Konya’s Cassette Seller Defies Digital Trends

Eyüp Mermer, who sells cassette tapes in his 25-square-meter shop in Konya's historic Bedesten Bazaar, showcases Turkish music history with thousands of tapes.

The popularity of cassette tapes in the music market has waned with the rise of CDs, flash drives, memory cards, mobile phones, and the internet due to technological advancements. However, nostalgia lovers continue to resist the shift. Mermer, one of them, driven by a passion for music and collecting, has been selling tapes for nearly half a century in his shop, striving to keep the cassette tape culture alive, which has gradually disappeared from the music market with technological progress.

Mermer, who used to buy cassettes from Istanbul’s Unkapanı record market in the '90s, explained that he decided to sell tapes after trying out various professions, including hardware. He started his business with a mobile stall in 1976 and opened his shop in 1979, from which he supported his three children.

Emphasizing his efforts to preserve his profession in the face of time, Mermer recalled: "I used to sell around the Eski Garaj (Old Garage) with a vehicle. Things were much better back then. People would wait for me even before I set off with my mobile stall every day, eager for my arrival."

"Other vendors didn't have as many varieties," Mermer added, noting that he always had all the tapes his customers wanted at that time.

Mermer shared that passersby and enthusiasts still visit his shop, expressing his love for the job. “I will never forget the night I sold over 600 cassettes,” he said, mentioning that his sales have decreased over time.

He pointed out that the variety of cassettes has also diminished since production ceased, explaining that his shop now holds nearly 20,000 cassettes, alongside CDs. He also shared that he intends to continue his business for as long as he can.

"We are the last cassette sellers. As far as I know, only three cassette sellers are left in Konya," he concluded.