I actually bought the carpet in this photo. Before I left for Morocco I priced out what a handmade Moroccan carpet would cost in the US. So I had an idea of what would be a good deal. I then cut the initial offered price by 75% and worked from there. When we finally bargained down to the price I had in mind I said it would also have to include any type of tax, service charge and SHIPPING. So the price I ended up paying included everything.
It's normal for the carpet seller to list the final price you paid as less than what you actually paid. This is to help you avoid paying too much on import taxes. The carpet arrived back in the US within a few a weeks, and I had to pay about $30 extra for import taxes. It's also a good idea to write your name on the back of the carpet, so you can be sure it's the right one when you finally receive it at home.
