Bargaining & Shopping

Be sure to bargain for EVERYTHING in Bali.
This applies to anything you buy and especially to personal services. Paying 1/3 of original asking price is quite normal if you bargain well.

Fixed Price:
Meals, Transport tickets, Matahari supermarket, Alcohol

Bargain:
Art, Craft, Clothing, Street transport (the guy's that say "Transport Miss!?")

Fixed, but Negotiable:
Accommodation (if there is a lot of competition, very easy to get price down at least 20,000Rp per night, if you are staying for several days, they will usually bring it down, especially in Kuta, Lovina, and Ubud.


Bargaining Rules...
1. Establish Starting Price
2. Ask Seller for their price
3. Ask if that is the "Best Price"
4. Offer a price just below what you are willing to pay
5. As a rule, your 1st price could be anything from 1/3 - 2/3s of the asking price

Examples of what you would pay after bargaining:
Western CDs = 50-000 - 75,000Rp (AUD $8-$12) (can get some bargains in Monkey Forest Rd, Ubud for 40,000Rp for "legit" CD's.
Western CDs (Copies) = 10,000Rp (AUD$1.60)
Watches = imitation Rolex - 35,000 Rp ($5.50)
Shirts & Pants = thin quality - 10,000Rp (AUD$1.60)
Shirts & Pants = good quality - 25,000Rp - 35,000Rp (AUD$4-$6)
Bags = 6,000Rp - 50,000Rp (depending on quality)
DVDs = imitation/copies - 9,000Rp - 15,000Rp (don't pay more than 15, buying in bulk gives you better discount. There is a wholesale place between poppies I&II if you don't mind buying without the hard covers (you still get the insert so you can put them in hard covers in Australia).. 10,000Rp tourist price, no bargaining req'd)
DVDs = as new = 40,000Rp - 75,000Rp (AUD$6.50-$12)
I got 4 x Indiana Jones (3 IJ and 1 x bonus material), the boxed set for 150,000 (AUD$24) without bargaining, although I then bought season 1 of the Soprano's for a friend for 150,000 and with all the other DVD's, I was able to take 50,000Rp off the final price.

Gold & Silver
Puspa Mega, my "local" friend took me here, this is where he would go to get his jewellery. I paid 175,000 (AUD$28) on a custom-made, custom-designed bracelet for my friend. If you get taken with a guide, make sure you let them know that YOU told the guide to come here, that HE didn't bring you, otherwise, they will price "his commission" in the jewellery. You will find this place on the road from Denpasar to Ubud. They don't speak English very well, might be good to take someone with you who can translate, and definitely take your own drawings or examples of what you want done if you are getting custom-designed one, it can be hard to describe when you both can't understand each other well, unless you can draw pretty good! :)
Celuk - Sukawati - Gianyar 80582
PO BOX 035, Bali, Indonesia
Phone: 062 631 297567 and 299689, Fax: 062361298060, Email: balimega@indo.net.id


Check out Site-Seeing sections for known bargain shopping places.


Fixed Price Items:

Matahari & Supernova Examples (supermarket shopping)
Tampons (Tampax - only known brand) 61,875 (AUD$10)
Enormous Good Quality Suitcase - 393,500Rp (AUD$63.50)
Energizer Batteries 28,250Rp (AUD$4.50)
VCD - 30,000Rp (AUD$4.80)
DVD - 39,000Rp (AUD$6.30)
Ponds Moisturizer 6,375Rp (AUD$1)
L'Oreal Shampoo 24,200Rp (AUD$3.90)
L'Oreal Conditioner 26,550Rp (AUD$4.30)
Small Cup of Sealed Water 325Rp (AUD 5c)
Oral B Fancy Toothbrush 15,200Rp (AUD$2.45)
Pantene Conditioner 10,275Rp (AUD$1.60)
VCD/MP3/CD Walkman 600,000Rp (AUD$96.80)


Circle K & Kencana Examples (Mini market)
Water - 1,500Rp (AUD 24c)
White Toblerone 50Gr - 7,000Rp (AUD$1.10)
Tiny Notepad - 750Rp (AUD 12c)
Ballpoint Pen - 1,200Rp (AUD 20c)
10 Coathangers - 5,900Rp (AUD 95c)
Incence x 50 pcs - 3,400Rp (AUD 55c)
A4 Notepad - 5,650Rp (AUD 90c)