Question 1

What is the "Vakil Bazaar Carpet Commission Scheme" scam in Shiraz?

Accepted Answer

Friendly locals near Vakil Bazaar strike up unprompted conversations with tourists, offering to show them around the bazaar or claiming to be students wanting to practice English. After building rapport, they steer visitors into specific carpet or handicraft shops where they earn a commission of 20–40% on any purchase. Prices in these shops are set far above market value — a carpet priced at 50,000,000 IRR (5,000,000 toman) may have a fair market value of 15,000,000–20,000,000 IRR. Decline unsolicited offers to guide you through the bazaar. Enter shops independently and cross-check prices at multiple stalls before buying. If you want a carpet, visit the official Vakil Bazaar carpet section directly and negotiate from a starting position of 30–40% of the first quoted price. A genuine shopkeeper will not need a middleman to bring you in.

Question 2

What is the "Eram Garden Carpet Shop Steering" scam in Shiraz?

Accepted Answer

Near the UNESCO-listed Eram Garden in northern Shiraz, a well-established circuit of touts approaches tourists leaving the garden and steers them toward carpet and handicraft shops on the adjacent streets, framing the visit as a cultural experience ("see how Iranian carpets are made"). Inside, high-pressure sales tactics are used, including manufactured social obligation — tea is served, family photos shown — before a hard sales push for items priced at three to five times their actual market value. Refusing to buy after accepting hospitality is used as emotional leverage. Politely decline any unsolicited invitation to a shop following a monument visit. Accepting tea in a carpet shop creates social pressure but no legal or moral obligation to buy. If you enter a shop, state clearly upfront that you are browsing only. Research fair carpet prices before your trip: a medium-quality Persian carpet (1.5m x 1m) retails legitimately for 5,000,000–15,000,000 IRR depending on quality.

Street Scams in Shiraz

Vakil Bazaar Carpet Commission Scheme

Eram Garden Carpet Shop Steering

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