Do you go to the Wednesday Girne Market North Cyprus

hawkeye


Joined: 12/09/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 06:37

we do on and off....... we had to go and get our car tax.....that was another story they were on strike....but yesterday was the first time for 3 weeks and we bought nowt. I refuse to buy where there are no prices, and we saw not one stall with most goods priced. Prices on some had only one ticket up...........So we walked out bought nowt.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 07:19

Know what you mean but the culture here is to barter so prices are a bit irrelevant.

hawkeye


Joined: 12/09/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 07:25

no they are irrelevant......... They were putting prices on so what has gone wrong.....and we have been here for 7 years my cypriot freind never has to bargain in the market, and his prices are less tha ours when we ask.....!!!!!!!!!!!!! My understanding was that Girne Belydir asked for the prices to be made manditory ( but maybe that was just that week)

Happy Hussar


Joined: 01/10/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 08:36

If you buy the goods in multiples of 1 kg you cannot go wrong, ask the price per kilo in advance and then ask for the amount you want. You and the stallholder then know in exactly how much you owe. You then only have to worry about getting the right change, but thats another story! Just male sure you bring small change and small notes with you.



If you dont like the price per kilo quoted at one stall go to another and ask until you get a good price bearing in mind that some stalls have better quality than others and price their goods accordingly.



If you get good service and a good deal at one particular stall go back to them again and again, they will get to know you and it will pay off in the end.



Use the occasion to practice your Turkish and enjoy the visit, they are not all con men and women, most are relatively poor and just want a fair price for their hard work.



Enjoy, Tony



I

smwredd


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 09:15

Well said Tony, we go every week and most stalls do have a price showing, if they don't I usually move on to one that does. I can certainly save money on my fruit and veg by shopping there and the quality is usually fantastic and very fresh and with a lot of choice. By the way, why not ask the price if it is not showing, surely this is what one would do in the UK.

girne


Joined: 14/01/2009
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 13:18

Wheather you speak in Turkish or not (being a Turkish Cyp myself) l have not been for the same reason and when ever l do buy l seem to have spent a lot with nothing to show for it. So l just stick to my Lemar or Bektas jusy as good......

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
02/12/2010 14:53

We stopped going for the same reason, and during the summer it was too hot to walk around anyway. Lemar has very good fruit and veg counters and at very good prices.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 12:43

You cannot beat Ya Belles for fruit and veg prices and quality.

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 13:29

I always use one that does show the prices - I never buy if they are not prepared to state the price

decanddyl


Joined: 17/01/2009
Posts: 792

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 22:38

Still go but not as often as we did before, never dream of buying anything until we know the price. We also try to make sure we pay same price as the locals. I do think most are hard working honest people however the few who do try to rip you off give the place a bad name. The rip off merchants are alive and well everywhere you go (worldwide) so try to be one step ahead and walk away if you think you are being overcharged.

bigOz


Joined: 29/09/2010
Posts: 1244

Message Posted:
03/12/2010 23:31

I always compare the supermarket prices with what's on offer and always find a bargain or two! When the price is higher than a supermarket, I say it to the guys at the stall.

For example, last week price of potatoes in supermarkets 1.50/kg - one stall with freshly dug red soil potatoes 1 TL! One lettuce in Lemar or Starling (usually wilting) 1.25, - in the market 2 for 1TL fresh out of soil! Cucumbers around 1.50 TL/Kg, fresh ones in the market 1 TL. I find vegetables are usually cheaper than the markets, if you bother to walk around and search for the right stall, especially late afternoon.

There is not much difference in fruits but I did come accross one stall where fresh local apples and pears (not aged stuff from cold store) were selling at 2 TL/Kg. Oh! and I forgot about the quince (lovely for making jam) - 3.50 at supermarkets (not so fresh) - 2.50 at the market.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
04/12/2010 09:00

I agree with messages 4 and 5 - especially about freshness and choice. Use a bit of intelligence and you will be OK. I check the prices on stalls where they are displayed and then ask the price at the stall with the best looking quality. It is quickly obvious if they are asking a fair price or not and you soon get to know the 'honest' traders.



For those who don't know there is a similar size market in Lefkosia on Sundays. Again there are only a small number of stalls displaying prices but the quality and freshness are the same.

jenny278


Joined: 10/05/2010
Posts: 79

Message Posted:
04/12/2010 16:10

Don't recommend the ladies loo, as an ex nurse I am not squeamish but the stench and very poor lack of hygiene standards (no running water,washing facilitys,toilet paper etc) made me very nauseous, but hey when your bladder is up to your neck needs must, and to top it all she wanted payment I'm afraid I less than politely informed her what I thought of her standards of work and walked off, if she had even got off her backside and emptied the over flowing bin in the toilet I might have paid her. Still feel a little guilty as she probably needed the money.