Accompanied Shopping with Interpretation

What are your rights as a consumer when shopping in Turkey?

Turkish Consumer Protection Law No. 6502 grants everyone who buys goods within Turkey a set of basic rights. The legal status the law bases these rights on is that of a "consumer" buying a good or service for personal use — not nationality or residency.

Among the most important rights the law sets out regarding defective goods (ayıplı mal): if a good turns out to be defective or doesn't match the specifications agreed at the time of purchase, the buyer is entitled to choose one of the following remedies:

• Cancel the purchase contract and return the item for a full refund
• Keep the item and request a price reduction proportional to the defect
• Request the item be repaired free of charge, if that isn't unreasonably costly
• Request the item be exchanged for a sound one, if possible

The law also requires that any information relating to a defect in the goods be clearly stated on the invoice, receipt, or sales document. That's why keeping proof of purchase is what actually enables the buyer to exercise these rights later on.

Important points to know

The language barrier is the biggest practical obstacle for a foreign shopper in Turkey — not with the item itself, but with understanding the return, exchange, and warranty terms as explained by the seller at the time of purchase. Many of these terms are stated verbally, or written only in Turkish on the receipt, and a simple misunderstanding can cause a buyer to miss out on a right they actually had.

Having a companion who speaks Turkish and Arabic during shopping makes it possible to clarify these terms at the moment of purchase itself: what the warranty covers, what the store's return or exchange period is if one exists, and which documents need to be kept. This doesn't create a new right — it helps you understand and correctly use the right you already have under the law.

Frequently asked questions

Does a foreign shopper have the same consumer rights as a Turkish citizen? Yes, in principle. Consumer Protection Law No. 6502 bases rights on the status of "consumer" — someone buying goods for personal use within Turkey — not on nationality or residency.

What should I keep after a purchase to protect my rights? It's advisable to keep proof of purchase (the invoice or receipt), because the law requires that any information about a defect in the goods appear on it, and this document is the basis for any later request for repair, exchange, or refund.

Last updated: 2026-09-07