Keep your eyes open when buying carpets - this is what you should consider when buying Beni Ourain carpets in Morocco

Beni Ourain carpets - nobody comes around them, not in the USA or Australia and certainly not in Morocco. The white wool carpets have long won the hearts of design and interior lovers. To be able to afford an original Beni Ourain, however, you have to dig deep into your pockets. So it's no wonder that many enthusiasts are forging the plan to get hold of one of these popular carpets for a cheap price on their next trip to Marrakech in one of the souks.

But above all in the Moroccan markets, the motto is: “Watch out when buying carpets!” After all, there are now numerous imitations or low-quality specimens in Morocco too. Last but not least, every child knows that there is a lot of haggling in Moroccan souks in order not to be ripped off.

Already overwhelmed? Don't worry dear ones! With my experience and weekly visits to various souks, I have practically become a little expert when it comes to Moroccan carpets. I would like to pass this knowledge on to you and give you a few tips and tricks with which you can bring even the most stubborn traders to their knees. Here we go!

• Brief Orientation - What are Beni Ourain carpets?
• Which carpet should it be?
• What are the quality differences between the Beni Ourain carpets?
• How much can a Beni Ourain rug cost?
• How do you negotiate the best price for a Beni Ourain rug?
• A quick guide - what are Beni Ourain carpets?

A quick guide - what are Beni Ourain carpets?

Moroccan wool carpets from the north-eastern Atlas Mountains are called Beni Ourain carpets. The classic distinguishing feature of the popular carpets are black-brown to black diamond patterns, which can also be made of sheep's wool or cotton. Classic Beni Ourain carpets are mainly woven from cream-colored or light beige new wool. Among the new findings, one can also find colorfully perceived interactions.

Like many other Moroccan Berber carpets, the "Beni Ourains" are also based on their ancestral rights, which they are based on their influence. To this day, the origins of Beni Ourain carpets are hand-woven and knotted by Berber women of the High Atlas on personal looms.

The agony of choice - which Beni should it be?

So far so good. Now that it is clear what a Beni Ourain carpet actually is, you should think about what your future Berber carpet should look like. As soon as you stand in the carpet shop in Marrakech or elsewhere, you are sure to be surrounded by hundreds of Beni Ourain carpets in every imaginable shape and color. In order to avoid that you are immediately overwhelmed by the large selection and, in the worst case, pull off empty-handed, I advise you the following:

« Measure the space you need for your Beni Ourain at home and save a photo of a carpet model that comes closest to the design and color of your dream carpet. »

The more precise your ideas are in advance, the easier it is for you and the dealer to find the right model as quickly as possible. So give the desired size and appearance of the carpet you have decided on to the retailer at the beginning of your purchase. In this way, they can pick out a reduced selection of copies for you and you have saved energy and nerves that you will need later to negotiate the price.

What are the quality differences between the Beni Ourain carpets?

After you are now in the best case in front of a selection of carpets that come very close to your dream, the quality test begins. I can tell you: Beni is not just Beni. Regardless of the size and pattern, one can distinguish between three quality levels. Knowing these is essential when buying a Beni Ourains, because the quality largely determines the price. Surely none of you want to spend a horrific sum on a Beni Ourain 2nd choice right?

A rule of thumb:

« The heavier and more densely woven the carpet, the higher the quality of the carpet. »

Here are a few criteria with which you can get a first impression of the quality of the carpet relatively quickly:

1. Quality

The carpet base and pattern are made of pure new wool

Wool threads are knotted very tightly (even if you split the wool with your fingers, the knots are barely visible)

Knots on the back are arranged densely and regularly

Because of the dense weave, carpet is very heavy

Carpet pile is evenly long and the wool is not contaminated

2. Quality

The base of the carpet is made of new wool, the pattern is made of black or brown cotton

Wool threads are less tightly knotted (if you split the wool with your fingers, the knots are easily visible)

Knots on the back are less dense and may not always be arranged regularly

Carpet is lighter than first quality carpets of the same size

Carpet pile is unevenly long and the wool may be somewhat contaminated

3. Quality

The carpet base is made of cotton and new wool, the pattern is made of black or brown cotton

Wool threads are not knotted very tightly (the knots can be seen with the naked eye in rows between the pile)

Knots on the back are scattered

The carpet is very light

The carpet pile is irregular in length and the wool is matted and possibly contaminated

Take a close look at the specimens presented to you and try to divide the pile of the carpet with your fingers. If you can see the knotted knots, the carpet is not woven very tightly. In the case of carpets of inferior quality, the wool looks as if it were arranged in rows and the knot structure in between is clearly visible. If the latter is the case, it is a third quality Beni Ourain.

How tightly the carpet is knotted can always be seen on the back. So turn and turn the carpet, lift it and, if in doubt, ask the dealer to light a sample of the white and dark wool (usually the dealers do it by themselves - they just light everything to prove authenticity. If the burnt threads smell like charred hair, then it is real sheep's wool, otherwise, it is either cotton fibers or synthetic threads.

How much can a real Beni Ourain cost?

Now finally to the question of all questions. How much should the good piece cost? This usually depends on three factors:

How big is the carpet?

Which quality level does it correspond to?

Is it a new Beni Ourain or a vintage one?

The price always depends on the size of the Beni Ourain rug. Even the carpet dealers pay for the handmade carpets from the Berber women depending on the square footage. I can give you the following guidelines (of course without guarantee).

Large Beni Ourain carpets 1st quality about 6-8 m2: $ 700-900

Medium-sized Beni Ourain carpets 1st quality around 3-5 m2: $ 400-600

Small Beni Ourain carpets 1st quality about 1-2 m2: 150-300 $

Important: The prices are given as a guide! Should the trader ask a little more from you, because he has more expenses himself, this may well be the truth and does not necessarily have to mean that he wants to rubbish you (contrary to popular belief, not all Moroccan traders are fraudsters). Even if it is vintage Beni Ourains, the prices are of course much higher depending on the age.

If the carpets are of second quality, you can add another 20% less. For carpets of third quality you can deduct up to 50% from the stated price guidelines.

How do you negotiate the best price for a Beni Ourain rug?

How much you ultimately pay depends on your negotiating skills and your flexibility regarding the price. You now know what to look for when buying a Beni Ourain rug, which model it should be and how much it should cost. Now it's time to negotiate the price and I can assure you that this can be quite exhausting and nerve-wracking (especially if you've been walking around the souk for hours and have to haggle all the time).

With the following negotiation tips I will (hopefully) save you a few nerves:

Negotiating tip # 1: Put on your poker face right from the start

One of my most common mistakes as a beginner was to immediately publicly announce my enthusiasm for a certain model in the carpet shop. According to the motto: “Oh my God, I absolutely have to have this carpet. I can't live without him. ”Of course, the dear dealer knew immediately that I would pay any price to get the trick.

So it's best to keep your enthusiasm within limits and put on your poker face. Try to appear disinterested or at least as if you have already received several offers for your dream carpet from other retailers. This often leads to the fact that the dealer wants to make the carpet “palatable” to you. Hopefully, he'll try it for a reasonable price, not a pot of tea.

Negotiating tip N ° 2: decide first, then negotiate

In my experience, the retailer will first suggest a price that is well above your asking price (usually double or triple the actual price). Therefore it is always better if you first decide on a certain type of carpet as described above and examine it. Only then - when the decision for the desired model has been made - you should ask the dealer about the price. In the best-case scenario, the dealer will recognize that you have a clue and set the price lower from the ground up.

Negotiating tip N ° 3: Inquire about the quality of the carpet

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to inquire about the quality of the model. Asks whether it is a first-class carpet and, if in doubt, complains about dirt or scattered wool threads. Every objectionable defect that you have identified according to the criteria described above is an opportunity to reduce the price somewhat.

Negotiating tip N ° 4: Correctly interpreting the dealer's reactions

Usually, at some point in the course of the negotiations, the retailer will ask you about your asking price. If he responds immediately, that's great and you have purchased your desired Beni at the expected price. If this is not the case, it is important to prove your negotiating skills. Depending on how big your pain threshold is and how good your acting skills are, you can try the following techniques if in doubt:

Make comparisons. Have you already seen a similar model at another retailer that was cheaper? Or do you remember a discount campaign from an online shop that sold the Beni Ourain rug very cheaply? Wonderful! Communicate this to the dealer immediately and use it as a negotiation argument. Depending on how honest you want to be or how tight your holiday budget is, you can even cheat a bit here (in case of doubt, the dealer will do the same).

Negotiate volume discounts. Your girlfriend might also want to buy a carpet or have you seen a blanket that you like? In this case, you can try to negotiate a gift or at least a discount for another item with the carpet. Simply say something like: “Well, I'll take the rug for the price if you give me the blanket on top.” Or: “If my girlfriend takes the other rug, can we agree on the amount XY? “Another possibility is to get free shipping, for example, if you offer to buy the carpet at the suggested price if it is sent to you for free.

Move on. If the price is still too high even after all the attempts, then politely inform the retailer that this is too much for you and that you would rather keep looking. Either the dealer then calls you back and approaches the price or he lets you go. In the latter case, you can decide for yourself whether you want to move on (believe me there are 1000 other Beni Ourains who meet your requirements) or you can come back later and pay the slightly higher price (either way the carpet is much cheaper than here in the USA and Australia ).

Conclusion: Don't let yourself be ripped off, but still stay fair

Develop a precise idea of the carpet you want to have in advance

Checks the carpet for its quality and any defects that affect the price

Develop a realistic asking price and, if in doubt, obtain offers from various retailers

Try to come to an agreement with the dealer through convincing arguments or volume discounts

Please keep in mind that these carpets are made in hundreds of hours of hard work. Even if the Berber women have already been paid by the dealer, very few carpet dealers are rich. Do not forget how much these carpets often cost in the USA or Australia and make yourself aware that you are getting a bargain one way or another. 

I hope the article helps you and of course, I wish you found the carpet you want. If this is not the case, there is sure to be something for you in our range of Moroccan carpets.

Have fun browsing,