Travel & DiscoveryIstanbul·20d ago·94 views

Am I going to annoy people at the bazaar if I ask the price and don’t buy anything?

Traveler · 20d ago

🛡️ Traveler · 3,170 points

I want to have a look around the Grand Bazaar when I’m in Istanbul, but I’m terrible at saying no once someone starts showing me things. I went into a shop on another trip just to browse and somehow came out with a lamp I didn’t even want. Is it normal to ask how much something costs and then just leave? And if I start bargaining, does that mean they’ll expect me to buy it? I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, but I also don’t want another lamp.

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erdinç yazman

20d ago

🛡️ Traveler · 1,875 points

Asking the price is fine. You haven’t bought a lamp just because someone has switched it on for you. Bargaining is where I’d draw a distinction. “How much?” is browsing. “Would you take 1,000?” sounds like you’re offering to buy at that price. So don’t haggle for ten minutes over something you already know you don’t want. You can still walk away, but they’ll understandably be more disappointed. For you, I’d practise one sentence: “Thanks, I’m going to leave it.” Then actually leave. Don’t explain your luggage allowance or invent a boyfriend who hates lamps; that just gives them something to argue with. “No, thank you”—“Yok, teşekkürler”—is enough. And if someone gets pushy, you don’t have to stay there being polite until you accidentally own their stock.

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