How do I get my purchases home (shipping vs carry)?

My rule of thumb is simple: carry the small, flat, light and unbreakable things, and ship the rest. Babouches, scarves and textiles, spices, sealed argan oil, small thuya boxes and most jewellery pack flat and travel home fine in your checked luggage — just seal liquids and powders well. Where you start thinking seriously about shipping is anything big, heavy or fragile: a room-sized rug, a large glazed platter or tagine, a glass-set lantern, a mosaic table or any furniture. Trying to wrestle those onto a plane is usually a false economy.

On rugs specifically, good news — they are one of the easier large items. A wool rug can be rolled or even tightly folded and vacuum-compressed surprisingly small, and many travellers fit a medium rug into a checked bag or carry it as an extra piece (check your airline’s baggage rules and excess-bag fees first). For bigger rugs, established dealers ship constantly and reliably; it is routine for them. For heavy ceramics, lanterns and furniture, shipping is almost always the sensible call, professionally packed against breakage.

When you do ship, protect yourself. Use either the shop’s own shipping (fine with a reputable, established dealer) or a proper international courier like DHL or FedEx, and get the agreement in writing with a tracking number, a clear description, the cost, and a realistic timeframe — be aware sea freight is cheap but slow (weeks to months) while courier is fast but pricier. Photograph the item and keep all receipts. Be wary of pushy promises of "free shipping" rolled into an inflated rug price; it is rarely truly free.

My honest, practical guidance: before you commit to any large purchase, ask for the shipping cost up front and add it — plus any likely import duty or tax in your own country — into the real total, because a "bargain" rug can stop being one once freight and customs land. Declare your goods honestly on arrival and keep receipts to hand; under-declaring to dodge duty risks far worse than the duty itself. Plan it before you buy, not after, and the whole thing stays painless.