Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Beware there are local companies emlploying foreigners at 100 tl per day and charging them out at many multiples of this to uk expats who they think this is the going rate . The locals wont pay these prices and the companies solely target expats .

I havent mentioned any names as im fearful my posts maybe deleted as some of these companies may be sponsors if kibkom. My wifes a turkish cyoriot and i always get her to negotiate prices for trades etc as they are always a lot lower .

Reyntj wrote:Beware there are local companies emlploying foreigners at 100 tl per day and charging them out at many multiples of this to uk expats who they think this is the going rate . The locals wont pay these prices and the companies solely target expats .

I havent mentioned an names as im fearful my posts maybr deleted as some of 5hese companies may be sponsors if kibkom. My wifes a turkish cyoriot and i always get her to negotiate prices for trades etc as they are always a lot lower .

To be fair there are a lot of black cabbies who like to give Japanese tourists an unrequested tour of London from Heathrow.
Something is worth what someone will pay for it. Expats have the resources to pay more so they charge more.
If the expats won’t pay it they will have to charge less but most will pay so they will charge what the market will bear.

Reyntj wrote:...i always get her to negotiate prices for trades etc as they are always a lot lower .

So you're really saying that she's better at negotiating than you are!

The difference could be that Expats may tend to assume that 'The Price is the Price', whereas anyone born East of Dover takes it as merely being a starting point for the 'Haggling process'

Until very very recent, I've always done my own buying and selling. But this last week I had TC with me when negotiating the sale of an almost brand new smart mobile and buying a MUCH older fashioned Nokia (don't ask!!!) Ohhhhhhh, the difference it made. I know it shouldn't have, but by golly I saved a considerable amount. Sad but true.

Yabancılar burada 'nakit inekler' olarak görülüyor! Foreigners are viewed as cash cows here.

tomsteel wrote:Foreigners are viewed as cash cows here.

Which leaves me musing how are foreigners viewed in the UK ? As cash vampires ?

erol wrote:

tomsteel wrote:Foreigners are viewed as cash cows here.

Which leaves me musing how are foreigners viewed in the UK ? As cash vampires ?

Erol, rarely do I disagree with you. However, why have you introduced the UK? My experience there was to get three or more quotes for work needed. I lived in Wales, but as an Englishman, I was not subject to 'cash vampires', ever. Even my Cypriot neighbour has intervened, several times, when I was being 'done like a kipper' by local quotes for services.

tomsteel wrote:Yabancılar burada 'nakit inekler' olarak görülüyor! Foreigners are viewed as cash cows here.

I would have thought it is a case of what you think the job, item to purchase is considered to be worth to you.

I tend to ask for the price, but explain 1 price only - if it is not acceptable, politely tell them, then walk away. No second chance! (even if the price is then lower).

Nothing wrong with what your saying but this is part if the reason business set up solely to target uk expats who think because its cheaper than the uk then thats a good price . People come on here saying such and such is great and a reasonable price when in reality its a lot higher than the locals would pay . Many of us live here full time in fact im a citizen and my wife is a turkish citizen . Its a little bit frustrating having always to rely on my wife to get the correct going rate price . Not the end of the world ive tried imoroving my turkish but im useless at it.

Reyntj wrote:Nothing wrong with what your saying but this is part if the reason business set up solely to target uk expats who think because its cheaper than the uk then thats a good price . People come on here saying such and such is great and a reasonable price when in reality its a lot higher than the locals would pay . Many of us live here full time in fact im a citizen and my wife is a turkish citizen . Its a little bit frustrating having always to rely on my wife to get the correct going rate price . Not the end of the world ive tried imoroving my turkish but im useless at it.

Quality over quantity everytime. Having spent almost £ 40,000 on our property, with extensions and the work completed to our satisfaction by a TRNC company in the last 13 years. I will be happy to have further work done by this company in future. What does drive me mad is not getting definitive answers about such things a number plates and TRNC driving licenses!

What does drive me mad is not getting definitive answers about such things a number plates and TRNC driving licenses![/quote].

Interesting, but nothing to do with expats being overcharged for services, as opposed to Cypriot pricing.

Sorry tomsteel! - You are right it has nothing to do with the subject submitted originally.

I think we are our worst enemy and some people and I was one of them are just plain stupid when it comes to paying for things. We do not look at the price of essentials, the wages, the cost of living when paying for items which has allowed this country to change so much.

we think oh poor person earning 100tl a day but some have accommodation thrown in, their social and provident fund, their right to stay on the island and this will cost their boss probably the same as their wage as all this has kdv added whether the company has work or not. To issue a work permit is a responsibility probably why so many don't but then they have to ensure they have the fine money

Why would a retired school teacher from the uk who works here pay rent more than what he earns here, oh I have my pension but in reality they have put the renting market almost out of every employed person wage. holiday rents are totally different they can be as high as people want but the yearly rents surely should be in line with what is earnt on the island unless spectacular. Business rents are also in sterling it seems crazy when you are selling goods in tl

Tips - I have seen people in restaurants almost give as much tip as the meal and say well its only a tenner, now I think cigarettes are less than 15tl that's a good tip

sad part the rich seem to get richer and the poorer very much poorer

A suggestion could it also be that local tradesmen are also well aware that there are ex-pats who work illegally therefore not paying taxes but charge as much or more than locals.
Do you really blame locals who want a slice of the cake?
As stated previously in U.K. would always get more than one quote. Also here - haggle.