The guy in the shop was old but he did have a moushtash and there were 3 sofas, but the shop was quite big and on the right going in was the till. There were perfume bottles all over the shop and at least 3 of his workers in there with him. i am wondering if it is the same shop, can anyone confer whether it was fairly near to Mcdonalds ?

I've been thinking about this for a few days, and while it hasn't scared me, I have decided I'm not going to go in any shops while out there. We will be going into Naama Bay probably two or three times for an evening meal but that is all. I wasn't planning on buying anything anyway but it's a shame not to be able to browse without feeling under pressure.

Oh well! Think of the money we'll save by not shopping!

Oh well! Think of the money we'll save by not shopping!

Thats exactly how i feel now after reading some of the posts!, these people are shooting themselves in the foot after all as eventually they wont have any tourists in the area if they keep treating them this way, i'm guessing that tourism is the main income for this area too??

Martin

Ooooo have only just got round to reading this thread!

pippy.
i don't know whether you would be interested but when we bought our "holiday soveniers" we went into the main shopping arcade at the end of namma bay high street. on the first floor ( i think ) was a shop that had all the holiday nik naks. the shop displayed their prices so there was no haggling. it wasn't expensive, but what i did notice is it was the most popular shop!! we bought everything here and it did save on a lot of hassle! medot.xx

I hope as Medot says some Egyptian shop owners realise that they could make a fortune from tourists if they offered a hassle free premmisess. They could display it on signs in the shop window "come in and browse, no hassle or pressure guaranteed" and even better if they didnt stand in the street trying to drag you in.
I reckon a shop like that would always be packed with tourists buying holiday nick nacks, especially if everything was priced up.
I know some people love haggling and its all part of the fun, but a lot of people find it intimidaiting and then choose not to bother at all which is a shame.

Agree totally with what you are saying about how they should run their shops but at the end of the day that is their "way of life" I don't think we should try and change that it is up to them, all we can do is warn people of how threatening it can be, purely because we we don't do it.

My intention wasn't to put people going to Egypt just making everyone aware of what to expect on their first time visit, this might only happen in Naama Bay, so don't be put off - just be very wary and alert to the tricks that some shopowners resort to.

Exactly!! In the Pyramisa, there are about 10 shops, maybe more. We went into one shop, which had everything, including choclate, which we needed after the deli belly we had, and we didnt get pounced upon or hassled, so we spent a few quid, Great! Why cant they all be like that instead of being like beggers!!! After our experience, and all your story's, Im NEVER going to go back to Eygpt, Tunisia, or anywhere like that again. I just cant stand the hassle, and the feeling of being trapped in a place full of scavengers. You go on holiday to relax and destress, but the hassle, and trying to be alert all the time isnt my idea of a holiday.

Off to the Caribean or Greece forums for me

Have to agree with you Scoobylid my other half and myself were disgusted at the behaviour of some shop keepers and the fact that although we were staying in a resort were hassled every hour by someone selling, glass bottom boat trips, quad biking, massage, manicures, highly inflated prices of newspapers. Some of these people really thought we were born yesterday and really tried it on - I didn't go on holiday for all that!! Things will have to change as there were quite a few people had the view that these people liked the english pound more than the english people!!!

Guys Guys please dont let one or two shops spoil your enjoyment of Sharm. We loved it and cannot wait to go back next year. Remember this, when going into a shop if they are pestering you they will most likely be from Cairo. Egyptians from Luxor are the best of the bunch and some do have prices on, supermarkets have prices on as do restaurants. I loved haggling and when the guys say no, you walk out of the shop and they call you back. it is best to do shopping in the day, although not many people about, they wont come out of the shop as the heat is so intense. If you see something in the window, haggle at night when the shop is full. Also look if you think the guy has a friendly face, this helps too.

Cairo is the worst place for pestering, they chase you down the street because they are so poor.

Sharm isnt aggressive and we felt perfectly safe except the bad experience in the perfume shop, but we did get lovely perfume and we will know next time to avoid the shop.

How many times do you go into a shop in the UK to be greeted by a stroppy assistant who doesnt really want to be working, we still buy because we want the item, they are alot ruder.

Enjoy Sharm, it is fun and all the men i have had the pleasure to meet with my hubby were fabulous, in fact i must get them up in the photo gallery. All our friends from Sharm mall on the bottom floor near the cafe and t. shirt shop was our friends, we had tea with them for 7 nights, without buying everything every night.

We never saw any violence as the Tourist police were ever present outside the Spagghettismo restaurant.

We never saw any drugs or anything that would ruin our hoilday.

Just enjoy yourself, the sea and coral were fab and the food and the Egyptian hospitality's was second to none, a much friendly place than most Countries we have ever been too.

Michelle xx

im concerned i have saw few threads saying people have been locked in the shop until they buy something? is this true?

regards

but invited in... we spent an hour in a perfume shop..... no intention of buying anything... even though they gave us tea and wrapped up 3 bottles.... never paid for anyhting... just got up and left.....

the next night, they found us on the street and halved the price.... still haven't bought it......

Be firm and polite and you'll do fine..... by your own branded perfume from Boots or Duty free. The stuf they sell in the bottles should be stored in dark steel flasks, like it is in Alexandria.... only it's about 20% of the price in Alexandria compared to Sharm....... It's easy money for them.

Perfume is not their only business sometimes.... security and black market items are what the business is there for......

the smaller shops on the street are fine.. the one's away through dark malls are to be avoided in my opinion...

I am travelling to Sharm in August and after reading the reports i am now quite concerned about going into Nama Bay.
Is it safer to shop during the day? Also, should i avoid the back streets and just stay within the mall that is mentioned.
I was in Turkey last year, is the hassle similar to what you experience there?

Gold or perfume, perfume or gold! Perhaps the gold [from reputable shop, recommended by rep] is the only bargain. I wouldnt go near the perfume shops, bad reputation of trying to lock you in the shop until you buy something!

Yes i was trapped into the purfume shop for hours with the door locked a couple of years ago.

I buy gold in Egypt all the time, fabulous. You get excellent bargains, but they dont budge much on price in the main shops, its cheap enough anyway (or so i tell hubby )

We were also locked in a perfume shop in Jun 06 in Sharm, until both me and Hubby started to play the game, they soon got bored with us, and opened the door, though it could have been very intimidating.

We are going to sharm in August

Where is the best place to buy towels and bedding.

Do you have to bargain like in Turkey?

Thanks

You can buy towels and bedding from the Mall, it is positioned on the ground floor of the mall and is the t. shirt shop, in the window normally is a huge t.shirt. We bought back loads last year. if you wanted different colours, they will get it for you for the next night, nothing is to much trouble. We made friends with them a few years ago. The guy is called marco, but sometimes he goes home, so his brothers run it. All the prices are standard and you cannot barter, unless like me, you buy a lot from his shop. All are made from Egyptian cotton.

shopping is not the best thing to do in hurghada.. mainly gold and souvenires

Hi

we're off here for a week or so and I wanted to know if there are any good markets in the area or even places to buy fakes (bags, films as we have a dvdvplayer in the room) etc etc

Can anyone recommend anywhere please, and how far are they from the Holiday Village where we will be staying.

Thanks