Does anyone know whether there's a wide selection of all oriental rugs in Turkey? What about reputable dealers?

You can find many of them in Kapalicarsi, The Grand Covered Bazaar of Istanbul.One of the famous rugstores in Istanbul is Bazaar 54.When you visit the historic places you'll meet many of the stores don't forget to bargain. There is also a book -if you're interested- by King,Laurence Istanbul:The Hali Rug Guide..

I believe that the prices of the carpets are a bit expensive in Istanbul when you compare them with the ones in Cappadocia-Goreme. I recommend not to purchase directly after you land to Istanbul, but to see cappadocia and the wide variety of the rugs here first. moreover, if you still would like to shop from Istanbul, you may do it after your trip to Anatolia and no need to carry the rug all the way with you, if you are not gonna ship it directly.

There are many carpet & rug shops around Turkey. To find the one you love best is important to buy. However check out some before decision. You can write me if you like more info.<BR><BR>I am kind of in the business in Cappadocia.<BR><BR>Take care...<BR><BR>Ps: double knotted Turkish Rugs are almost unbeatable

jim,<BR><BR>Before buying the carpet in Turkey (where ever you are) you have to bargain first (at least %50 NOT LESS THEN THIS) Kapalicarsi is the first place you can get some price (get price when you arrive to Istanbul because when you go back to your country you will stop in Istanbul again) then get some prices in the place you will go then you can get your idea about the price. The carpets are same every where in Turkey except SILK if you get some information about carpet the seller says the carpet they have very special it is not cemical color it is DYE COLOR. BECAREFUL abaut this. If I were you Iwould buy my carpet in Small carpet shop NOT BIG STORE they are CHEATING. You can get your carpet $1000 instead of $200.<BR><BR>ABC

jim,<BR><BR>Before buying the carpet in Turkey (where ever you are) you have to bargain first (at least %50 NOT LESS THEN THIS) Kapalicarsi is the first place you can get some price (get price when you arrive to Istanbul because when you go back to your country you will stop in Istanbul again) then get some prices in the place you will go then you can get your idea about the price. The carpets are same every where in Turkey except SILK if you get some information about carpet the seller says the carpet they have very special it is not cemical color it is DYE COLOR. BECAREFUL abaut this. If I were you Iwould buy my carpet in Small carpet shop NOT BIG STORE they are CHEATING. You can get your carpet $1000 in big carpet store instead of $200.<BR><BR>ABC

in this case I am both agree and disagree with ABC. Prices may vary and bargain is usually necessary. However not all rug stores are asking unreal prices. There is one thing for sure is that even you buy cheepest mark up is not less than 70%. Silk can be dyed only with chemicals and minerals... Unfortunately we hear there are also chineese silk also on the market. Genuine silk ones are only Hereke and Kayseri.<BR><BR>However, the best carpet is the carpet you love most. And if the amount is suiting ones budget go ahead.

MURAT,<BR><BR>Yes I agree with you NOT ALL CARPET STORE ARE ASKING UNREAL PRICE but most of the CARPET STORE IN TOURIST PLACE ASKING UNREAL PRICE LIKE THE ONE I GAVE THE SAMPLE They are asking $1000 instead of $200 If you are working in the carpet shop you have to know that carpet shop owner making %50 and sales men's commission around %15 or %20 if you have a guide they take %15 or %20 and I want you calculate the carpet price after the commission. If you don't sell the carpet $1000 instead of $200 you can not make profit. AM I RIGHT<BR>OF COURSE I AM RIGHT<BR>ABC

The company I work for has a rug store, I am not a carpet salesman.<BR><BR>What I experienced here is the customers satisfaction is the 1st priority. There is no sales less than 50% profit margin thats true. Yes you are RIGHT in the general situation.<BR><BR>After all if the customer buys the quality rug and not not cheated thats fine.<BR><BR>Becouse of all this dilemma I am not a carpet dealer <BR><BR>cheers,<BR><BR>Murat

MURAT:<BR>If you are not carpet seler WHO ARE YOU MURAT?. I am sure that You were saying that "I am kind of in the business in Cappadocia." MEANS You are working in CARPET STORE aren't you. So you also making some profit from CARPET.<BR>What is your COMMISSION? %15 or %20?<BR><BR>ABC

ABC, you always seem to get excited - you're always SHOUTING. I tend to ignore what you are saying because it's so irritating. Murat usually has good advice and he doesn't shout!

I am not shouting SIR?

Abother things<BR><BR>is CHEATING mean IRRIGATING?. You 've been cheating tourist for along time and now you all are crying because you don't have any tourist AREN'T YOU? (This is not shouting this is expressing the word) If you ignore your problems you wont' get results.<BR><BR>DON'T CHEAT THE TOURIST!!!!! (This is shouting. OK?)<BR><BR>ABC

TO[email protected]<BR><BR>Last year I saw a kilim for 40 Million Turkish Lira the same KILIM in Kusadasi was $240 ARE YOU CALL THIS IRRIGATING or CHEATING. When you say something in this form you have to be sure what you are saying. If you are not turkish and you want to go to Turkey BECAREFUL YOU WILL BE CHEATED BY THESE PEOPLE. You may be IGNORE This message it is up to you.<BR><BR>HAVE A NICE CHEATING<BR><BR>ABC

My mother (elderly, knows nothing about rugs) bought a rug at some shop in Turkey her tour bus took them to. She had it shipped to US and when it got here it was damaged. (We think the rug was switched from the one she saw - but who knows for sure - it was not shipping damage.) Calls to credit card company, even shop in Turkey, etc. finally resolved problem - got credit on card. We both know that in hindsight she could have done several things differently to avoid the problem in the first place, but just buyer beware.

Dear Friends and ABC !<BR>Just to make things straight;<BR>I live in Cappadocia and coordinating touristic establishments of a reputable company... So I do not take commission but earn some respectful salary...<BR>I am a professional hotel manager and last 7 years specialised on Boutique Hotels. I also write for a reputable international hotel guide.<BR><BR>I am not going to defend carpet dealers or rug salesman since everyone has to make living on something weather we like or not, however I make my living out of what I like.<BR><BR>Do you think Turkey is the only country where establishments pays commissions on their sales. Only one point I can agree with ABC that most stores applying a high percentage of commissions. If you have invested a couple of million dollars, you should respect the business owner makes some profit right ? Even charities making money nowadays <BR><BR>By the way the verb "Irrigate" means watering the soil and nothing to do with "irritate".<BR><BR>I am not writing those sentences to create tension here but some points should be cleared.<BR><BR>Last but not least ; I love my country, I love travelling and love meeting new people and help travellers where I can share my experiences... Does it really matter WHO I AM ?<BR><BR>sorry folks to make such a short story long <BR><BR>Come to Turkey and enjoy as much as possible...<BR><BR>

to ABC or whoever you are,<BR>How dare can you ask someone 'who are you' even though you haven't even known of him? Actually, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? <BR><BR>watch your step...

TO TALAT:<BR><BR>I am the one who tells TRUE who wants to get information. Why did you involve this carpet do you want me tell you here. YES YOU are (Travel Agencies working in Turkey) taking %20 or 25 COMMISSION and now you want to defend yourself, sorry you can not. <BR><BR>DON'T CHEAT THE TOURIST. <BR>TOURIST ARE YOUR FUTURE IF YOU HURT THEM YOU CAN HURT YOURSELF AND TURKEY<BR><BR>ABC

What an ignorant person are you? Can't you ever think of a travel agency that doesn't make money out of comission stuff? Check www.middleearthtravel.com and there is your answer.<BR><BR>Even if any other travel agency makes money by charging comission out of it, what is wrong with this? Don't you know this is the basics of the service sector? You are not manufacturing spare parts for automotive industry with 2% profit per part. It's not mass production, and in 'ANY' part of the world of service sector, the minimum profit range starts from 25% up to any number you can think of. (In case you can market your product, i.e. carpet) All western countries are included what i say.<BR><BR>It's not a problem if you stay at Ritz Carlton with at least 500% profit out of the money you pay, but you call it 'CHEAT' when someone purchases a nice silk carpet. You contradict yourself...

Yes that's why now TURKEY HAS PROBLEM ABOUT TOURIST. There is no RICH tourist in Turkey.<BR><BR>You are travel agency NOT CARPET SELLER.<BR>First DO YOUR JOB then IF YOU CUSTOMER ASK ABOUT SHOPPING YOU CAN TAKE THEM. And NOT %20 COMMISSION Plus your guide and sales man and Driver (totally %75-100) You can not see this commission system any countries in the world.<BR><BR>KEEP BELIEVE THAT COMMISSION IS YOUR PROFIT then LOSE YOUR JOB.<BR><BR>ABC