Stores, Malls or Markets in Jamaica

I was not impressed with this mall (nor the other, I must say), referred as the best in Negril - Many small jewwellery shops, a couple of touristy stuff, and it was all.

But, remember, I'm a very bad buyer.

Fernanda is my opposite, and she didn't get impressed too, so...

Blue Mountain coffee is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. (I have read that it was the most expensive until recently passed on the international market.) Currently (June 2008) you can find it on the internet for $30 to $70 US dollars a pound. It was available at the Montego airport for about $30 a pound. At grocery stores it was a few dollars less than $20 a pound. There seems to be 3 brand names. The confusing thing is that there are apparently various grades but I never saw them mentioned on the packages.

The high price is certainly as much due to the scarcity as with the reputed high quality. A buyer should be aware that the somewhat cheaper "High Mountain Coffee" is often stocked on the same shelves as the blue mountain coffee and in similar packaging, so if you want the "real" thing check the label carefully.

2009 update: The price for Blue Mountain Coffee seems to have dropped since 2008. A pound can be seen for as little as $12 a pound. At the Kingston airport the price was $24 US.

What to buy: If money is no object and you or a special friend love coffee, then I guess this could be a good purchase. Otherwise consider buying some Jamaican spices. You will find the best prices at grocery stores or large discount stores. Beware that large stores may add the Jamaican 16.5% tax to the price of your purchases.

I just returned from Jamaica and found shopping to be not as bad as I had read.. it depends on your personality and how you deal with people. Just as in the states be polite, respectful yet firm. You need to remember this is their living,if you are not interested say no thank you smile.. move on.... when no prices are on item ask what they are asking..haggle..don't pay 1st amount they ask.. if you are asking to low they will tell you..it can be intimidating to have a group of vendors around you.. asking you to look at their wares..but just buy what you want..ar say you are just looking...give respect.. get respect!

Go to any of the shops that have the seal of approval on it or you will be sorry! We bought some from our resort by one of its employees, got hom and it we had been scammed!

What to buy: Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee with the Jamaica seal of approval!!!!

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This was where we went wrong, we bought all our items elsewhere and when we got to the airport, we should have listened to other reviews like the one I am writing here! Please, do not go and spend money like I did and regret it when you hit the airport. ALL the knick knacks and liquor was way cheaper here. I was angry at the end of my trip when I noticed the small bottles of liquor I bought was in bigger bottles at the airport and cheaper.

Heres the list of shops:
Specialty Retail Concessions
Stores & Kiosks Descriptions of Products Sold

Bob Marley (One Love) Branded clothing & merchandise
Body Vibes Body & Aromatherapy Products, Casual Clothing
Books & Sundries Books, Magazines, Snacks, Gifts, Confectionary
Casa De Xaymaca Clothing, Craft, Accessories
Coffee & Spice Jamaican Coffee, Tea, Sauces, Spices
Cool Gear Branded Casual Clothing & Merchandise
Cool Kidz Gear Children's clothing & Gifts
Craft & Linen Craft Items, Apparel, Gifts
Cynthia's T-Shirts Clothing & Jamaican Accessories
Extra! Extra! News, Gifts, Books, Magazines, Snacks, Confectionary
Flights of Fantasy Fine-quality Silver Jewellery & Accessories
Island Leisure Sports Jamaica Themed Casual Clothing and Merchandise
Jamaica Bobsled Jamaica Bobsled Team Branded clothing & merchandise
June's Cookies Island Cookies, Chocolates, Confectionary
Not Just Books Caribbean Literature, Bestsellers, Magazines, Gifts, Confectionary
Reggae Vibes Reggae Concept Clothing, Music, Accessories
Starfish Oils Body & Aromatherapy Products
Sun Free Hut Designer Glasses
Tads International Music & Music Accessories
The Coffee Mill Jamaican Coffee, Tea, Sauces
Things Jamaican Jamaican Craft Items, Gifts

Duty Free Concessions
Stores & Kiosk Descriptions of Products Sold/Services Offered

Appleton Appleton Branded Liquor & Apparel
Bijoux Fine Jewellry & Accessories
Blue Mountain Duty Free Liquor, Wines, Spirits
Buccaneer Duty Free Liquor, Wines, Spirits
Chulani Luxury Jewellery & Accessories
Estee Lauder Perfume, Body & Aromatherapy Products, Cosmetics
Euro Bags European - made bags, scarves, belts, wallets,
Fossil Jewellery & Accessories
Guess Guess Watches & Accessories
Jamaica Farewell Liquor, Fine Wines, Cigarettes, Cigar
Majorcia Fine Pearl Jewellery
Sunshine Liquor Fine Wines, Liquor, Tobacco
The Cigar Hut Cigar's & Tobacco related gifts
The Perfume Shop Perfume, Skin Care Products, Cosmetics
The Tobacco Shop Fine Cigars & Cigarettes
Tortuga Rum Company Rum Cakes, truffles, fudges, sauces, spices
Vinar Ltd Electronic items, cameras, watches

What to buy: Liquor is a must buy at the airport, you will be saddened if purchased elsewhere.

Lots of shops selling the same collection of things. The vendors were aggressive in a friendly sort of way. None were obnoxious. Mostly it was in a "Please come and look inside my shop' approach. All prices were negotiable, and if you do not bargain hard you will pay too much. You will do best if you have time and some idea of the real value of what you want.

For example, I wanted a large Jamaican flag. I had seen one of reasonable size (I actually wanted a larger one.) for 500 Jamaican dollars at a store in Black River. At the market I was asked for anywhere between 1500 and 1100 Jamaican dollars by multiple vendors with no significant drop even when I told them that I could and eventually would return to Black River where I knew that the price was 500 dollars. It took awhile but eventually a vendor agreed to a price of 500. A little later another vendor came up to me while a I sat with another member of our group and also offered to accept $500 Jamaican. So she bought one as well.

In markets I usually expect to beat the CHEAPEST store price for an item of equal quality by at least 10% before any sale tax (In Jamaica this 16.5%). If you have to compare with average or high end tourist shops then you should expect to get a final price at least 20% lower than the store price. To achieve this your first offer will have to be as much a 50% less that the store price.

In this case, the 500 Jamaican dollar price was acceptable to us and the vendors. I did not have the time, energy or inclination to fight for a lower price, but I do believe that there was a fair lower price. Probably at around 450.

There is smaller "craft" market just off the strip in front of Doctors Cave Beach, but a Jamaican lady told me that the best place to go for quality and price were shops along Freeport Road. She said that you would see the craftsman at work and could buy more items from the actual producers.

What to buy: baskets, iron wood carvings, cheap jewelry, spices, coffee

What to pay: If you do not know the real value, expect to pay too much. One friend of mine found the shot glasses he bought at the market for 1/3 the price at the large (K-mart type) discount store in Montego Bay. Even after adding the 16.5% tax he would have paid at the store, he paid too much at the market.

There are lots of shops along the beaches in Jamaica. I really enjoyed shopping in the Bamboo Village in Falmouth. There are lots of little huts which sell local crafts such as wood carvings, mugs made from Bamboo, lighters, ashtrays, tshirts, swimwear, bracelets, necklaces, hair braiding, paintings and much more.

What to buy: The wood carvings are fantastic, there is some great work which has been done by local Jamaicans. I also liked the bamboo mugs, you could have your drink in the mug allday and it stayed chilled. I bought two huge mugs for only 10 US Dollars, they charge 8 US Dollars per mug at the shops in the hotels so wait until you go to a local shopping market for these great bargains.

What to pay: When they offer you a price you need to haggle them down to at least half the price. My Auntie wanted a wood carving... the man wanted 60 US Dollars and she haggled for a while and got the carving for only 10 US Dollars.... so use your haggling skills!

Jamaica has some of the best wood carvings you can find for both artistic and functional purposes.
Remember you can bargain with them.
The ones in Montego Bay craft market tend to be less expensive then in other towns. For ocho rios go to the area called Fern Gulley and get your carvings.

Try to buy things that can fit in your suitcase. I bought a walking stick and the airport officials made me wrap it in cardboard. They told me that I could not bring it on the plane.

What to buy: Jamaican yo-yo