Turkish extension‑cord price row

A shopper’s video from a Turkish mall set off a price row after showing the same 5-meter extension cord priced at 1,240 lira in Koçtaş and 585 lira at Mr. DIY upstairs. (x.com) The clip compared the two tags side by side and calculated a 655-lira gap, or about 53% off the higher price. The post drew roughly 1,800 views and angry replies from users who said the difference was too large for an identical household item. (x.com) Koçtaş is one of Turkey’s biggest home-improvement chains, with stores and digital sales in more than 50 provinces. Mr. DIY Turkey says it sells about 17,000 products across hardware, household goods, electrical items, stationery and sports equipment, with an “always low prices” pitch. (koctas.com.tr) (mrdiy.com) The comparison landed in a country where household budgets are still under pressure from inflation. Turkey’s official statistics agency said consumer prices were up 30.87% year over year in March 2026. (tuik.gov.tr) Retailers in Turkey often sell similar goods under different sourcing, warranty, rent and promotion structures, which can produce wide gaps even inside the same shopping center. Koçtaş also sells through a marketplace model alongside its own stores, while Mr. DIY has built its brand around discount pricing and rapid store expansion. (koctas.com.tr) (mrdiy.com) (diyinternational.com) Mr. DIY’s Turkey site says the chain offers approximately 17,000 products and positions itself as an accessible home-and-living retailer. Koçtaş describes itself as Turkey’s home-improvement retail leader and says it serves millions of visitors through stores and digital channels. (mrdiy.com) (koctas.com.tr) Neither company appeared to have posted a public response tied to the viral clip on the sources reviewed for this story. The video’s staying power came from a simple image: two price tags, one floor apart, and a difference big enough for shoppers to notice immediately. (x.com)