How do I ship a rug or large item home?

For anything too big to carry — a rug, a large lantern, a piece of furniture — shipping is genuinely normal and most reputable shops do it all the time. The simplest path is to let the shop handle it. Established rug and antique dealers in Marrakech and Fes ship internationally every week and will quote you a door-to-door price using DHL, FedEx or a freight forwarder. They'll roll and wrap a rug into a surprisingly compact, sewn bundle and post it; it typically arrives in one to three weeks.

Protect yourself with a bit of paperwork. Ask for a written quote for the shipping (not a vague 'don't worry, it's included'), an itemised receipt showing exactly what you bought and the price, and a tracking number once it's sent. Photograph the actual item in the shop and, ideally, see it packed, so there's no swap. I always pay by card where possible for big purchases — it's a layer of protection if something goes wrong — and I take the shop's name, address and a phone or WhatsApp contact.

Two cost realities to plan for. First, shipping isn't trivial — a rug to Europe or North America can run anywhere from roughly 50 to 150+ euros depending on size and speed, so factor that into whether the 'bargain' is still a bargain. Second, import duty: many countries charge customs duty and tax on incoming goods above a threshold, and the courier will bill you for it on delivery. Ask the shop to declare the item honestly; a wildly under-declared value can cause problems and isn't worth it.

If you'd rather not ship, you can often carry more than you think. A rug can go as an extra checked bag (airlines usually allow it within weight limits, sometimes for an excess fee), and many people simply roll it tight, bag it, and check it. Poufs travel flat when unstuffed, and lanterns can go as carry-on if you pad them. But for a genuinely large or valuable rug, professional shipping by the shop is usually the least stressful, and the good dealers stake their reputation on it arriving safely.