Haggling Tips in Marrakech
- Know in advance how much you are willing to pay for a given item, and don’t waiver from that amount. Shopkeepers will tell you how wonderful an item is, how unique it is, how important it is for you to bring the item home as a gift. They’re trying to get you to lose control, to impulsively buy something you might not want or need.
- Act indifferent. Don’t show enthusiasm. Don’t point at an item or pick it up and look at it longingly. Act as though you don’t care whether or not you buy it.
- Walk away. Say that you want to see what a few other shopkeepers are selling before you make a decision.
- One of the best haggling tips in Marrakech is to be confident. Don’t let the aggressive shopkeepers try to intimidate you. Shoppers who appear to have a confident manner are less likely to be swindled.
- Be clear and assertive in your haggling. Don’t be passive, and never be aggressive.
- Most importantly, keep smiling and be friendly! This should be an enjoyable experience for all involved. Many merchants have a great sense of humour.
Offers of Mint Tea
Now that you understand what is involved with haggling, there is one other point about which you should be aware. Shopkeepers will frequently offer you a cup of mint tea.
This is a friendly gesture and is used as a sign of friendship when offered to guests, but be aware, this can be used as a tactic by the shopkeepers to make you feel obligated to purchase something from them.
Don’t be afraid of accepting their offers of Mint Tea, listen to the shopkeeper’s stories and have fun. A trip to Morocco is about the culture and there is no better way of experiencing this than socializing with the locals.
Great Gifts to Look Out For in Morocco
The best places to shop in Morocco are the open-air marketplaces, and these are great places to use these haggling tips in Marrakech. They are both major tourist attractions and part of every-day Moroccan life. There are many items to bring home as gifts, some of which are not available anywhere else in the world.
Here are some suggestions of great gifts to purchase in Morocco, both for others and for you.
- Argan oil – one of the rarest rare oils in the world, is derived from the Moroccan-grown Argania Spinoza tree. The oil is used in cooking and the manufacture of cosmetics. The best place to purchase argan oil is from an herbalist in one of the souks in Marrakech.
- Birads – classic Moroccan teas pots made for brewing mint tea, can be found in the souks in Fez and Marrakesh.
- Carpets made in Morocco are of two varieties. Thin Berber rugs made by indigenous people are sold throughout Morocco. Thick modern carpets, made in Rabat, are sold in the souks in Fez and Rabat.
- Djellabas – long loose-fitting hooded cloaks, are manufactured in three styles: Arab (large, flowing), Berber (straight lines) and Pasha (formal, two-piece) High-quality djellabas can be found in the souks in Essaouira.
- Leather goods – (babouche (traditional Moroccan slippers), handbags, and jackets) are Morocco’s main export. The best places for shoppers to find quality products are the bazaars in Fez.
- Spices – can be found in the souks in Agadir, Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech. The souks in Agadir have the largest selection of, and best quality, spices. You will find anise seed, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, mint, paprika, parsley, pepper, saffron, sesame seed, and turmeric.
- Tagines – shallow earthenware pots with conical lids in which Moroccan stews are slowly cooked, can be found in the souks in most cities.
There are many delights to be seen in the souks and bazaars of Morocco, be sure to spend some time there and get to know some of the locals, you can bargain with them and get some great deals on gifts for friends and family back home. These marketplaces are some of the best in the world, with the best place to shop in Morocco being Marrakech. These tips will hold true within not only Marrakech but will service you well if you choose to visit other places within Morocco.
