Turkey is a wonderful country in which to shop both from the point of view of the handicrafts, collectibles, and antiques available but also because of the "bazaar shopping experience" itself. It is our policy to provide shopping advice and guidance when participants ask for it, but our guides are strictly admonished against initiating visits to shops. As many participants in the past year put it after their Turkey trips: ‘This is the first trip I've ever taken in which I didn't feel that someone had his hand in my pocket at every opportunity.’

Our guides are full-time employees of our company, (as opposed to most guides who are freelance) and if our guide, at your request, goes with you on a shopping expedition you can be sure that that he/she will protect your interests.
                                                            
Antiquities: Be aware that the removal of antiquities from Turkey is strictly forbidden and that offenders face big fines and even imprisonment. Nineteenth century and younger century Ottoman artefacts are no problem, but Graeco Roman, Byzantine, and early Ottoman artefacts are. Also be aware that there are a lot of reproductions on the market: everything from Hittite, to Greek, to Roman, to Byzantine items including ceramics, coins, miniatures, bronzes, textiles, and carpets. There are whole industries that age and stress rugs and carpets, copy Ottoman miniatures onto blank sheets taken out of eighteenth century books, and etch elaborate work onto what were plain nineteenth century copper items, etc.

Bargaining: Prices by your standards are quite reasonable. Bargaining is possible in most (though not all) shops and markets. A rule of thumb is if it is the typical small bazaar shop presided over by the owner or near family members bargaining is OK, but in a larger department store or chain boutique-type operation it is not. Gold and silver are sold by weight. Yet what adds on the per gram price that is determined daily is the workmanship.

Traditionally in bargaining in Middle Eastern culture the value of the item is to a good degree determined by the perceived means of the buyer. Yet Turkey, in that sense, and in many others, has gotten far away from the typical Middle Eastern traditions. You will never experience things you experience in Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus etc.

Do not look at the transaction as an adversarial relationship or something you need to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It can be a wonderful form of social interaction that both sides can enjoy as they work towards a common goal, the ultimate price. Do not expect to pull the price half way of the label value too.