East Bazaar - do you need such a shopping?

Ask yourself what associations do you have if you hear the word Turkey. The sea, the sun, and of course, the oriental bazaars, where the aromas of spices brewed on the coals of coffee reign, and in the ears ring from the invoking cries of sellers. In our view of the Turkish bazaars, everything should be cheap, and so much so that with $ 100 you can update the entire wardrobe. But is it really, and is it worth going for shopping in the eastern markets of Alanya or Antalya. Or is it no longer profitable?

What sell in the eastern markets? 
This oriental bazaar is a place where you can find absolutely everything, ranging from spices, sweets, household utensils and textiles, to clothing and even jewelry (of course, now it is jewelry, well, maximum silver). 
But it should be borne in mind that the markets in Alanya and Antalya are more adapted for tourists, so the range here is appropriate: fakes for famous brands, souvenirs, sweets. The markets stalls are literally inundated with jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, dresses, bags ... 
Of course, everything that lies on the shelves, and that the sellers are so much praising - all this is made in Turkey. And all the “brands” are sewn on in the factories of Istanbul or Izmir. That is to expect that in the eastern market you buy the original from Gucci or Chanel, definitely not worth it.
But at the same time all the fakes are of quite good quality. T-shirts are made of cotton, and even bags made of genuine leather are found. 
But the Turks forge not only clothes. The markets also manage to sell fake perfumes, shadows, creams of famous world brands. Low prices are explained by the fact that the products allegedly smuggled through customs. 
In fact, there is nothing in common with the originals of Turkish fakes. To buy or not - you decide. But still, if you plan to buy cosmetics in the Eastern market, it is better to give preference to local, Turkish brands.

Expensive or cheap? 
The most widespread opinion among our tourists is that in the Turkish bazaars everyone sells almost for a penny. So our campers regularly go to the eastern markets. But after all, the sellers are also “not badly sewn,” and, as they say, demand creates supply. Therefore, waiting for penny prices is not worth it. Sellers have long realized that tourists can be sold several times more expensive than their own. 
Therefore, in those markets that are located near hotels, main tourist streets and attractions, everything is quite expensive. And sometimes, it is much cheaper to buy somewhere in a shopping center or one of the local chain stores.
But in the bazaars, where go local, the prices are very different. There and T-shirts for 5 lire, and jeans for 30-40. Therefore, if you want economical shopping, find out when the markets pass in the non-tourist areas of Antalya and Alanya and go there.

Turks love to bargain

One of the most common stereotypes is that Turks love bargaining. Perhaps once it was. But not during the holiday season, when hundreds of potential buyers go around the market to whom they can sell goods and earn more. Therefore, verbal altercations about the price of a handbag for 15 dollars to the Turks become a burden. 
But at the same time, we are not so accustomed to buying things at fixed prices in Turkey, that sellers have to call the price a little higher, so that later it would be much more “retreat”. 
If the tourist bazaars to agree on lowering the price of jeans or a jacket still succeed, then in the local markets, this practice usually does not pass. Here, therefore, prices are initially low, and they are usually called in lira, not in dollars 

What you can, and what you should not buy in the Turkish bazaars
So you decided to go to the market. Let's see what is possible and what is not worth buying at the bazaar. 
Can:

• Clothes (T-shirts, jeans, jackets, etc.)
• Jewelery - in the markets it is usually very cheap
• Turkish cosmetics (cream, soap, shampoo with olive oil)
• Souvenirs
• Dishes (Turks for coffee, all sorts of tea and coffee cups and so on)
• Footwear. Again, considering that Nike or Adidas sneakers are actually Turkish fake
• Textiles: towels, bed linen

Not worth it:

• Jewelry - the risk of running into a fake is very high
• Cosmetics famous brands. One hundred percent that it will be a fake. And well, if it does not become the cause of the strongest allergic reaction or dermatitis
• Spices and sweets that lie on the open shelves and are sold without boxes. You just imagine how much dust and any harmful filth is collected on them all day long. It is easy to earn problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

In general, a trip to the Turkish bazaar is not only shopping, but also an opportunity to have fun and take a deeper dive into the culture of the country. And even if you do not buy anything, you still leave the eastern market with a lot of new impressions and positive emotions.

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