I have a question about how to deal with the people in Istanbul who constantly harass tourists to buy rugs, lamps, kebaps, evil eyes and everything being sold in the tourist districts.

The constant harassment from people selling things was the only thing I didn't like about Istanbul. The constant hard sell was far worse than the vendors anywhere I have ever been, and that includes the most touristy areas of downtown Tijuana, Mexico. I was approached at least 50-75 times a day, and it got so annoying I finally had to totally ignore the young men who kept approaching me, one after the other.

theturk, is this truly an effective sales technique? What's the best way to deal with the tourist harassment in Istanbul? The only relief I got was back at my hotel, or visiting the areas that don't cater mostly to tourists (Kadikoy).