12 Insider Tips on Italy's Shopping Experience

Are you ready to go to Italy and experience the wonderful lifestyle, good food and absolutely favorite wines but most of all  are you excited about kicking off some shopping in Italy? If yes, then before you go, it's helpful to learn some insider tips and suggestions.

Things to Know:

• Stores open at 9 am and close for lunch at 1pm and re-open later in the afternoon around 4 pm and  close for the day around 8 pm or even 8,30 pm. Don't expect to find a store open around 2 pm unless you are in tourist shopping center or area. Stores are usually closed on Sundays, though lately some stores have decided to open on Sundays. Other stores such as a grocery store or even a boutique will close on a Thursday afternoon.
• Clothing and Shoe shopping - when walking into these stores keep in mind you will always be assisted and many times you will not be allowed to touch the things unless you are actually going to try them on. - Ask for your size and the assistant will help you.
• If you are just looking around then make sure you let the assistant know your intentions.
• Assistants are known as "commesse".
• Commesse in Italy are not as friendly and welcoming as they are in the US, rather very often  they tend to show their bitter and rude side, especially if you aren't a size "0" but this shouldn't stop you for from entering a store or even being assisted nor stop you from looking around.
• No store exchanges - they simply never did it and never will. "It's just not going to happen" so choose carefully before you buy it.
• Store clearances in most Italian shops are not exceptional usually run between 10% - 20%
• Outlets stores are popping up everywhere in Italy, therefore you'll probably get a better deal by visiting the outlets.
• Shoe Shopping is a must, though prices might be higher due to the currency exchange but the value is worth the price. Italian leather shoes will last you for years. 
• While in the US stores usually have items either and or on "clearance" and "Sale" like mentioned above usually Italy has no  items on clearance but they have sales known as " Saldi" and prices are discounted up to 20% and if you are lucky even at 25%. Rarely you will find items on clearance and if you happen to find a clearance item, the price is usually knocked down the least 10% to the most 20% . Saldi Season usually starts in January for the Fall -Winter items and mid to end of July for the Spring and Summer items. Usually the starting of Saldi defers from region to region  One regione may start a day or even a week before another region. Saldi Season doesn't exceed 3 weeks. 
• Christmas Sales exist but don't expect a Black Friday. though last year I stumbled upon learning that an Italian Black Friday may be blooming. 

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