Back in the old country, I would search websites and stores in order to find a bargain, but here things are different.  In a country where Amazon.com means nothing and price tags are only a suggestion, shopping is less about making an informed decision and more about finding your prey and going in for the kill.  As any Israeli knows, the best place for aggressive energetic shopping is the shuk.    But while most people think of the shuk when buying food, there are tons of bargains to be had on other items as well.  For example:

(1) Children’s toys:  I know, I spoil my child, after all, everything I ever bought for my son was imported all the way from China and/or Vietnam.  Lead paint and child labor jokes aside, if you’re looking for something simple like a toy truck or a doll for a young child, there is no reason to spend 5 times as much on an identical item in a toy store.  There may be some toys which are worthwhile to get in the store, but the overwhelming majority of toys for your children (and their friends’ birthdays) can be bought in the shuk.

(2) Linens and clothes:  If you’re looking for a nice suit, I wouldn’t recommend beginning with the shuk; but if you’re looking for socks, undergarments, towels, sheets, t-shirts and shorts, there is no point in spending tons of money in the mall when the shuk offers the same thing for less than half the price.

(3) Electronics and Kitchen utensils:  While fancier electronics should be bought at a place with a suitable warranty, simpler household items such as an iron, kettle, space heater, toaster oven, bug zapper, hair curler and telephone are significantly cheaper in the shuk.  Also, common kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, knives, tenderizers, silicon tins and more are usually available in the shuk for very cheap.

Alternatively, these items can be found at bargain prices in Haredi neighborhoods as well.

What other items do you buy at the shuk?  Is there an alternative place you go to buy some of the items mentioned above for cheaper prices?