Shopping
From Fake SS 2010 Louis Vuittons to 1950s Rolexes: What You’ll Find and How to Bargain at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
By Leah Chernikoff
ISTANBUL–Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the mother of all bazaars. It’s one of the oldest covered bazaars in the world (it opened in 1461), and according to my taxi driver, contains over 3,000 shops.
Undeterred by the scope and size (and between fashion shows), I set out to shop. You can find almost anything within the confines of the bazaar. Beyond the killims–the hand woven carpets Turkey is known for–I was surprised to see stalls upon stalls of designer knock offs mixed in with the vintage jewelry, vibrant textiles, and copper Aladdin-style lamps. Some fakes were better than others. The Luis Vuitton bags with labels that read “From Louis Vuitton Printemps/Ete 2010 Collections as shown in Paris” were not so good. Neither were these label-whore-y sheets (I’m just waiting to see them on an episode of Cribs). The Mulberry Alexa and Fendi Peek-a-Boo knock offs were much more impressive.
But after you’ve sifted through the fakes, and decided you want to make a purchase, ready your game face. The bargaining at the Grand Bazaar is not for the faint of heart. Vendors will get angry or look like you just broke their heart if you don’t like their price. Luckily, I had Britt along with me who passed along Papa Aboutaleb’s words of wisdom: Ask for half the asking price, and when they don’t bite, walk away. They will follow you and acquiesce. Worked like a charm!
What is your bargaining strategy? I’d love more advice. I want this carpet bag bad and I can’t get the price down.
Tags: Istanbul, Istanbul Fashion Week
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Those sheets are beyond hideous. How can anyone want a giant logo in their bedroom, hovering over them like a spectre as they sleep?
those sheets rule my lyfe. get on mah bed now! viva la kitsch!
Hey- I live in Shanghai but am a British expat–at the market here you have to divide their price by 3 and then walk away if they don’t take it, as you said it works like a charm.
Don’t offend as they will get angry, don’t tell them their price is too high for a fake…they will be offended at that. Just smile and keep it light-hearted … even when you are haggling to the ground ;)
Really?!?!?! Are you actually condoning buying counterfeit goods? This post is beyond hypocritical from a fashion blog that prides itself on it’s ‘Adventures in Copyright’ posts and self-righteous attitude towards owning the real deal. Shame on you, fashionista.
You do have to be careful. Even inadvertently carrying a counterfeit, albeit a lovely mirror copy, designer bag through some countries Customs’ can result in seizure and in Italy a 5000.00 fine.
I’m stuck with a “guaranteed authentic” fake Chanel Baby Cabas I paid full Chanel retail for, ouch. No recourse after ninety days by the way – that quasi-authentic one from ebay could be just too much trouble.
And the flash sites that don’t sell authorized merchandise – ouch again; chances are best at in las Vegas.
InNewYorkParisTomorrow.blogspot.com
Just an observation–not an endorsement :)
Of course the best advice is to got there with a native, because as a native you usually get everything at a low price. But I would advice you to try to talk some Turkish with them even if its just “Merhaba” (Hello) or “Nasılsın” (How are you) and “Iyiyim” (I´m fine), simply being open-minded and sympathetic often gains their sympathy. And then you ask them if they can do anything about the price, then if that is the final price and so on. But instead of spending time with faked goods I would look for goods that the Grand Basaar is originally known for, such as jewellery, spices, nuts and so on…
The salesgirl took off the tax on my Commes des Garcons leather jacket at the San Fran Barneys when I asked her if there was a “New York artist” discount. I was also sleeping with her.
Soon after, in the middle of winter, I bought a motorcycle at the dealership, less $2000, with tax, title and license taken care of. Who buys a motorcycle when there’s ice on the road?! Me!!!
If I’m at a Starbucks I’ve never been in before, I tell them I’m “new in town” and if there was a student discount. That’s right, I attend the University of Awesome so give me that venti coffee frap!
“it’s my birthday” “it’s my anniversary” “i got engaged” “i got accepted into Harvard medical school” “i’m showing at the Guggenheim” “i know Leah Chernikoff and/or Lauren Sherman” usually works for 10% off
but if you don’t end up getting that cute bag, here are some other options?
http://www.livincool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/pendleton-2010-springsummer-bag-collection-0-610×406.jpg
http://www.livincool.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/pendleton-2010-springsummer-bag-collection-21.jpg
http://cache.fashionista.com/uploads/2010/07/Screen-shot-2010-07-02-at-9.16.15-AM-260×341.png
Excellent advice from your readers. I’d skip the fakes, go with the Turkish stuff you can’t buy on the street in NY, smile, compliment the merchant, offer a third, tell them you are a student and have no money, but you really love the item. Walk away. (I saw someone do that brilliantly in Cape Town recently and in Beijing, too.) And, ask me how many times I got us upgraded to first class by saying it was our anniversary. (And, was given a bottle of champagne back in the old days when they served champagne). Good luck! Moo
the spice bazaar has more of the authentic turkish stuff – grand bazaar is mostly tourist stuff. but it’s awesome to meander around. and if you need a good scrubbing, the cemberlitas hamam (turkish bath) is around the corner from grand bazaar.
its strange that you do not endorse knock-offs, as mentioned in your recent proenza/alexa post, however you are supporting the counterfeit industry, which is more damaging both to the brand and also the poor kids who produce them
Oh calm down, Toots, and get your nipples untwisted.
This is an Instanbul market…it’s not ever gonna go away hunnie. Like Leah said, I doubt they’re endorsing them…but it’s fun (and funny) to go look around, haggle, and just have a good time perusing the wares.
I’d suggest you get your high horse before he bucks you off and bites your finger…LOOOOOOL!!!!
Buy two – and you will probably get them for the price of one!
That’s what I did with my Turkish carpets a couple of weeks ago! In fact, I managed to get 4 for the initial quoted price on one – made me think – “what sort of mark up do they have on these?” But when they arrived I was so happy – and they sure were allot less expensive than ABC here in NY!
Turkey is a wonderful country. I hope you enjoy Istanbul it truely is one of the best citys in the world.I do recommened that you try a hamman (turkish bath). It is a unique expericance that is not to be missed and Istanbul is the city to do it in!
exactly, even if leah is not ‘endorsing’ the practice of buying counterfeits, her ‘observation’ is still raising awareness and promoting the practice. it would be one thing of this post was about supporting local turkish artisans and merchants, but the focus of the post is on designer knock-off/counterfeit goods.
of course the Istanbul market isn’t going to go away, neither will Canal street knock offs and the practice of producing counterfeit goods for the black market. i just find the presence of this post to be out of line with the stance that fashionista takes on copyright issues. Just because the market is half way around the world, buying a fake bag here is the same as buying one on Canal st. I highly doubt this blog would post an ‘observatory’ story about wandering Chinatown in search of designer knock off wares.
for bargaining: do be persistent. i make a price and stick with it. say the price, if they don’t like it then walk away, and they will follow you. has worked for me the many times i have traveled to turkey and the grand bazaar. eventually, they will come down to your price. it is true that bargaining is not for the faint of heart, so do be strong and don’t lose hope! iyi sanşlar!
Istanbul is a very classy place and it’s fashion week totally rocks!
Grand Bazaar is in the Old Town, it’s a mystic place which is worth to visit but Istanbul also has the best shopping malls of Europe, the most glorious ones are Istinye Park & Kanyon