Went to the Market 28 today and was just as anticipated. If you like mall shopping, prices posted and laid back sales people, this place probably isn’t for you. Took a cab from Excellence Resort in Playa De Mujeres which ran 15. US each way. Typical local shopping and haggling with everything from jewelry to hand crafted items with several hundred sellers. Safe and typical “hut” shopping with a chance to buy just about anything. Certainly be prepared to have more aggressive sales people work you. A few tips: Silver can be purchased for between 1.50-2.00 per gram although they start around 5.00 US. Be courteous and just say no thanks and they usually will go lower before you even think of walking out. I would not suggest not using a credit card and only pay cash. Look around before you purchase to get your bearings on prices and value. Always stay in populated areas and be on guard as you would in any large city. Our very friendly driver was Fernando running his own new cab and he gave us his cell phone 99-82-57-02-13 to be picked up for the return trip. He picked us up within 15 minutes of our call and was extremely helpful with other advice around Cancun.

DO NOT USE A CREDIT CARD HERE!!! Don't go here at all!
This is a very dangerous place! The vendors swarmed like flies and were very very aggressive. I feared for my safety. I attempted to make a $200 purchase. My card was taken around the corner and a charge of $600 was charged to my account!! I was told that my card was not working and I was lead to an ATM to withdraw the $200 I was willing to pay for the CRAP that I purchased. So...$200 worth of Mexican crap cost me $800!! It all happened so fast!
Don't be talked into going here by the cab drivers. They are all in cahoots with each other. Stay at the 'tourist traps' as they call them. You will do much better. Market 28 is a collection of thieves!
DON"T GO HERE! BANDITOS!! AGGRESSIVE AND DANGEROUS BANDITOS!

I shopped at market 28 cancun july 17,2008..I purchased a $25.00 belly button ring from ARTESANIAS POCHICANCUN the vendor charged me 2500 pesos on my visa and i didnt relize thats $250.00 usd until i got my visa bill. BE VERY CAREFUL GETTING RIPPED OFF HERE!!!!

Ok, so after hearing everyone saying 'go to market 28, its so much cheaper' - we did. Well, we didn't realize that those same people were probably going to the REAL expensive places to compare it to.

Here goes my suggestion:
Go to the Mexican Outlet (the yellow stores). There are a few of them on the strip - my favorite is the mall where planet hollywood, rainforest cafe is located. Anyway, you cannot bargain in there. But it is FAIRLY priced. If you have enough time while you are there -- just take a look at what you like at the Mexican Outlet... take notes on their prices.

THEN go to Market 28 (the bus is a straight shot there, only 1-2 block walk to the right after you get off), and bargain lower according to the Outlet store.

Ok... here is an example, we were buying this leather artwork at Market 28.. for the same size (take note of the sizes and the prices, because they will justify their price on this too). Anyway, he started off at $60 USD. Long story short - We paid $35 for it, but this is me starting at $25. Then he agreed to $30 USD.

Well we went to the Outlet and guess how much it was? $20!!! So bargain HARD when you are there, but know how much their "competitor" is (outlet store). Because if you ask for too little, it might be an insult. But they are going to guilt trip you so bad that you will probably just buy it 3 times more expensive as you could've at the Mexican Outlet.

Oh watch out for the exchange rate. When we were there it was $11 pesos to $1USD. Ok, so if you are buying a big purchase and they quote you $1,000 pesos -- and you give him $100 USD - you are actually giving him $111 USD. Get it? If you don't mind paying more, then this is fine. But if you want to save even more, just pay in pesos.

Also, the food there is CHEAP. The only thing is... I found hair in my salsa and raw meat under neathe my sandwhich. YUCK. The place that we really like is actually a kiosk, she cooks it RIGHT in front of you -- go that route, so you know how your food was actually prepared.

Another spot to eat is El Patino's (the restuarant in front of WalMart) -- they have the BEST Mole and it only ranges $7USD-$12 USD. This is WAY cheaper than the strip. We only finally ate there our last night, and we wish we would've found it earlier.