Alper Temel, a street food vendor working in Istanbul, Turkey, has attracted the attention of tourists by challenging the common notion that visitors only head to major attractions. Thanks to viral popularity on social media, he himself has become one of the city's most sought-after attractions.
For several years, 25-year-old Alper Temel managed a family stall with his two brothers, where they sold corn and chestnuts. Online, he is known by the usernames @alpertemel04 on Instagram and alper_temel on TikTok.
Since 2024, videos showing him in the historic Karaköy waterfront district of Istanbul have caused a sharp influx of international visitors. The vendor has accumulated over a million followers on Instagram and about 740,000 on TikTok, becoming a must-stop on travelers' itineraries, where he willingly poses for photos and interacts with his fans.
His immense popularity is attributed to his striking appearance, reminiscent of a movie star: tall stature, dark hair, and a defined facial oval. This has drawn admiration from many female fans. User @lifewithashleyjones noted in her Instagram post that her trip was related to 'a beautiful face and very dry corn,' implying that the food was not the main objective.
Due to his growing fame, local guides have officially included him in their tour programs. His popularity reached such a level that even CNN Travel visited him for an interview. Alper Temel expressed gratitude for the support, stating that, like any young man, he tries to help and support his family in the best way possible, and that this fame has accelerated that process.
In conclusion, if you are planning a trip to Turkey, it is recommended to add a visit to this spot to your sightseeing plan, alongside landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Basilica Cistern.
A resident of the Sergeli district of Tashkent discovered that she was overcharged at the Korzinka supermarket. The incident was recorded and published by the customer on the Instagram social network with video evidence.
In the video, the woman presents two receipts. The initial receipt showed a sum of about 916 thousand soms. After the buyer expressed dissatisfaction and demanded a recalculation of her purchases, store employees performed a new transaction. In the second receipt, the total cost was approximately 825 thousand soms.
The buyer stated that this situation has happened for the fourth time and intends to contact the prosecutor's office to hold those responsible accountable, as it is not an isolated case. The Korzinka press service promptly responded to the complaint and provided official explanations.
Representatives of the retail chain explained that despite serving hundreds of thousands of customers daily and constant monitoring, scanning errors at the checkout can sometimes occur. An internal investigation established that the error was due to the cashier: instead of two units of one item, the '2' button on the keyboard was pressed twice, causing the system to register 22 units of the item and creating the discrepancy in the receipt.
The company emphasized that such technical inaccuracies caused by human error can happen in both directions—either to the detriment of the customer or to the benefit of the store if the item was not scanned at all. Management thanked conscientious customers who report underpayments themselves and pay the missing amount, noting that such cases benefiting clients are rarely highlighted online.
The retail chain advised customers to immediately contact the branch administration or call customer support if they have any doubts about the correctness of the calculation. Customers are also recommended to use the mobile application or Telegram bot. Management added that additional staff training has been conducted, and supervision over compliance with established service standards will be strengthened.
