Shopping Tips in Bali
April 2, 2008 – 7:29 pm“Sir, sir buy me, buy me please, from morning not selling”. Thats a very popular expression you most likely heard once you’re in a traditional market in Bali such as Sukawati Art Market. Do not get it wrong, they do not intend to sell themselves to you, instead they insist hope that you would buy something from them, the items they are selling such as sarong, hat and other traditional Balinese souvenirs.
Remember, take your time to browse everything you like and just ignore them politely if they insist you to buy something. Sometimes the prices are too high, sometimes you’re easily to get influenced by their selling technique so you don’t have sufficient time to decide what you want for what prices. Here are some tips worth doing once you are in Bali traditional market:
1. Basic expression in local language. Talking to them in local languages is a very effective way in order to give them a ’shock therapy’ that you are somehow ‘familiar’ with Bali experience before. This can minimize their willing to rob you in that market. If you are a foreigner, Bahasa Indonesia is the choice. Learn how to say greeting in Bahasa such as Selamat Pagi (good morning), Selamat Siang (good afternoon), Berapa harganya? (how much is it?), Mahal (expensive), Tidak, terima kasih (no, thank you), Boleh tawar? (I can bargain, right?) etc.
If you are domestic visitors say these: Rahajeng Semeng/wengi (met pagi/wengi), Aji kude niki (berapa harganya?), mael niki (mahal ini), suksma (terima kasih), dados tawah (boleh tawar?)
2. Browse and compare. Don’t just get stuck in one spot, take your time to browse as much counters as possible. Though most likely they all are about similar prices but at least you havebasic idea the best price you can possibly get.
3. Shake off that shopping freak. Do not show to them that you are crazy about certain item because they tend to use it as ‘weapon’ to give you ‘tourist price’. so just relax, enjoy your shopping time and act as natural as possible. I know some foreigner and domestic visitors just can’t help themselves and showing so much interest.
4. No such fixed price. Keep this in mind that there is no such fixed price in Bali traditional market. Everything can be bargained as much as 60% off the first price they tell you.
5. Bargain and bargain. This is a must do step when you shopping in such places in Bali. The vendors seems aware on this so they put the price high at first. Just remember the 60% above.
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6 Responses to “Shopping Tips in Bali”
reading this, makes me want to go home…
By mohammad
on Apr 3, 2008
That was exactly what they said when I was on Bali island. “from morning not selling” hehhehe
Thanks for the tips.
By dian
on Apr 4, 2008
mohammad, so when you gonna go home?
dian, what was your reaction at that time?
By devari
on Apr 4, 2008
dari sekian web buatan anak negeri yang saya kunjungi, web anda adalah yang paling tulus dari segi warna design dan content. tapi yang membuat saya nekad untuk isi komentar adalah content web anda yang benar2 asli alias tak pura2 (saya tahu karena saya sudah pergi ke hampir setiap daerah di Bali termasuk nusa menjangan, nusa lembongan dan nusa penida), begitu juga gaya bahasa inggris anda yang menurut saya cukup apik dan anggun dalam arti lugas dan benar tidak mengada2. Dari segi contextual gaya bahasa inggris anda bahkan lebih benar dari pada orang2 yang bahasa inggris adalah bahasa asli mereka. Setiap hari saya bertemu orang inggris yang berbicara bahasa inggris tak sesuai ejaan persis seperti orang kampung saya berbicara bahasa indonesia hampir patah2.
Saya hanya mau ucapkan welldone semoga tambah sukses
By Vik
on Apr 9, 2008
@Vik, waaaa terima kasih dan tengkyu berat atas appresiasi Anda. Saya masih baru dan totally newbie dalam hal web2an and ga tau design2an, saya hanya suka yg simple2. duh..apalagi bahasa inggris saya yg masih kelas2 bahasa vendor di pantai kuta, tau sendiri kan gimana bahasanya
dari segi isi, saya hanya tulis sebatas yang saya tahu dan alami, untuk hal2 yg ‘berat’ saya kupas dikit2 aja karena memaang ga paham dalemnya secara detail, lagian mungkin visitor tidak akan nyaman untuk baca2 ampe yg dalem2/serious. sekedar tau aja globalnya
waa udah pernah ke Nusa Penida juga? thats cool. you’re rocks!
maaf Anda bule? atau Indonesian? saya assume bukan Balinese ya. hehehe. would love to know pandangan ‘orang luar’ thd Bali dan culturenya.
sekali lagi thanks atas respondnya,mohon masukan dan saran dari Om/Mbak (?) Vik ya
Cheers
By devari
on Apr 9, 2008
@devari
me?….110% lelaki tapi kalau di paksa jadi perempuan pasti langsung jadi lesbian he he he…
pandangan orang luar tentang bali?… hangat selamanya… asal orang Bali harus peka terhadap orang2 yang datang ke bali untuk lempar bom. Banjar harus gardu terdepan, tentara, polisi membantu banjar bukan sebaliknya.
Asal tidak ada bencana bom lagi di jamin kunjungan wisata akan kembali meningkat tajam.
Aku bule?….no way-lah aku adalah indoMan.
eeh… pemasangan adsense-nya rapi loh, pasti hasilnya bagus dong
By Vik
on Apr 10, 2008