How to Purchase Handmade Rugs While Traveling Abroad

Rug shopping in Foreign Countries

Do you know how to purchase handmade rugs while traveling abroad?

Shopping for rugs in a foreign country can be challenging and the risks of being taken advantage of are high for the average tourist. Every year we are contacted by clients who have purchased rugs while traveling abroad. Most times, our clients have been disappointed to know they were sold a synthetic silk rug for the price of a natural silk rug. Bring your rug to our showroom and we can perform a silk rug test to see if your rug is an authentic silk rug.

Another issue with buying rugs abroad is that dishonest dealers may sell a machine-made rug as handmade. It is common now for fake handmade rugs to have the fringe woven into the body, making it hard to tell if the rug is truly handmade. Luckily, the experts at Behnam Rugs can identify machine-made rugs, even if they possess a sewn-in fringe. Call us at 972-733-0400 to make an appointment to evaluate your rug.

RUG APPRAISAL

Behnam Rugs appraises hundreds of rugs yearly. The rugs that are appraised endure environmental damage, water damage, smoke damage, fire damage, vacuum damage, even pet damage. The majority of these rugs are heirlooms, or have been purchased in other countries while traveling on a cruise ship- even those who travel by air are not immune to fake rug excursion arrangements. An appraisal will detail the characteristics and value of the rug. We offer free verbal appraisals for those who want an idea of their rug’s value, or just want to find out if their rug is worth what they paid for it.

RUG BUYING EXPERIENCE

Often times we have noticed that the average American tourist has no idea what to expect when traveling to other countries. Tourists see beautiful rugs and purchase what they see, without examining the merchandise. This results in the purchase of viscose rayon silk in place of natural silk rugs, or the purchase of handmade Oriental rugs instead of Persian handmade rugs. While Oriental rugs are beautiful and valuable, Persian rugs of the same quality and style are often worth more. This is one reason why rug dealers abroad may sell you a “Persian” rug that is actually Oriental. Buyer beware. 

In addition, you may pay much more than the rug is worth, especially if you purchase a machine-made rug at handmade prices. We do not recommend purchasing a rug abroad if you cannot differentiate a machine-made rug from a handmade rug. Want to learn the difference? Stop by our showroom and let our Rug Master educate you.

We have noticed that tourists typically lack the knowledge of other countries’ business psychology and in turn, the average American tourist has a negative buying experience. 

Bring your rug over to Behnam Rugs and we will inspect it and provide a host of services: everything from Oriental rug cleaning to rug care services such as repair, pet stain removal, and rug restoration.