[GIRNE MARKET] This is northern Cyprus!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 15:15

Again, I know it's not important and if you live here you can see this every Wednesday in Girne. So, this is for the people living abroad - remember why we love the TRNC! http://is.gd/5hRvJ

(Complaints about TRNC inflation, rip offs etc somewhere else, please ).

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 15:44

Great photo Hans. How much per kilo are those lemons by the way?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 16:01

RE msg 2: No1Doyen: Negotiable, Bill... Cyprus, remember..?

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 18:31

Sorry have to say on more than one occasion i have, and also friends have been charged more than locals on the wednesday market . Not very encouraging so visit less frequent !!!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 18:36

Pipie: what did you buy then? Don't most or many stalls have the prices on the goods or vegetables etc? Can you count in Turkish? Can you ask the price in Turkish before you buy? It helps a lot.

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 19:25

mmmmmmm I am sure all over the world people (tourists in particular ) will be charged more on the odd occasion than a local - although I am not saying this is correct.



My husband is Turkish and while we were in Turkey on holiday in June we were asked for 7 TL to park the car for a couple of hours ( TC plate on car - so spot the tourist !!!!! ) after a row we paid 5 TL to park - we then ate dinner in a small restaurant - 1 fish - 2 Bonfile şiş kebabs ( plus an extra portion of meat as it was so yummy ) 1 half chicken with chips rice salad and 2 litres of cola - 28 TL total for 4 people absolutely marvellous - and the man wanted 7 TL for the car park'!!!!!!!!!!!



As I said my husband is Turkish and we were in Turkey and we still got ripped off - however WE CHOSE TO PAY IT !!!!!!!



I find the Wednesday market great - and as DC said if you look most foods are priced and if not they are always calling out the price ( learn to count in Turkish it helps )



Happy sh

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 19:28

that should of said



Happy shopping !!!!!

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 19:33

Love the photo DC can almost smell those lemons.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 19:47

Very good fruit and Veg down the Wednesday market, first class

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 19:50

I bought some fab baby clothes from the market - for a very good price !!!!! ( much less than in shops in town for the same type of things )

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 20:19

D/C we were charged more for Bread /nuts and Jars of Olives but hey as i said we are more careful now visit less frequent bit of a put off to say the least .

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 20:22

I'd agree with the other posters. Most stalls have prices & I tend to avoid those that don't. If they have something especially better, then I ask the cost & compare or watch what the locals pay. All you need to do is learn your numbers.

If you don't ask the price first or haggle if you think you're being overcharged, then you deserve to be ripped off. When in Rome or Girne etc.......

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 21:46

Scruff no one deserves to be ripped off . In the end we avoid these stalls so they lose out not us , if these stall holders can afford to lose customers then so be it.

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 23:02

Its easy enough to listen to what the prices are in Turkish when somebody else asks anyway if your not sure or think they are quoting too much. Most things are between 1-5 TL per KG anyway Generally you can tell very quickly what is reasonable there by listening or looking at the stalls with marked prices.



Generally its good value and quality.



Aussie

petez


Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 560

Message Posted:
10/12/2009 23:09

Great picture Hans ... do you have a FLickr account?

It would be great to add it to our North Cyprus picture collection

http://www.flickr.com/groups/northerncyprus/

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
11/12/2009 02:20

Pipie, you would never be happy living here. Please read what I said again. You have a big problem, I think with jumping on your high horse. This would cause you a problem everywhere in the world, UK included.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
11/12/2009 07:49

I love the market and very often get much better quality spuds there than in the supermarkets.



As previously said, know your numbers and how to ask for the price.



Approach a stall that already has people around and ask the locals what price they are being charged, this is what I did until I was able to understand all my numbers.



At the end of the day, if you think you are being 'ripped' off ..... walk away and you don't have to pay. I have done many times, they just put the goods back on the stall, and if they are desperate for business they will come running after you with a new and less price!!

denizen



Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
11/12/2009 08:47

I go every Wednesday. Always walk all the way round before deciding where to buy. Usually end up at the same stall, one that sells just about eveything I need and all priced up. Never thought much about being conned, if whats in the bag doesn't come to a round figure, they usually add some more. They never take any out, good business, I reckon. Couple of weeks ago I bought some veg. at a stall just off the covered area, run by an old couple, it looked so good. The old lady asked for what I took to be "seven". (funny how they know you're a Brit.) I gave her seven, she looked at the money, then me, then showed her husband. He looked at me and nodded, ok. As I walked away I realised that she'd actually said "sekiz". (maybe the sun tan's coming on). I returned and gave her another 1tl. A big smile from her and a handshake from him. Bet they were thinking "bloody rip-off merchant"



D

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
11/12/2009 08:52

RE msg 18, denizen: I like your post! My wife and I have had similar experiences on the market and elsewhere and it's good to read that there are other board members who look at TRNC without the usual depressing mistrust, moaning and whinging on this board.