Shopping in Morocco
Shopping in Morocco is fun !
….. and there are so many beautiful things from trinkets in the bazaar to unique hand crafted treasures for any budget.
Fez ! It really is like an Aladdin cave ! On a Big Sista Adventure we stay within the walled city itself meaning you can walk along the twisting lane ways and most importantly get there early ahead of the hordes of more commercial tourists who no doubt will arrive by the bus load later in the day. But don’t worry, they don’t stay long and only go along the main thoroughfares.
OK, so shopping in Morocco, and more specifically the old Medina is not for the feint of heart. You’ve got this sista ! Here are a few helpful trips.
If, like me, you are easily confused by numbers and conversions or even if your not, I find it incredibly useful to have a small card in my pocket showing the conversions. I make this at home before I leave and also make them up for every one on a Big Sista Adventure. Typically will show in one column small numbers, five, ten, then fifty and one hundred then one thousand. In the adjacent column I will put the conversion into the local currency. In Morocco its the Moroccan Dirham . Your going to haggle, its fun and expected. Just remember, no matter how well traveled, you are an armature ! I will start my shopping expedition early, there is value in being the first customer in the day. I will walk along eyeing the wares and smiling, never going in or stopping. “Just looking” is my only response for now. Don’t stop don’t touch. Have a cup of tea. Next I will walk back to things that caught my eye and just ask how much. Hmm I say and walk on. I do this to get a feel for things, sure if its a small inexpensive trinket on a road side stall I just buy it, but if your shopping for more expensive items this is a tried and true method for a good experience that wont leave you feeling ripped off and jaded. Now that I have a feel for the price of things I go back and again ask how much. If I am serious about buying something, and only then, I will enter into the haggling process. Sit down, sometimes I will even ask for a stool if there isn’t one in the shop, if you are offered a cup of tea say yes. I generally go hard with my opening price, maybe as much as two thirds less than the asking price. In Morocco the sellers will often quote you in Euros, if Euros are not your currency, as always for the price in Dirhram’s. Do it with a smile and good nature. Take your time, refer to your card, sip your tea. You will know you are close to the sellers bottom line when their next move is a small one. Always let the seller set the last price. Remember that something is worth only what you are willing to pay for it. Shopping in far away places should not be about driving down the seller, pillaging a bargain but rather a fun way to spend time, talk to locals, drink tea and walk away with both parties feeling good about the exchange.