Ok, having a friend visiting me this week, all excited about this exotic place.
Wants to buy two things I never thought of buying in this country, so I don't have the faintest idea of where to find them:
A carpet (yawn) and a pipe for women (whatever a pipe for women is).
You guys have any recommendations on good carpet or pipe shops? Thank you.

I know someone who has a carpet shop in Kapalıcarsı (Covered Bazaar).

Kapalıcarsi, Terlikciler Sok. N:32/31-35
Office tel: 520 02 32 / 528 00 62

His name is Hasim Güreli and he speaks English, Italian. He can also advise you where to pipe. Let me know if you will go then I can tell him to give you a good price.

If you don't like what he has, there are plenty of carpet and pipe shops in Covered Bazaar and Sultanahmet.

what kind of carpet? size? price?
it just happens that we have a carpet shop next to the bazaar.

Not trying to be arrogant, but just in case someone will search for "covered bazaar," on the net.
Covered bazaar, more commonly known as: Grand bazaar.

bhaklava -- I am always looking for a good dealer. I have some friends in town as well who may want to buy. Where are you located and what have you got? I'm most interested in a place that will give me good deals in exchange for me bringing my pals in!

Dervish: Thank you, would that be a huge mission to find that place in Kapalıcarsı?

Bhaklava: Who exactly is "we"? And I have no idea about my friend's idea about kind, size, price. So it should be a shop that has everything, but beautiful is a must, i.e. would be nice not to find only ugly carpets. Maybe a place that also has old kilims, some special stuff.

he can give you the directions on the phone. street names are indicated inside the Bazaar so it shouldn't be a problem to find. or just ask people where the terlikciler street is.

U, u should definetely take her to DOSIM (dösim) which is an affiliation of Cultural Ministry. There is a big one in Bahcekapi. Beautiful beautiful silk and wool hand made carpets with a fair price in a sophisticated building. Lots of other souvenirs including waterpipes (and also pink ones with flower prints on them I guess!!) and backgammon sets. That is generally my final stop before the airport and there is no hassle, it looks like a museum, silent and lots of things to look at. Best: No bargaining. prices are on tags and yes they are very fair.

Dosim- Bahcekapı Kultur Urunleri Satis Magazasi
Seyhulislam Hayri Efendi cad no:2/1
tel: 212 526 68 13

Dekolte, thanks for the tip! I'm interested in carpets too, but I was feeling pretty daunted by the idea of bargaining my way through the grand bazaar without much of a clue about reasonable prices...

My pleasure.... It is just before the entrance of the spice bazaar! (towards the inner eminonu; not the mosque/galata etc)

In order to help some really poor people that we know in Afghanistan, I bring carpets in from time to time. Prices are reasonable. If you are interested in seeing some pics please PM me

Thank you Dekolte, that sounds fantastic.
So if we go to the spice bazaar and ask our way through we should find it, right?

Girls, any ideas about the pipes for women?

Utabe, there ia also a carpet shop in Ortakoy calle Hazal or sth like that. It is owned by a woman and she is not pushy at all. She gives very accurate information and is very helpful; she concentrates mostly on kilims. It is near the mosque in on of the lanes that goes down to the water.

Great Yakamoz, thank you!

cequirk & utabe - "we" is my husband and I. We have a small shop in Corlulu Alipasa medresesi, on the tramway street just before the bazaar. We have old carpets and kilims, almost all with natural dyes. Most of the business is done with interior designers in the States, but we always have stock on hand. We know the majority of good dealers in town and can take people to other shops and get dealers prices. PM me if you want info.