As a tourist buying souvenirs is the state emporia the best place to buy for price and quality?

Question

As I want to make sure my money goes to the people who make it, not big business. Im thinking of inlay elephant 6-10inch high, hand looms, embroided cushion covers, throw rugs. Any one know prices? Thanks heaps for your help guys.

Answer 1

Probably not. Unless you go to the villages... and buy direct there will always be many middlemen and salesmen creaming of the top. But such is life in any country.
Someone tried to sell me a wrap in India, started at 500 Rp then went down to 100Rp. Probably could have got it cheaper but i was happy. Value things yourself (as in what its worth to you) before asking the price, or shop around.
Good luck

Answer 2

I agree with Borneobubba on the shopping arena . If you want the money to go to the artisan it is best you go to the villages. But at a comfortable pace you can shop in Connaught place ( belovedly called as CP ) but get ready to pay heavy prices also you can not bargain in Emporiums. If your are very much int rested in paying to artisans directly then I suggest you go to Dilli Haat it is near AIIMS ( all India institute of med. sciences ) dilli haat is beautiful, vibrant and many states products are on display and sale directly by the artisans themselves. All you need to do is have some time in hand.... and you can bargain at Dilli Haat. But you will get anything from pottery, Jewellery, old forgoten toys, rugs, clothes, handicrafts, handlooms, sheets from nearly all the States of India! It is a cultural hub there are live demos and live performances too! at the end of it you have a food court which has cuisines from all the states.

Answer 3

Just returned from 2 weeks in India, including Delhi. We shopped mostly in the state emporiums. Several are located adjacent to Connaught Place and one high rise is in CP. Rickshaw drivers know where they all are. Prices were higher than in the streets (Janpath stalls and underground at CP), much less negotiable, but frankly the quality appeared higher. We bought jewelry, carvings, paintings, rugs, pashminas, you name it. Compared to US, prices were very good. Compared to the stalls, where who knows what the jewelry or other wares might be, prices were higher.

For example, under CP the cost of a mahogoney letter opener was 75 rupees ($1.50US). In the emporiums, the same thing was 200 rupees. On the street, the only thing that counts is selling. In the emporuims, they were interested in us buying what we wanted and in the price and quality that we wanted. Much more patient with us, but still a hard sell compared to what we are used to.

Be warned, the word "NO" does not exist in the Indian vocabulary. No place else will you experience the sales pressure at every turn. Be ready for a hard sell, but simply ignoring them works.

If you are Western, you are stinking rich and they will attack like a school of Pirhanna (sp), especially on the streets. Be ready for the beggars, women with a baby, etc. I ignored them even right in my face. OK, I 'm a jerk but give anything to one of them and it will be a feeding frenzy. We did not go shopping in Old Delhi for this very reason. It just wasn't worth the potential savings.

We enjoyed the trip....Delhi was hot and humid. Drink plenty of bottled water.

As far as your money going to who makes it, yes it will....just a lot less of it than you pay, I'm sure. Only way to guarantee that is to visit the shops where it is made. We did buy bangles from a pair of brothers in Kochi who made them as we watched. Price was about the same as anywhere else.

Answer 4

Try Gandhi Khadi Ashram Connought Place,near Regal Theater.

Answer 5

You are right - the state emporia is the best place to go or you can also go the Central Cottage Industry Emporium , since they will offer you the most authentic item and the best price for it.