Garage sales and flea markets in the States has become a national pastime. I very much enjoyed waking up early on a Saturday morning and checking out the neighborhood garage sales, moving sales or flea markets. I could find books I’ve been wanting to read for as little as five cents a piece, lawn furniture that would fit nicely on my deck or patio for less than $20 and so many other items too numerous to name. Most of these items would be in excellent condition, looking every bit as good as new.
Saudi Arabia does not have garage sales or flea markets. Many times on embassy and compound bulletin boards or internet newsgroups related to Saudi one will learn about expats who are leaving and have items they wish to sell. The closest Saudi Arabia and specifically Riyadh has to the garage sale or flea market concept is the Haraj bin Qassim souk which specializes in second hand goods.
I cannot say enough positive about this particular souk and endorse it heartily. If one is looking to get the most for their money and perhaps to be able to purchase better and higher quality than they may be able to afford from the exclusive shops in the malls, this is the place to go. The gowns on display and available are a prime example of incredible savings. With the Saudi concept of women should never wear the same formal outfit twice this allows one on a budget to be able to obtain those designer haute couture gowns and “keep up with the Jones…or rather since this is Saudi I guess I should say, keep up with the Al Ghamdi’s.” (if someone is an Al Ghamdi and reading this, please not that name was chosen randomly as an example of one of the many common names found in KSA)
Ironically though when I have mentioned to a lot of Saudis that I like to shop at the Haraj souk, there is a noticeable change in attitude. I had several Saudi women say directly “Saudis don’t buy used goods.” Well, I just won’t tell her there were a number of Saudis at the souk each time I’ve been and they seemed to be having a good time – men, women and children.
Another time I was wearing a designer outfit that I bought at the souk. I received a number of compliments on the outfit and when asked where I found it, I was not embarrassed to say I found it at the Haraj souk. A Saudi woman took me aside counseling me to NEVER reveal that I went there or would wear “used” clothes as it made me lose face and stature with the other Saudi ladies present!
Well I have since learned in my various trips to the Haraj souk that the vendors acquire these goods through an Islamic Foundation. The vendor will buy the goods in bulk which allows them in turn to sell them for such low (almost free) prices. And, some of the items these vendors are presenting are in fact new and not used. Shopkeepers have also been known to donate slow selling items or closed out items to the Islamic Foundation. Some shops which have gone out of business also sell off their inventory in bulk. So while the majority of items at the souk may be “previously owned” not everything is, not that it matters to me….
All of the items I’ve ever seen on display are hanging on racks and have been washed, ironed and in excellent condition. There are few items which I’ve seen that one could tell was previously used.
So I guess in regards to me and the Saudis who not only refuse to buy “used goods” or view used goods as below them, well, this is an area where we will just continue to agree to disagree.
Filed under: Dress, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, shopping
True Carol, you find women buying stuff from such cheep places. Usually those people who are follow the recent hits in fashion will buy stuff that is very cheep from these places , but they’ll never tell anyone — not everyone though will buy from such places. According to an expert woman, once she found “qomash” 1m with 30sr and in another fancy place, she found the exact material with 600sr.
I buy my colognes as an example from “al balad” where all the other shops buy their perfumes from. a cologne that you can get with 100sr , you’d find it in other places with 200sr.
In outlets you usually find great stuff (unused, of course) with half the price.
It all depends in the people. Some women (Sorry for this ) warship appearance and what others will say about them
Yea, I miss garage sales and thrift shops. Egypt doesn’t have them either.
good grief Saudis dont buy secondhand? In the states I would shop at thrift store such as Goodwill, DI, and Savers. I knew of one person who refused to shop at thrift stores and she bought her daughter those $100-200 jeans you see in designer stores. For the same price I could probably get a whole wardrobe at a thrift store.
Dubai has started it’s first flea market, and websites like Abu Dhabi Freecycle/Dubai Freecycle are making 2nd hand stuff more popular. The expats are the biggest participants in these sorts of things, though, and since the UAE is about 80% expat…
We have a new set of shops here called Ramez…(new as in just these past few years). When they first opened up Bahrainis absolutely scorned them as they are full of very cheap products at very cheap prices…sort of like Dollar Stores…but worse. Anyhow…it seems they got over that and now they are the main consumers ….but in the beginning it was like a “guilty pleasure” that they wouldnt or couldnt admit too…lol.
maybe its a case of “i-don’t-want-to-lose-my-face-if-i-tell-them-i-bought-it-at-haraj-souk-because-people-will-look-down-on-me-if-i-tell-them-as-such”.
possibly for some, buying 2nd hand goods is beneath their dignity because the item bought isn’t new but if they’re in good condition, why not?
i can’t remember when was the last time i bought 2nd hand goods and i don’t belong to the “i-will-lose-face-if-i-buy-2nd- hand-goods” category. the real reason why i don’t buy 2nd hand goods is because i’m very fussy when it comes to the quality and that of the state of the items i want to buy.
when it comes to 2nd hands goods, its kinda hard to find them in a really good condition.
thats really funny to hear. i used to be gig about the second hand places in the stats. the “hipster” looking gaining alot of popularity in the whole world. its started as a movement that more aware people were trying to project. they try to buy used clothes to lower the effects of mass consumerism. anyways, second hand clothing and faded clothing became in style because of these movements, so, corporations started making clothing that looked old, because that was the style. the spirit was gone. so now you could go to any designer clothing store and buy a faded old looking shirt for 300 riyals minimum. if these hipsters only knew about haraj bin gasem, that would be a gold mine for them ha ha.
be in style, go to the haraj should be a new movement here
Dear Carol, I wish you would stop pimping this suok, at least until I have been there and brought up all the nice dresses
That goes for you too Abdullah.
I like vintage clothing, which automatically means second-hand!
Fifties hats with little veils, and purses, and those lovely beaded short jackets, and beautiful feminine shoes with stiletto heels! They are much better made than the shoes that are produced now.
I alos have a collectikon of antique pillowcases, beautiful fine cotton, hand embroidered, in beautiful designs, and edges with fine laces.
And tablecloths, of fine damasc, with matching napkins. There is nothing comparable nowadays!
BTW I can’t get them anymore, Ive seen stuff like it in London in antique stores, but very expensive so I’m glad I got those I have.
Won’t even go into the hypocrisy of Saudi’s sticking their nose up at anything, considering everything they have is built on the backs of people who aren’t even paid well enough to buy second hand….
Personally I find cheap and dollar stores akin to Walmart in their efforts to ruin the quality of life everywhere. I don’t even like going into a souk and finding cheap asian “stuff” useless to anyone who appreciates quality. Also won’t shop in any store with an unpleasant smell, which I’ve found in places like Salvation Army at home. It seems like even a brand new-looking gown at a place like that still smells like grandma’s musty bathroom….and any used clothing/item store that sells underwear.. no way in hell. Maybe Saudi’s have a more developed sense of smell. lol
That being said, antique stores and vintage clothing stores always smell different to me. I think because those items were put there with intention because of what they are, and not just discarded as bulk trash from home. I know, smell.. random, but true. For me it entirely depends on whether the space and items smell like someone elses unwashed trash, or not. This place in Riyadh sounds fantastic..
The 2nd hand souk is indeed an outstanding place for the long designer formal gowns.
It’s funny because one will flock to antique stores in the States which are not new products but have a different perspective on clothes or other items.
Don’t get me wrong…. I can do serious damage in Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms, Mark & Spencers and other exclusive shops but if I go to such a shop, it is for a very specific and special reason. At the same time when I go to a place like Haraj I will not buy something just because it is cheap. It must be in style (at least for me), of good quality, right size (hopefully) and the price has to be right.
I went with Riyadh Mom and she managed to find some unique old ladies thobes and shirts which she is going to convert into pillows or wall hangings!
I want to go too!!!!!!!!!!!
Me, Nader, Riyadh Mom and a whole bunch more here in KSA would like nothing more than to have you amongst us for a visit.
I’ve got an idea…meet up with me on my return back from the USA and travel on in to KSA for a visit!
Carol you should get a connecting flight through Amsterdam and get Aafke to come up there and meet you!
Just let me know when Aafke’s coming and I’ll get on a plane to Riyadh!
BTW – I LOVE buying great stuff at thrift shops!
I actually checked to see if I could get routed via Amsterdam since whichever way through Europe means a hefty layover but no such luck. )-:
No problem Susie… we’ll hold a bloggers and commentors of blogs pow wow in Riyadh when Aafke comes to KSA.
Aren’t there any art-schools who need a temporary visiting arts-teacher?
(that would get me a visa)
An Art school in KSA? Don’t worry…we’d find a way to get you sponsored!
Hello Carol,
Could you please give me directions to souk al haraj & the days & hours it’s open??
Thanks a lot!
Oh I forgot I also was wondering where do you go during the week end? I mean what kind of activities couples can do in Riyadh? Any advice would be very much appreciated really? Me & my husband don’t know lots of places here? Of course other than restaurants? malls? we went once to the desert for a barbecue? but that’s it!!! PLS we NEED help
Springrose – I am not able to give you specific directions but the majority of taxi drivers know how to get there. It is open 7 days a week and closed during prayer times. Beware if going on the weekends as the souk is most crowded then with many laborers and presents a greater risk of pickpockets.
In regards to what to do in Riyadh, please do use the search mechanism on my blog for I have written in detail about things to see and do.
If you have not done so yet you may also wish to join the yahoo newsgroup expatsinsaudiarabia@yahoogroups.com which is also a great place for information.
But in a nutshell while it may not appear at first blush, one can indeed participate in most activities which one enjoys whether it be hashing, bike riding, off-roading, horseback riding, various sports, etc.
Thanks a lot for your help Carol. I really appreciate it
My pleasure, Springrose.
Reuters picked up this post:
http://www.reuters.com/article/blogBurst/entertainment?bbPostId=B6kcqoGH9Pf8Bzn7nRZ5sNNoBA2EVD7DeiUeB9L0E2dHQUPi
This post is sooo heaven sent!!!
I have only been in Saudi Arabia for 2 months and I really miss doing my weekly ukay-ukay (this is what thrift shops are called in the Philipines) shopping. Clothes here are sooo overly priced – well except when they go on 75% off sale. But still, buying used trendy clothes and reselling them has been a cherished sideline and therapy for me.. aside from the fact that it saves me a whole lot of money.. it makes money for me too!!! I have been looking all over the Al Khobar area for thrift stores but was only able to find those which sell clothes for men..
I really have this funny feeling that the Indian guy who owns my favorite thrift shop in the Philippines gets his goods from around here.. I noticed the brands of the clothes he sells !!! they’re all ever present inside the big malls!!!
You really saved one damsel in distress here sister
Can’t wait to go visit Haraj bin Qassim souk and shop til i drop. hahaha.
Thank you to the max!!!
Glad to have helped you Rovi! And yes, a number of expats do also go to Haraj to purchase for resell, especially the designer ball gowns that are in abundance.
Have fun and please remember to post back and let all of us know the outcome of your excursion.
Hi American Bedu
where can one hire a tuxedo in Riyadh?
Arrived in Saudi in January 2009, and are being invited to a Spring Ball in April
Thanx
That is a good question Charles! All whom I know either brought a tux with them or had one made once in KSA. Depending on when the ball is, you may have time to get one made. If you are on the social circuit with various balls, formals, diplomatic receptions or functions, you won’t regret doing so.