Rug Purchasing Tips: Foreign Buying
Foreign Buying: This can be extremely hazardous and it is dangerous to assume that a rug will necessarily be cheaper in the country of origin than it is in the West;
rugs on sale in the bazaars in Turkey, for example, are often just as expensive, if not more so, than they are in London or New York.
Rug merchants overseas know that Americans assume they will be getting a deal by buying in their country and take full advantage of it.
They’re happy to quote obscene prices, sell new rugs as antiques, misrepresent country of origin (in my experience at least 1/2 of the “turkish rugs” in Istanbul’s grand bazaar are from Pakistan), etc.
However, the relative cost of living in individual countries, even in the West, can make some difference to the overall retail price, as can any local fluctuations.
Most countries allow their citizens to bring home articles without an import license, providing they cost less than a certain amount, without paying excess duty. The ceiling for exemption from duty varies from country to country, but it is usually fairly low, and you can expect to pay something on most rugs bought abroad. VAT or similar forms of tax can usually be reclaimed at the point of departure, and even when any excess duty has been taken into account, an item bought in another country may constitute a small saving. Check carefully with your own embassy before committing yourself to a purchase, as you cannot take the rug back should it prove unsuitable.
Other methods: The internet, catalogues, and mail order services share the disadvantages of not allowing you the chance to examine the item until it arrives at your door.
A photograph is no substitute for the original rug, and items that look superb in reproduction can be extremely disappointing when viewed in the flesh. Plus, even if the rug looks identical to the picture it may not work in your home (it could be too dark for the room at night for example).
Being able to view rugs at home before purchasing, as we offer, is a tremendous advantage.
Overall, nothing compares to buying a rug in a rug gallery. The advantages are numerous: no duty-taxes, reliability, and the chance to see the rug before it is purchased. Come to Ageless Rug Treasures in Webster Groves, St. Louis to view our beautiful selection of Oriental Rugs.
