Reviewed report
What happened?
In September 2026, a foreign tourist walked into a small shop in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. He wanted something very simple: One pack of peanuts. The tourist picked up the product and tried to pay by card. According to reports about the incident recorded by the tourist, the shopkeeper told him that if he wanted to use his card: He needed to spend more money in the shop. The tourist didn't want to buy anything else. So he decided not to make the purchase at all. He tried to leave the shop after making it clear that: He no longer wanted to buy the product. That's When the Argument Started According to reports about the footage recorded by the tourist, the situation turned into an argument. As the tourist was leaving the shop, the shopkeeper was reportedly heard shouting insults and profanity at him. The tourist left without buying the product. His financial loss was therefore: 0 TRY. But the incident didn't end there. The video spread on social media. And this time, authorities became involved. The Ministry of Trade Inspected the Shop Following the incident, officials from the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Trade inspected the business. The practice encountered by the tourist was among the issues examined. According to the Ministry's statement: Officials found a violation of Law No. 6502 regarding the practice of not selling the peanuts separately. Inspectors also identified: Three products whose prices were considered potentially excessive, and the business was asked to provide a defense. The business was given seven days to respond. Officials also found: Four products without the required price-change date information. Administrative action was taken over the violations identified during the inspection. The three products flagged for potentially excessive pricing were also set to be referred to the relevant authority for further evaluation. The Lesson for Travelers Is Simple If you're trying to buy a small item and you're told: “If you want to pay by card, you need to buy more.” don't assume that you have to purchase products you don't want. You can do exactly what this traveler did: Walk away from the purchase. In this case, the practice involved in the tourist's complaint was later examined during an official inspection, which identified a legal violation regarding the refusal to sell the peanuts separately. Sometimes the cheapest purchase while traveling is: the one you decide not to make. This historical Radar record is based on a tourist experience recorded in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, in September 2026, as well as the official inspection that followed. TurkTravelRadar does not publish the name of the business in the public report. Have you experienced something similar? Share it on Radar. A photo of the displayed price, receipt, POS screen, video, or location details can make a report easier to verify. One incident does not represent all shops or shopkeepers in Istanbul. If independent travelers begin reporting the same practice repeatedly, Radar can start identifying a possible pattern.