Bargaining is an art practiced by all Moroccans without exception! A little confusing for Westerners, it’s a must in the souks…
A basic principle: don’t exceed the price you’re willing to pay. The basic price is always given by the merchant “at the customer’s head”!
Evaluating the right price is difficult without a local reference. To help you, here’s a small idea of reasonable prices (varying according to quality, material used, amount of work):
– slippers: from 70 to 200 dhs
– Jewelry: according to weight, and daily price.
– Carpets: from 700 dhs to 2000 dhs per m².
– Spices: from 30 dhs (paprika) to 50/60 dhs per kilo (cumin, cinnamon, ginger). Most expensive: saffron (10 dhs per gram) and Ras El hanout blend (150 dhs per kilo).
Moroccan craftwork is very rich. The best advice is to buy them where they are made. Forget, for example, the argan oil sold by a so-called cooperative in the Atlas mountains… a misconception when you know that argan trees only grow on the Atlantic coast, from Essaouira to Agadir.
The finest copper is made in Fès, cedar wood is carved in Essaouira, and the most beautiful babouches are made in Fès and Marrakech. Silverwork is a speciality of Tiznit and Essaouira. The most fragrant spices are found in Marrakech. As for carpets, the richest come from Rabat. You’ll find beautiful kilims in Marrakech.