Haggling ?

[totallymo]

I am off on Friday for 1st time to Turkey and not too sure about haggling.
Is it the norm to haggle in all the shops and the market ? If so, how do you start ?.
I do read the forum every day ( addictive ) so I hope somebody will point me in the right directiion.
Thanks

[bill atkinson]

hi if you don,t haggle ,you will sharp learn to , if you don,t haggle be prepared to be Ripped well and truely right off, bill atkinson

[blondie]

Exactly - it's expected! I'm married to an expert haggler (it's the canny Scots thing ) We were told if you offer around half of the original price and go from there. Haggling is a way of life in the market and stalls and also in the jewellers, etc, but not in places like food shops.

[John V]

Calculate how much you would be be willing to pay for the item, offer half and take it from there, never consider paying the asking price

[captain tansas]

most of the time you could just start at quarter the price then meet in the middle if there not budging then simply walk away and they will come back with a good offer, if they dont chase ya back you know they cannot go to cheap

[LynnJenny]

just be cheeky and you get it i allways barter i get it right down if not i walk away they allways come after you

[Silverfox BC]

Found when we were there in May the shopkeepers/stall holders did not want to haggle as they used to, it was more take it or leave it Told one or two of them its their own fault we all hate it and they started it but now we are improving they want to stop haggling. Not fair, just starting to get the hang of it Will try again in a couple of weeks when we return, although I must say the best time is in October when you can point out if they dont let you have the goods at a reasonable price they are stuck with them over the winter, sometimes works wonders

[markbullock]

yep everyones right haggling is fun,im a car salesman so i really enjoy the art of haggling if done right you also make loads of friends,the one thing to remember though only start haggling if you do intend to buy from the seller

[Erik The Viking]

My haggling is as follows:

If they ask for £200 offer quarter, thay are bound to say no and lower their price, offer less than that. when you come to a standstill go to walk out of the shop, if they let you go it is genuinely too low an offer, if they call you back then you have a deal.

I got a 90 quid bracelet for £32 and paid 4 lira for a 15 lira wooden box in the market.

Im tight as a ducks ass me..

[captain tansas]

no surprise there eric buying a braclet with all the silver you have ya could open ya own shop out there for us to haggle you lol

[Erik The Viking]

no surprise there eric buying a braclet with all the silver you have ya could open ya own shop out there for us to haggle you lol

cheeky! im after a MASSIVE chain this year, so if anyone sees one.....

[totallymo]

Thanks for everyones reply. I am now all set to go

[sheepy]

Don't be surprised in the market, even if you are really polite, if you decide a price is too high and walk off, if the market stallholder shouts some choice words after you, or mutters them thinking he is being really brave that you can't hear him.