Are the free shopping trips to fur/leather shops in Side a scam?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 67 days ago

TL;DR

It's a common tourist trap: the ride is free, but the return trip to your hotel is only guaranteed after you buy something, and staff heavily pressure you and may sell fake 'duty-free' perfume.

What the community said

Confirmed: leather/fur shops in Side do offer a free ride back to your hotel, but only after you make a purchase — otherwise they're not obligated to take you back.

Free ride only after purchase

One traveler almost bought fake perfume that was sold to them as genuine duty-free — be cautious with these in-store promotions.

Fake perfume sold as duty-free

Overall, travelers advise against these trips — staff aggressively push products using high-pressure sales tactics.

Typical hotel offer: a free ride from areas like Kızılağaç to a fur/leather shop in Side, with a mandatory entrance, after which you're free to explore town and can return to the shop later to ask for a ride back.

Fur and leather shop, Side