Stego's FAQ on India travel (Shopping 1/1)
Subject: Re: Buying rugs in India
From: mahamati <mahet@merlin.net.au>
Date: 11 Feb 96
Good luck with the buying.I have bought years ago in kashmirwithout hassles, but two years ago with friend bought in Agra and the wrong rug turned up, ofcourse a cheaper edition and not so nice and impossible to rectify. Should sign ont he back so you know which is yours, watch the sewing up and addressing process carefully, or take it yourself to the shipping / air freight. Endless cups of tea are drunk in the process of choosing and one often ends up buying more than one wanted to. nevertheless, i'd do it all again tomorrow if I could.
mahamati
Subject: Buying rugs in India
From: ganesh@zonk.geko.net.au (Ganesh)
Date: 14 Feb 96
>...
> Don't, I repeat don't ever buy carpets from the Kashmiris in Delhi.
Each year I meet people who have been overcharged, given the wrong goods and even had fraudulent charges made on their credit cards dealing with them.
In fact a majority of American Express investigations in India for card holders stem from problems associated with carpet purchases.
You will probably find that the same carpets, or better, will be available for less in your own country. (You will also avoid the hassles of shipping, insurance and import duty costs.) Don't believe the stories that the import charges are minimal. (Checks with individual country customs regulations are recommended.)
If you must buy carpets over there due to the "souvenir" factor purchase only from Government Handicrafts stores, (not the ones saying "Approved by Government".) Get a certificate of valuation or authenticity stating material (ie silk on silk, silk on cotton etc.) and the number of knots per inch etc etc.
Good luck and don't expect a bargain.
Ganesh
Subject: Buying rugs in India
From: "Per Löwdin"
Date: 16 Feb 96
ganesh@zonk.geko.net.au (Ganesh), refering to Whit Wheeler , wrote:
>
>Don't, I repeat don't ever buy carpets from the Kashmiris in Delhi.
>Each year I meet people who have been overcharged, given the wrong
>goods and even had fraudulent charges made on their credit cards
>dealing with them.
I am afraid Ganesh is right to a certain extent. You really have to know carpets to buy successfully in India. If You do there are some bargains.
If You do not they will take You for a ride. No lie is to low for most carpet dealers, if they think it will make You buy a carpet.
>You will probably find that the same carpets, or better, will be
>available for less in your own country.
Yes that is quite true.
>If you must buy carpets over there due to the "souvenir" factor
>purchase only from Government Handicrafts stores, (not the ones saying
>"Approved by Government".) Get a certificate of valuation or
>authenticity stating material (ie silk on silk, silk on cotton etc.)
>and the number of knots per inch etc etc.
If You are buying silk carpets You should learn to tell silk from mesmerized cotton. Even if You buy in a government handicraft store. In fact if You buy a silk on silk You have to learn to pull the warp threads with a needle to make sure that they have not stitched on a fake silk fringe which will fall of after a year or two.
Make sure You really know what You are buying or You are going to be cheated badly.
Per
© J. Mário Pires, 96
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