Shoppers in a traditional souk in the old Medina of Marrakesh (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Haggling your way to a bargain deal in a souk or market is a huge part of the charm of a holiday in the Middle East or North Africa – but how do you make sure you’re not getting ripped off?
From fake designer bags in Turkish holiday resorts to their incredibly intricate woven rugs, you would love to ship back home but have no idea if you are getting a bargain.
Then there are the luxurious leather goods of Tunisia and the silks and spices, lanterns and ceramics of Morocco. But while it looks so beautiful and tempting to buy, it feels like it is easy to get ripped off as a tourist navigating the customs of a foreign souk or marketplace.
Help is at hand, though, from British writer and architect Philip Brebner, who lives part-time in Morocco and has been buying and selling rare rugs in the souks of Turkey and Marrakech for over 20 years, often saving himself hundreds of pounds.
Philip, author of the murder-mystery novel Shadows of Marrakech, has revealed his top tips for bagging a bargain with a market shopkeeper.
A Middle Eastern carpet shop owner displays his wears (Image: Getty)
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He says the first all important step is to strike up a friendly conversation and ‘have a laugh’ before asking for the price of an item.
“It just makes for a more pleasant negotiation.”
All too often British holidaymakers simply ask how much something is without even saying hello and often when they have no intention of buying it anyway.
“Ask the shopkeeper some casual questions. It can smooth the way to a lower price. If you’ve got time, a good trick is to start negotiating a price and then ask him one or two things about his shop, or about the country or city you are in, and get into a general conversation.
“If it’s all very relaxed, and pleasant, you’ll end up getting a price you like. Or even, if it’s a bit more than you wanted to spend, go away thinking that you’ve got something out of it.
You’ve learned a bit about Morocco and maybe the shopkeeper’s life, or family.”
Philip warns that Brits have a habit of asking the price of items even when they don’t want to buy it.
“Do not ask the price of anything unless you’re interested in buying, because then you’re immediately opening a negotiation at that point.”
Busy Brits also get fed up with the endless negotiating not realising it is part of the local custom and tradition and they are not doing it to annoy you.
“The negotiations can go back and forth, and on and on, and sometimes I think tourists just can’t be bothered with that, and just say “well, no, I’m not going to buy it” because they’re tired of haggling and they want to get on and see something else.
“If you see something that you really like, and they give you a price you think is fair, or is cheaper than what you might pay in Europe or Britain, save yourself a lot of hassle and just pay it.”
However if you are in the mood for a bidding war then it is recommended you start by offering a third of the price you get given.
Philip adds: “You can then meet at a midway point, which would be about 50 or 60 per cent of the original price you were given, and everybody’s happy.”
You can of course threaten to walk away from the sale in order to get the lowest price possible if things aren’t going your way
Although asking the price is the start of a negotiation, Philip says you can threaten to walk away from the sale in order to get the lowest price possible, but Philip warns that getting shirty will not work.
He told Mail Travel: “If the worst comes to the worst, and you just think it’s too much, the best thing to do is walk away, and sure enough, they’ll follow you and say, “Okay, right, give me your best price.” And you can get the price you want more or less. But you have to be very friendly.’
“You have to realise haggling is very much a cultural thing in the Middle East, especially Morocco. They’re not doing it just to annoy people.
“There’s no sense of time there. It’s a case of just going along to the shops, having a chat, and exchanging ideas about what a price might be. Haggling is just a social thing. Just keep your cool and keep a smile on your face!”
Philip’s book Shadows of Marrakech is out now in paperback, available to buy from Amazon and most bookshops.