What is bargaining etiquette in Morocco (how far to push)?

Bargaining in the souk is theatre, and the visitors who enjoy Morocco most are the ones who play their part with a smile rather than treating it as combat. In the medinas, fixed prices are rare for crafts, rugs, leather, lamps and souvenirs, and the opening figure a seller names is the start of a conversation, not the real price. I always begin with the human part: greet the shopkeeper, accept the glass of mint tea if it is offered, admire the work, ask a little about it. That warmth is not a tactic so much as good manners, and it genuinely leads to better prices and a far nicer experience than marching in cold and demanding a discount.

On the numbers, a workable approach is to decide privately what the item is worth to you, then counter the opening price at somewhere around half — sometimes less for tourist trinkets, more for genuinely fine work — and let the negotiation seesaw toward a middle ground. Expect a few rounds of good-natured back-and-forth; the seller will protest, you will smile, and you will likely settle somewhere between your figure and theirs. Keep it light and respectful throughout. This is not about "winning" or grinding someone down to nothing; the craftsperson has a living to make, and a deal both sides feel good about is the goal.

The most powerful and most misunderstood move is walking away. A polite "shukran, maybe later" as you step toward the door is completely acceptable and often produces a final, better offer called after you — or it does not, in which case you can return without losing face, as nobody takes it personally. What you should never do is bargain hard, agree a price, and then refuse to buy: naming a price and shaking on it is treated as a commitment, and backing out after a long negotiation is genuinely rude. Likewise, do not haggle aggressively over an item you have no intention of buying just for sport.

A few honest calibrations. Not everything is negotiable — food, pharmacies, official shops and many cafés have set prices, and petit taxis should use the meter. In cooperatives and some artisan associations prices are fixed and fair, which is a relief. Carry small notes so you can pay the agreed amount cleanly. And keep perspective: I have watched travellers spend twenty minutes battling over the equivalent of a euro or two, souring an interaction that should be fun. Haggle with humour, accept that you may pay a little more than a local would, tip the tea, and you will walk away with both the rug and a good story.