Where better to buy souvenirs and gifts in Tunisia
About what exactly tourists buy in Tunisia, we already talked to the article "What to bring from Tunisia". Now we will tell about how and in which stores it is easier and more profitable to buy, how not to overpay the cunning Tunisian traders.
Prices and all the information in this article are updated in March 2020.
Fix stores and without priceists
There are two types of shops in tourist areas. First type – FIX Price, where there are price tags, the price is open and bargain not accepted. And the second type of stores – without priceists, where the price needs to ask and bargain for each case.
Immediately, let’s say that the range in all stores is about the same, exclusive things are extremely rare.
All have the same magnets, postcards, drums and other souvenirs (in the photo on the right, click on the photo to enlarge) produced in China. Who would doubt their origin. Everyone has the same olive oil, dates, halva, spices and other pure Tunisian gifts.
Therefore, it is necessary to immediately decide whether you want to bargain or prefer to buy everything at fixed prices. If you bargain, you can buy even cheaper than in fixing, but is there energy and mood?
Not surprisingly, 90% of tourists prefer to fix. If you are of those, then at the sight of goods without price tags in the store, just unfold and leave. Do not think that asking the price, the merchant will say the figure that will be below the FIX Price, the price will always be higher than 2-3 times.
Some merchants argue that trade without price tags is the norm and tradition of eastern countries, which is so accepted here. Hidden Message of such an approval: "You have to buy from me and not go to fix". Manipulation is obvious! Do not give in!
If you walk around the local shops, where the Tunisians themselves are purchased every day, then there are price tags there. Tradition to bargain for anyone remained only in some markets.
What fix price store choose?
The first category is shops for hotels. This is the most convenient way to buy souvenirs and gifts, but also the most expensive.
Shops in hotels always multiplied price tag 1.5 times and more. For example, a postcard can be bought on the market for the price of 1 Tunisian dinar for 10-12 pieces, and in the hotel store only 2 pieces for Dinar. Olive oil on the market can be purchased at 8-10 dinar per liter, and in the hotel store they are asked for 12-16.
The shops for hotels are good only when you need to buy a couple of magnetics or one can of oil, and nothing else needs to purchase anything else. In all other cases, it’s easier to reach a large store or take a taxi, the benefits of taxi prices in Tunisia are very low.
The second category of stores is large supermarkets. Network Retail Number 1 in Tunisia is the French network Carrefour. There are three types of carrefour stores. The first is called Carrefour Express – these are very small shops, the second – Carrefour Market and just carrefour, they are more. Read the details in our article "Cartur stores in Tunisia".
In the suburbs of the city of Tunisia there is a carrefour hypermarket "Beni Khalled" – He is only one such big for the whole country, its shopping area is 1100 kV.M. , What is comparable to Moscow Auchans.
Ordinary carrefour supermarkets are similar to our large "Pyaterochka" or "Crossroads" – from 300 to 600 kV.M. Them in Tunisia is already more than 70, in each large settlement there is such a store.
Everything is arranged here as well as we. At the entrance you can take a cart, "razor" to her coin 1 dinar. In the photo on the right it is shown. Coin returns when handing the cart back.
It should be remembered that Carrefour is not a tourist store, this is an ordinary supermarket. There are no magnets, postcards, drums, gift tunisian ceramics and other purely souvenir products.
But here there are olives and olive oil, dates, haryss, halva and other oriental sweets, canned tuna and other delicious gifts.
Prices in Carrefour can safely call "Middle", Since in the markets you can buy it all even cheaper. Street merchants do not pay VAT tax, hence low price tags. Carrefour is obliged to pay VAT.
Going to Carrefour is an attraction for tourists, you can personally watch the standard of living of the Tunisians, what products they eat and at what prices are buying. You will be surprised, but the usual bananas in Tunisia cost 3.5 dinars per kilogram (for 2020 it is 90 rubles), and this is despite the fact that they grow them in Tunisia! And this is not the only amazing in Tunisia, what can be seen thanks to Carrefour. We talked about many things in the review "Prices for products in Tunisia".
And the third type of stores are private fix price bench in markets and tourist areas. This is the perfect choice for a tourist, but you need to be attentive. It happens that these stores are trying to sell Stridorog. For example, flavored olive soap can cost 2 dinars in one store (normal price), and in another 5 dinar.
In large resort cities there are even shopping centers consisting of only Fix stores Price. An example of such a shopping center in the photo is Costa Mall at the Snin Hammamet resort.
Come and look at prices. Here are some prices in 2020, which can be called "Middle": Olive oil – 15 Dinar per liter, a small piece of olive soap – 2 dinars, magnet – 1 dinar, medium sizes of Tajin – 15 dinar, postcards – 5 pieces for 1 dinar. If the price store is higher, deploy, go and look for another.
In such Fix stores, you can bargain, but it is rather not a full trade, but a discount requirement. You ask for a discount, the merchant decides – give a discount or not.
There is one interesting feature in Tunisia. On cigarettes rarely put price tags. Even if the Fix Price store, there often have price tags in all products, but besides tobacco products. Do not know why, whether the laws are, or the traditions. Read about tobacco prices in our article "Smoking and Cigarettes in Tunisia". By the way, in carrefour cigarettes do not sell at all.
How to put into shops without priceists
our and European tourists are well aware of the stores without price programs, they do not want to go there. Tunisian merchants come up with ways, how to put it there. We will tell about these methods briefly.
Method first: "I am a cook from your hotel". This is the most popular method from which tourists are already sick.
On the street to tourists fits a person and says: "Do you remember me? I am a cook from your hotel, I have a day off! You’re from …?". In the end, he confidently says the name of your hotel.
In the photo on the right just such a luban, whom we met near Medina Hammamet. He leads us to the store, supposedly her brother.
Of course, he is no cook, but he learned about the name of the hotel on the bracelet. He uses an interesting psychological technique. Specifies a few questions, but the answer to the latter can only be "Yes". Responding "Yes", Tourists as if agreed with everything he said. Manipulation is obvious! Do not give in!
Then he says that his brother (matchmaker, testing, a friend, needs to emphasize), there is a store, he will tell him that it was all very cheap and not "Tyuhali" fake.
To avoid meetings with such climbers, just hide the bracelets under the clothes, they will not fit. And if suitable and try to guess the hotel, tell me that he was wrong.
The method of the second: "As it is called in our?" More interesting, but tourists are nervous.
The merchant comes out of his store and appeals to passersby tourists for help: "Tell me how this product is called our".
First, all of us have been taught since childhood, that help people are always good. Secondly, tourists flatten the desire manifested by the seller to learn our.
Thirdly, in psychology there is such a thing as "Helping relations" – This is a special relationship between people. It is noticed that the level of sympathy in a helpering higher than that who helps, although logically should be the opposite. This psychological phenomenon is used by Tunisian merchants. Tourist decides to help, goes to the store, where he starts "Scroll" Double price souvenirs.
Third method: "How much does it cost in Russia?" Better, but also not very pleasant.
The merchant sticks to tourists, showing the goods and asking: "How much does it cost in Russia?". If you call him a price, he will try to kill her. Or say: "Can’t be, I propose for n dinars". In any case, this is a way to tie a conversation with potential fieffies. , Sorry, buyer.
Traders know in advance what exactly in Tunisia is cheaper than in Russia. The problem is that there are not so many such objects, since the standard of living in our countries is comparable. First of all, they are shown on olive oil, because it in Tunisia is really two times cheaper.
Such methods of tipping tourists to shops without price programs are the same throughout Tunisia – from Sidi-Bu-Said in the north to the island of Djerba in the south.
Sale technology for overestimated prices
Suppose that tourist still kneaded in such a store. Tell your receptions that use merchants for sale in inadequate prices.
As soon as you enter, the merchant will begin to treat – adult tea, children with water. So the seller is trying to make you in advance with him obligated. Remember that he voluntarily treats you free! You should not feel something proper, should not feel the debt to buy something from him.
Many tourists come, drink tea and go ravoisi. The merchant is angry, but this is his problem that the manipulation was not successful.
The second reception – the seller asks first to collect all the products that you liked, and then bargain for everything at once. This complicates the buyer an objective assessment of the cost of the purchase.
We recommend the following strategy. Choose one product and ask the price, insist on told the price precisely for this product. Next, make conclusions.
Chief Council
Do not buy anything in the first days of rest. First go shopping, look at the assortment. Decide which souvenirs and gifts want to buy, and better make a list. Remember prices for these goods if the memory is bad, then write down or photograph price tags.
Already in the last days go shopping. You will know what to buy, how much money it will cost. And one more important point: merchants take dinars and reluctantly take dollars and euros. Money will have to change, and you can change exactly the amount you plan to spend. There will be no return problems.
It’s important to know
– To quickly navigate in prices, use our Calculator Tunisian Dinar;
– Before going shopping, we strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with the list of objects that can not be taken out of the country and imported into the our Federation, or you can export limited. Read our article "What can not and can be removed from Tunisa";
– Alcohol prices are a very difficult moment. Officially, simple stores do not have the right to sell alcohol, as it is almost impossible to get a license for them. But they often violate the law and sell, and price tags can be overestimated several times. Alcohol better buy in MG. Details in our article "Alcohol in Tunisia";
– Another difficult moment is fruit prices. Prices are changing depending on the collection season of different varieties. Details in our article "Fruits in Tunisia".
Successful purchases in Tunisia, and read other useful articles about this country on our website (Links below).
