Making a Persian carpet requires an enormous amount of time and labour, and great skill in weaving. It is easiest to think of the price as the cost of that labour. Depending on the size and the fineness of the knots, a carpet of the quality called “fine” takes about six months for an entrance-mat size (about 120 × 80 cm) and no less than four years for a living- or dining-room size (about 300 × 200 cm).
Prices seem to differ from shop to shop. Why is that?
That is true. Persian carpets are sold in department stores, furniture shops, specialist shops and at exhibitions, and prices vary considerably. There are several reasons, but the main ones are the purchasing route and the shop’s pricing policy.
Department stores and furniture shops generally buy through importers, traders and wholesalers, so their prices are correspondingly high. A shop that imports directly and sells directly to the customer can set lower prices. There are also shops that put a high price on a carpet and then apply a large discount so that it looks cheap, while in fact selling at a high price. This is why it is said that “there is no such thing as a fixed price”. What matters is the price you actually pay. Choose a shop with a good reputation, be wary of large discounts, and it is best to avoid shops that do not display prices.