some cases the bottom line will be a 35% discount, in other cases it can be well over 50%. Don’t ask in the comments either, I can’t and won’t advise you on that. There is also no guarantee this strategy will work every time. It’s just one I have had success with. Practice makes perfect I guess.
As a last tip, getting angry or becoming rude will not help your bargaining, on the contrary. Stay calm, and don’t lose your smile. In the end it’s just a game.
Happy bargaining and good luck.
Rany Gammo says
What people say here is 100% true. I am an American who just costed Istanbul and came to the grand bazaar mall and the shops and people that work there are a bunch of lying thieves! Don’t go in there and shop as you will be paying over 50% mark up price of what the actual item is really worth! Me and my wife shopped in city of “BUSRA” which is a 2 hour boat ride for 40 Turkish lire and the malls they have there is less than half the price you pay at the grand bazaar! My mistake you win ! Be advised
Asahananda says
Go to the most touristy and famous market in any big city center versus 2 hours drive in suburbs, you will have the same price difference, no matter which country you are in. A tiny stall in the middle of nowhere doesn’t have to pay the high renting cost that a stall has to pay in the center of Istanbul. That makes nobody a lying thief, that is common sense. Not to mention that bargaining is part of most arabic cultures, which obviously makes them put a higher price tag on, so they get their daily bargain dose. Culture shock, ey?!
Malatesta says
Still can not believe that one can call sellers in the center of the biggest European city bunch of lying thieves. Did they force you to buy? Why did you come at all? So you have this arrogant idea that you should buy at the lowest price so they can not earn anything? Do them a favor and stay home, nobody needs your 40 TL and city of 15M people can survive without your mercy.
Scott says
Sounds like you didn’t read the article! You say don’t shop there you’ll be 50% mark up! That’s if you can’t bargain….
Lori Freed says
Pretty great read. Though I found and read after I was already at the Bazaar this morning and absolutely loved an antique walking stick. A true piece of hand carved one of a kind art. Huge sticker price $400 US!! I said $75.
After an hour of conversation about love of antiques and keeping their story alive- and he has traveled collecting for 40 years- no sad family or hardship stories- he truly loved his business I felt – No true hard sell – he wanted the sale – I wanted the stick – I walked out with the walking stick from 1925 carved in northern Turkey for $120. Never expected to buy something so expensive in istanbul Bazaar but if you saw this magnificent piece of art-a snake wrapped around the stick and an eagles head as the hand- the story coming off this piece can make one look at it for a long time to understand it. It is actually the story of creation- Adam and Eve- and our paths and tests. Anyway-
I know I would never get it for $120 in US. Had to share that you validated my subtle negotiating. I gotta remember to look at another store tip from you, though pricey, I Got for about 28% of the first price thrown at me.
Thank you and great blog hon! I’ll check out more entries
Erlend says
Hi Lori,
Thanks a lot for your nice share and comment. Congratulations on your great deal!
Martha says
I think you had a nice bargain, for the beautiful art piece you mentioned. Is not something you’ll find anywhere else.
Congratulations!!
Max says
Hey –
Thank you for your tips, we’ll enjoy the grand bazarre tomorrow 🙂
I wanted to ask you how much is fake soccer jersey there? I want to buy one of Fenerbace and one for a friend so I Will also play on the fact to take 2 pieces to get the price down but I asked today around there and it was 100 Turkish lira first then I moved away and 80 and then asked for my price ( I believe I could ask for 100 the 2?)
Thank you
Erlend says
Hi Max,
Thanks. I really have no clue how much the fakes are priced, but as you mentioned, eventually you’ll pay based on your bargaining skills and what you think it’s worth. You could of course also visit the original shops, too. Nor bargaining there though.
Shakirah says
Thank you so much for tips. Very valuable. Am not too good with bargaining…am applying these tips henceforth.
Mahmut says
usually, i’m not good in bargaining,
the article, is interesting,
i’ll try it,
thanks a lot
Jose says
These techniques are guaranteed to work I’ve been doing these every time we go on holiday my partner loves it when I get stuff for almost half the price or more sometimes, and I can assure you this will work most specially the part where you put it back and walk away, I will be consistent and I will keep trying even if it’s a few dollar difference bcos at the end it’s just a game.
Erlend says
Hi Jose,
If you and your partner like these kind of games, you’ll have a blast at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
Have fun.
ali kamil says
usually, i’m not good in bargaining,
the article, is interesting,
i’ll try it,
thanks a lot
IstnbulGuy says
Also avoid the shops near the hotels or on main streets.
My advice: don‘t be shy to stick to your seemingly ridiculous low price. Most likely it is still a good deal for them as they started ridiculously high.
Remember: manufacturing costs next to nothing and it is made in Turkey.
Greets from Istanbul
Maria says
Thank you for those great tips – I usually enjoy the challenge but my partner doesn’t enjoy the bargaining process in the least and I usually get frustrated with his behaviour more than the shop keepers outrageous gimmicks!