How to haggle in the Moroccan Souks: top tips

Buy in the Souks of Morocco Is synonymous with bargain, as happens when buying in many other places in the country and in most of the Arabian countries.

Therefore, when planning your trip to its most touristic cities, as is the case of Marrakech, you have to assume that in most of the purchases you want to make you must haggle.

And if you don't, assume that they will be charging you, at least, double what they expected to charge you.

So, for example, during your Marrakech visit You have to haggle in most of the shops, but also with taxi drivers or buggy drivers.

Obviously haggling is not done in all places, such as in restaurants or certain types of establishments, but where it is you always have to haggle, always, always is in the souks.

Even if you don't like it too much go shoppingI assure you that in a city as touristy as Marrakech you are going to spend many hours in the souks And, furthermore, you will not be able to stop yourself from falling into the temptation of buying some souvenirs or some gifts.

How to haggle in Morocco: top tips

To help you make these purchases, below I am going to give you 6 useful tips for haggling in Morocco, which are perfectly applicable to your visit to the Marrakech souks.

Buying in Morocco: Ability to haggle

It is imperative that bargain don't particularly bother you.

If you go with your partner or friends, it is advisable that you previously agree who is the person who is going to haggle, that is, negotiate the final price of a purchase.

Whoever has the greatestability“, and even “enjoy”, is the one who must face the inevitable negotiation process.

Buy in Morocco: know the real market price

To bargainFirst of all, it is essential to have a perspective of what the "market price" of the products you want to buy.

And the only way to find out is to ask for prices on various sites.

To do this you must take into account that the Marrakech souks They have a large area and you will find many stores where you can buy what you want.

Therefore, the recommended thing on your first visit to the souks is that you walk through the shops with no real intention of buying, but asking about the prices.

Yes, I know, in every store you ask they will tell you “give the beating"trying to sell you something, but you have to be blunt and not get into conversation: I remind you that you are only doing one"market prospecting".

If you don't do it like this, and you start haggling in the first store you find, you really won't be able to get the right price.

Not only because you may buy much more expensively, but you may even come to despise real bargains while waiting to find a better price... which then will not appear.

Buying in Morocco: reference prices

This will be completedmarket prospecting” when you are already clear about what is, more or less, the price that they ask you for a specific product at the outset.

Now, before trying to buy and start bargain, you have to take into account what that product would cost you in your city of residence.

In most cases there are no references, as they are artisanal or typical Moroccan products.

But it is essential to do this exercise lest, in the end, you end up paying more to buy it in Marrakech...

Buying in Morocco: maximum price to pay

And also, before you start bargain, you have to predict what is the maximum price you are willing to pay for a certain product.

Buying in Morocco: what price to offer when haggling

As a general rule, they will initially ask you for more than double the price that the seller is actually willing to accept.

And from here, you begin the haggling, offering at most a third of the price they ask for.

During the often long negotiation you have to slowly get closer to the price you are really willing to pay, which should not be more than half of what they initially asked you for.

Finally, when you are close to the price you are going to accept, think for a moment about the amount in euros that it is really going to cost you... as it will possibly be an amount that will not be worth continuing to “argue” over.

Buy in Morocco: do not abuse the seller

Haggling in Marrakech or in any other city of Morocco It does not imply “squeezing” or taking advantage of the seller.

It is a process of negotiation and play, and it must always be done with the best tone and respecting the seller.

What's more, you have to haggle with good humor, and in many cases, after a good negotiation, that is, after that “game”, you and the seller will end up really satisfied and shake hands.

Enjoy haggling in the souks!