Yerebatan Location: Elegance Rug Galery, Sedir Art Gallery
"Drugged Tea", "Rip-Off", "Stay Away", "Dishonest", "Shameless", "Smiling Villains", "Con Men", "BEWARE!"
Yerebatan Location
Yerebatan Cd. No:46, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Elegance Rug Galery (? - 2013)
Sedir Art Gallery (c. 2014 - 2022)
Apr 2013
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d317731-Reviews-Elegance_Rug_Galery-Istanbul.html
September 2018
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hs7kurvZ4tLzuiVu7
Elegance Rug Galery
__
Shameless rip-off from caricature carpet touts
Sep 2015
My wife and I are alert to the various scamming carpet shops which spoil the reputation of Istanbul and the generally kind and genuine Turkish people - and this one is the worst by far. A super-smooth and super-sleazy tout in his early 30s and who seemed to have something wrong with one of his eyes (twitching and cross-eyed 0 very disturbing) accosted us in Sultanahmet and we went to the shop on the basis that we would NOT be buying. Instead of apple tea out came alcohol (whiskey and wine) which the tout devoured in large doses. We know a lot about carpets and kiims and could quickly see that the quality was very poor and the prices being asked were sky-high and we were amazed that they could quote the prices with straight faces. Invitations to fish restaurants, sight seeing etc were proffered in a desperate attempt to get us to buy. The young tout in particular (his name started with H) was unbelievably pushy and sleazy. This shop is a disgrace. It gave us a creepy feeling. It is full of rubbish We escaped without buying and would love to report them to the tourist police as they are a caricature of the dodgy carpet seller and give Turkey a terribly bad and undeserved reputation. Please never go there!!!!
__
STAY FAR AWAY!!!!! THEY WILL CHEAT YOU!!!!! THEY ARE COMPLETELY DISHONEST!!!!
Nov 2014 • Solo
Stay far away from this place. There is absolutely NO doubt that they will cheat you. This place is a complete scam. They are completely dishonest! If you see this store, then turn around and run away. You will be far better off if you do. THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS PLACE!!
__
Beware - be alert and be savvy.....enjoy the ride
Jul 2015
I didn't buy a rug but was harassed for an hour or so. The young man who attached himself to me outside the Blue Mosque was very smooth. A great guide showed me all the sights in and around around Sultanamet with commentary for a few hours and did tell me his family had a shop, that he would like me to visit for tea but once there the hard sell started. It was a shame because he had great talent for being a tour guide. One positive for me was this happened at the beginning of my holiday so I had the low down on the spiel so every time a rug seller launched into his sell I knew exactly what was coming next. No I didn't want tea or a carpet or anything else! Also got some great photos :)
__
STAY AWAY STAY AWAY STAY AWAY
May 2015 • Solo
Now the name of the shop is SEDIR ART GALLERY !!! But the same scam .
A friendly man talks to you in the street. Invites you to drink a tea in the shop. Goes with you to the shop and dissapears. Than starts the scam
A friendly man talks to you in the street. Invites you to drink a tea in the shop. Goes with you to the shop and dissapears. Than starts the scam
__
Stay Away!
Sep 2014 • Solo
This company has changed its name but you can recognize it from the photo. If you buy, definitely pay with American Express or other card that will back you up in case of a problem. I'd also recommend shopping around especially in non-tourist locations.
This company tried to lure me into a tax avoidance scheme ostensibly to save them export fees thus permitting me to purchase an extremely expensive carpet cheaply. I declined and later learned that it was a scam by Googling 'Turkish carpet scam'.
This is possibly the worst example of a generally unsavory business.
This company tried to lure me into a tax avoidance scheme ostensibly to save them export fees thus permitting me to purchase an extremely expensive carpet cheaply. I declined and later learned that it was a scam by Googling 'Turkish carpet scam'.
This is possibly the worst example of a generally unsavory business.
__
Don't think of going in! Do not buy a rug or anything else from this shop.
Oct 2013 • Solo
I can guarantee they will rip you off. If they say the rug is antique, it will not be. Whatever you pay for the rug, it's true value will be a fraction of what you paid. Sit down and accept apple tea, and you need a very strong personality to be able to at best, walk out. They will take you upstairs and their techniques in selling would better any military ones. They are fraudulent. Don't consider buying anything from them. Ali Baba and the ten thousand thieves is a phrase that rapidly comes to mind as a description of this place
I did but used my credit card. I got my money back eventually after a year and using a solicitor.
I could go into great detail of my experience but I won't, my advice, just do not walk into the place.
I did but used my credit card. I got my money back eventually after a year and using a solicitor.
I could go into great detail of my experience but I won't, my advice, just do not walk into the place.
__
Dishonest,they will take you on a magic carpet ride
Sep 2013 • Solo
They will use dishonest ways to get your money, I am still waiting for solutions to a very bad experience buying several carpets No respect, no sympathy, they have your money and please go away. Scams galore, horribly inflated prices, get out and stay away, visit other shops. They will ignore E-mails, police should shut this store, so close to the mosques.
__
Smiling villains
Apr 2013 • Solo
Like a number of other contributors I had a terrible experience at Elegance. They were lovely and kind, I foolishly thought: endless cups of tea, lunches, dripping charm.
The credit cards were produced. I did not keep watch on what was happening.
I was stunned when I got back to Australia to discover the amounts which had been extracted.
I had the rugs valued and I paid more than three times their worth.
I felt so embarrassed to have been such a fool.
I felt betrayed, To offer hospitality to a stranger is an ancient custom, but to then rob them is a disgrace.
Be careful,
The credit cards were produced. I did not keep watch on what was happening.
I was stunned when I got back to Australia to discover the amounts which had been extracted.
I had the rugs valued and I paid more than three times their worth.
I felt so embarrassed to have been such a fool.
I felt betrayed, To offer hospitality to a stranger is an ancient custom, but to then rob them is a disgrace.
Be careful,
__
Elegant Scammers
Oct 2013 • Solo
Please do not go near this place, they are total scammers. don't be fooled by the salesman and for God's sake don't buy a carpet unless you actually know something about them. these guys have touts in front of Hagia Sophia to lure in the gullible, I was netted in, but could see through their little game, if you cannot manage to get out with your wallet intact, make any excuse, they will try almost anything to get you to buy very overpriced goods. There are honest rug salesmen in Istanbul, this is not one of them, and keep away from the grand bazaar-head down to the Arasta Bazaar, and make sure you are happy with the rug, even if you find out its a cheap Chinese knock-off otherwise you have no business buying a rug.
__
Stay out of this store
Oct 2012 • Solo
The carpets are beautiful but the people (Hakim who says he is an owner) will harass you and bully you incessantly. I get nasty emails from him all the time. I've had to block him from my email. He will not leave me alone. His behavior borders on sexual harassment. (I am not very sensitive and can take care of myself in these situations). And I was in the store eight and a half months ago. Additionally, like other customers, I was charged more than the agreed price. This appears to be a common practice. They then try to get to to take more merchandise. Istanbul is full of beautiful carpets. Go someone where else. I cannot urge you more strongly to go elsewhere.
__
Total ripoff-- beware
May 2013 • Solo
After spending some time and buying a rug here, one of the managers told me he wanted to give me a "gift". One of his favorite paintings, for cost. I asked how much it would be. He told me I'd be surprised, just give him my credit card. I had already been treated to a Turkish breakfast in the private office upstairs and had seem some incredible antique rugs. So I gave him the card, and he processed a charge of approximately $1800 US, far more than I had spent on a rug the previous day. I had to insist on an immediate refund -- back upstairs to the owner, the salesman offered to throw in another rug to avoid processing the refund. I had to insist and finally got it but left with the feeling that these guys are total crooks. I'm happy with the rug I purchased the day before, but the first price they gave me was $6200. I ended up paying $1300 and felt that it was a good deal. But the guy with whom I dealt was a snake.
__
Drugged Tea
Nov 2012 • Solo
Beware of this store. My husband was served DRUGGED TEA in the back and barely made it out. He was brought to the store by a "runner" who was working in the mosque area, who seemed very nice and polite. When in the store, he was told it was a tradition to drink tea together, and then served apple tea. Luckily he only drank half the cup before his teeth started to go numb and his head began to spin. A very common ploy in Istanbul, but not expected in a store in such a "safe" neighborhood that appeared to high-end. DO NOT DRINK THE TEA
__
Con Men Carpet Sales
The sales man I encountered here was a con man. The low level the sales man Mehmet Ricardo stooped to was disgusting.
Sedir Art Gallery Carpet & Kilim
__
If you are a woman stay away from this shop
Oct 2019
I was brought to this shop by a young man on the street. He first helped me find the Blue Mosque and was waiting outside for me when I finished viewing the building. He said come see my shop. I thought this was innocent enough but things became more and more stress full for me as the time went on. The first man in the shop used the friendship and compliments galore to get me off guard. I was shown a carpet with a highly inflated price. I was told many lies like this was a merino wool and cotton carpet, hand made, I would get a certificate of authenticity etc.. When I resisted buying another man came over and talked to me saying that the shop owner was a very honest shop keeper and would give me a fair price. He went on an on with the same so called friendly conversation. The banter went on and on to the point that I felt I was not able to leave without some confrontation. I am an elderly woman and I was alone so I felt very vulnerable. I usually am a cautious savvy person but for some reason I was really taken for a ride, somewhat out of fear. I try to be nice to every one so I fell for it. These two men talked consistently that I was overwhelmed and confused. There were several other men in the shop as well and they were positioned where they could possibly block me leaving the store. I was overwhelmingly pressured into buying this carpet. I lost a few nights sleep over al the money I gave them for a carpet that most likely is not wool at all and my sense it comes from China. There was no certificate of authenticity. When it arrived at my home the workmanship is shoddy and I could have gotten this from Amazon for 5% the price I paid them for it. I was really scammed.
__
This is a mixture of Romance scam,Friendship scam and Multi- scam!
Apr 2018 • Solo
This place is just scary. I was horrified by two salesman. One(around 30 year old, His initial is D.M. as I was told) leaded me to this shop from town using love psychology theory with high pressure and the other (around 50 year old, He used to live in Japan and spoke in Japanese) pushed me to purchase things in the shop using friendship scam with high pressure.
Lots of lies, lots of scams , planed team work with local kiosk clew , demanding physical relationship, mixture of everything! When making a payment, they changed what they say every 2 minutes. I don't know this comes from their Marketing culture...
Anyway this is from true experience . Don't go there especially if you are young girl and solo-traveller.I had this experience in 2015.
I found this shop still running in 2018.
Lots of lies, lots of scams , planed team work with local kiosk clew , demanding physical relationship, mixture of everything! When making a payment, they changed what they say every 2 minutes. I don't know this comes from their Marketing culture...
Anyway this is from true experience . Don't go there especially if you are young girl and solo-traveller.I had this experience in 2015.
I found this shop still running in 2018.
__
Do NOT patronize this store!
Nov 2016 • Solo
Do not even set foot in this store. This merchant tells lies and uses coercion in trying to make a "sale." What is done is fraudulent and criminal. Carpet values are grossly overvalued. "High pressure" does not even begin to describe the tactics employed by this shameful establishment. I speak from experience. I am disputing all sales charges involving this merchant. I am also contacting the U.S. Embassy and Turkish authorities to see if something can be done to stop this merchant from scamming naive and unsuspecting customers. Beward this predatory shop!
__
BUYER BEWARE!!!!
Oct 2015 • SoloBayram Karaselek and his cousin Mustafa Burca, the shop's owners, are not people I would ever do business with again and certainly would never recommend them to friends.
I bought 2 rugs from them--BIG MISTAKE!
The rugs were not what they represented them to be and certainly not the age or quality I had paid for.
I should not have trusted them when they represented that they will buy the rugs back from me at any time. They are unwilling to honor that promise.
Ask yourself this question, why would a successful business run by honorable people ever want to change its name?
If, after reading this post and the other negative ones, you still want to buy a rug from them, make sure:
1) You have them write every single representation to you down on the sales contract, especially: that they will buy the item back from you at any time for any reason at the same price they sold it to you for and that they guarantee that the item will appraise for at least the amount of the sales contract.
2) Use your credit card. Do not pay for anything with cash. You only have a chance of getting your money back if you use your credit card.
3) Take the item to a competitor in a different part of town and ask them how much the item is worth.
4) Take a picture of the item in the shop with the owner in the picture. No basis for saying that they didn't sell you the rug. Luckily I have these.
Or just avoid doing business with them and save yourself from the bad experiences that so many people have had (see posts on TripAdvisor under both business names).
__
Bayram Karaselek and his cousin Mustafa Burca, the shop's owners, are not people I would ever do business with again and certainly would never recommend them to friends.
I bought 2 rugs from them--BIG MISTAKE!
The rugs were not what they represented them to be and certainly not the age or quality I had paid for.
I should not have trusted them when they represented that they will buy the rugs back from me at any time. They are unwilling to honor that promise.
Ask yourself this question, why would a successful business run by honorable people ever want to change its name?
If, after reading this post and the other negative ones, you still want to buy a rug from them, make sure:
1) You have them write every single representation to you down on the sales contract, especially: that they will buy the item back from you at any time for any reason at the same price they sold it to you for and that they guarantee that the item will appraise for at least the amount of the sales contract.
2) Use your credit card. Do not pay for anything with cash. You only have a chance of getting your money back if you use your credit card.
3) Take the item to a competitor in a different part of town and ask them how much the item is worth.
4) Take a picture of the item in the shop with the owner in the picture. No basis for saying that they didn't sell you the rug. Luckily I have these.
Or just avoid doing business with them and save yourself from the bad experiences that so many people have had (see posts on TripAdvisor under both business names).
I bought 2 rugs from them--BIG MISTAKE!
The rugs were not what they represented them to be and certainly not the age or quality I had paid for.
I should not have trusted them when they represented that they will buy the rugs back from me at any time. They are unwilling to honor that promise.
Ask yourself this question, why would a successful business run by honorable people ever want to change its name?
If, after reading this post and the other negative ones, you still want to buy a rug from them, make sure:
1) You have them write every single representation to you down on the sales contract, especially: that they will buy the item back from you at any time for any reason at the same price they sold it to you for and that they guarantee that the item will appraise for at least the amount of the sales contract.
2) Use your credit card. Do not pay for anything with cash. You only have a chance of getting your money back if you use your credit card.
3) Take the item to a competitor in a different part of town and ask them how much the item is worth.
4) Take a picture of the item in the shop with the owner in the picture. No basis for saying that they didn't sell you the rug. Luckily I have these.
Or just avoid doing business with them and save yourself from the bad experiences that so many people have had (see posts on TripAdvisor under both business names).
__
Predatory and coercive - dangerous for a solo traveler.
Oct 2015 • SoloLost and disoriented in a rain storm, I taken in hand by a polite young man who spoke English and said he'd direct me to my hotel. Instead, he diverted me to his "family's art exhibition" - the back part of a two-room store front, without windows to the street and no customers. Surrounded by him, his "uncle" who seemed to be the proprietor, and several male employees, I was manipulated mercilessly for over an hour. Each time I tried to exit, they charmingly/laughingly stood in the way. Only when I finally agreed to buy something and produced a credit card was I allowed to leave. They utilize various insidious techniques to break people, especially women and in particular a woman alone. The operation should be shut down.
Oct 2015 • Solo
Lost and disoriented in a rain storm, I taken in hand by a polite young man who spoke English and said he'd direct me to my hotel. Instead, he diverted me to his "family's art exhibition" - the back part of a two-room store front, without windows to the street and no customers. Surrounded by him, his "uncle" who seemed to be the proprietor, and several male employees, I was manipulated mercilessly for over an hour. Each time I tried to exit, they charmingly/laughingly stood in the way. Only when I finally agreed to buy something and produced a credit card was I allowed to leave. They utilize various insidious techniques to break people, especially women and in particular a woman alone. The operation should be shut down.
Search Terms:
Bayram Karaselek
Mustafa BurcaElegance Rug GaleryElegance Rug GalleryHerekeAggravated fraudNitelikli dolandırıcılıkPredatoryCoerciveDangerousScamDruggedYerebatan
Bayram Karaselek
Mustafa Burca
Mustafa Burca
Elegance Rug Galery
Elegance Rug Gallery
Hereke
Aggravated fraud
Nitelikli dolandırıcılık
Predatory
Coercive
Dangerous
Scam
Drugged
Yerebatan
Comments