Fleeced

Here's the experience of a Fodorite, as copied off of a recent thread:

"Does anyone get out of Morrocco without buying a rug? They are really persistant. Like the earlier poster said, they don't come out with it straight "Do you want to buy a rug". You start off looking in the window at something totally different - you don't want to buy, you're just looking. Next thing you know, you somehow got transported inside the shop and you're drinking some mint tea the nice man bought for you. Now you're feeling obliged to be at least polite and look at his carpets, which you didn't think you wanted. He shows you nine or maybe ten. You nod and smile and drink your mint tea. Which one do you like the best? he asks, and foolishly, you point to one of them, but saying at the same time, "but I don't want a rug". Next thing, there are ten more, similar to the one you foolishly identified as liking. What you pay me for this? he asks. "Well I don't want a rug" you say. "Play the game with me" he smiles, "what you pay for this in your country?" Of course you have no idea so you make something up, and you make it cheap (just in case). Immediately he looks insulted. The smile has gone. "You insult the craftmanship of my people" he hisses "This is craftman work. Took many hours. You come from your rich country and think you can buy from us for nothing" You are now feeling distinctly uncomfortable. How the hell did you get here. At this point, it takes a strong person to get up and walk out, but if you don't want a rug, do it now. No, don't walk, run. These guys have PhDs in psychology. For them, it's like taking candy from a baby.

If you are serious about buying a carpet, go alone. Don't go where your tour guide suggests (my cousin/brother-in-law/dentist, sells carpets and I can get you a discount) because he will expect his cut from the salesman, and that will put the price up.

You will never again be hassled as you have been in Morroco. Use it as a learning experience. Believe me, Turkey is tame in comparison."

Anyone else?

Meredith

Strolling through the Kahn (bazaar) in Cairo, shopkeepers constantly implored us to come in and take a look at their goods. In broken English, "What you want? I have what you want. Come see!" My cousin, becoming a little exasperated, finally said, "Nothing! I want nothing!"

One shopkeeper's response? "I have nothing - come see!"

Naughty !

We had exactly the same experience in Istanbul. I finally got SO P****D off with it that I started to beat them at their own game. As soon as one of them started their pitch "Hello my friend I have nice carpet shop......" etc. I immediately responded with "Hello, I have good English woman here, she very good f**k, you wany good English woman ?" My Wife wasn't too impressed but it confused the hell out of the carpet sellers......

Art

I had the experiance of purchasing a rug in Morroco,in fact the first post was picked from follow ups to mine. I could have walked out but I actually was looking for a rug and I found one that fits perfectly. I didn't think that I would buy one there and I'm not sure I got the best deal that I could have but I do like it very much. The trick is that if you do not really want one don't ask them to set it aside and don't show any interest in them. Only two of us purchased rugs of the tour group. If you are interested make sure you barter. The quoted price on mine was $2,800, I offered $500 and he seemed insulted. I was about to walk out and was asked for my best offer. I offered $600 and it was accepted. They do expect a tip of 10% and I offered about half. It arrived after 3 1/2 weeks in good shape, so I'm a happy customer.

Woland

In other countries, you get same kind of persistent hassle but it's called advertising...

KT

Yeah, once when I was younger at my 100% American shoe store: "Don't worry -- they'll stretch."

Cindy

Well, I'm about to be. A friend has never bought a new car, so she wants me to handle the transaction. That means I have to go to the showroom and try to get a good deal, and you all know how much fun that is.

The last time I went to a car showroom, I was insulted big-time. I was there with my kid, and I was going to buy a car that month. The salesMAN gave me a really high price, and when I countered, he told me I should just come back with my husband. He explained that he didn't like to sell cars to wives, because once he sold a car to a wife without her husband, and the husband didn't like the car, and there were a lot of problems. This was in 1992. I should have complained, but I was so mad I just left.

Er, this is travel related because the dealership was in Virginia.

Lori

Cindy, unbelievable but not so unbelievable. When my husband and I just recently bought a car I noticed how the salesmen (and yes they were all men) would direct their conversation to my husband as if I didn't exist. We promptly walked out of all those dealerships no matter how good a deal it was. As an aside, we did all our homework on the internet and went to a local dealership and said 'here's how much we want to pay, what do you say?' They went for it and we got the car. PSS - very nice people who didn't talk down to me.

Monica

Funny, the past couple of times I've gone with my husband to buy a car we've had exactly the opposite experience. The salespeople talked to ME and ignored him! Maybe it was obvious that I was less sold on the deal than him?

Rose

A friend of mine told the shopkeepers she'd have to ask her husband if she could buy the item in question. 'Oh, of course, of course', they said.

She's NOT married, but the fib got them off her back. It's a good tip for the solo female travellers.