One day, I walk by the bazaar without going in. The next day, I stroll along with a friend. We pass the store, and the shopkeeper, a Jew, hears about me. He runs out to greet me, out of breath. He tells me his heart has been longing to see me. He invites me to come into his shop and have a cup of coffee. I tell him I’m leaving tomorrow morning, but I haven’t bought anything yet. He brings out the same items again for me to look at Facing the Dogs.
Negotiating the Price
My friend knows a lot about Turkish antiques, and we start talking about their value in English. Based on his advice, I decide to offer one total price for everything instead of picking individual items. The shopkeeper is interested in the total price because it catches his attention. He would like to sell the things that make a profit and keep the rest. But I insist on a fixed price for everything. After some thinking and looking over the items, the shopkeeper says he will accept twenty-five lira, but he looks unhappy.
The Deal
I offer ten lira. He shrugs, looking disappointed. We start to leave, glancing at other items as we go. The shopkeeper says he’ll take twenty lira. I pretend to be uninterested. He shows signs of sadness. I tell him I might visit him again when I come back to Salonika. We say goodbye and leave the shop Walking Tours Istanbul
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“I want the items,” I say to my friend, “so I’ll give him the twenty lira.”
“Wait a moment,” my friend replies. Just then, the shopkeeper runs up to us. “It’s a loss for me, but I’ll give them to you for sixteen lira,” he says.
“That’s his final price today,” my friend explains.
I agree. The shopkeeper is thrilled and dances with joy. He says he’ll accept a cheque and bring everything to my hotel in an hour. He’s happy to make the deal!
A Lesson in Bargaining
“My friend,” says my companion, “if you had stayed for another two days, you might have gotten them for twelve lira. I think I could have got them for ten, living here myself.”
That’s how business is done in Turkey. In general, no one asks for a fair price. They ask for the highest price, regardless of the item’s value. If you don’t know the value and pay too much, that’s your responsibility. Usually, the seller asks twice as much as what he is willing to accept, and the buyer offers half of what he is willing to pay. Both sides spend time trying to change the price. It’s simply the custom.
A Story from England
A friend of mine, who had lived in Turkey for many years, went to a shop on Bond Street in England to buy a pair of gloves.
“How much?” he asked.
“Three shillings and sixpence, sir,” replied the shopkeeper.
“I’ll give you two shillings,” said my friend.
The shopkeeper just gave him a look and quickly closed the box. As he was putting it away, he said, “I said three and six.”
My friend, remembering he wasn’t in Turkey, laughed, explained the situation, and bought the gloves.
