Holidays in Bali

Unless you are shopping in shopping centers or shops that have their items with tagged prices, otherwise you must bargain with the sellers.

How far can you go to ask for a discount?

Here are some examples of souvenirs that I bought in Bali:

Water Features (fountains) – Original price: Rp550,000
I bought a water features in Kuta, it’s a complete set including the decorated stones, water pump, Buddha statue, stand and the pot. The seller asked for Rp550,000, after bargaining, I bought it for Rp350,000, saved Rp200,000 or 36% of its original price. I have to agree with this price because I couldn’t find it in other shops.

Round Neck T-shirt – Original Price: Rp50,000
They are so many shops are selling T-shirts in Bali. T-shirt depends on its quality. For normal round neck T-shirt, the price is around Rp50,000 per piece but you can actually bargain to Rp20,000 – Rp30,000 per piece and also very much depends on the quantity you buy, the more you buy, the more you can ask to reduce.

Painting – Original Price: Rp220,000
I bought a “Buddha Head” painting measures 2½’ x 4’; the seller asked for Rp220,000, after bargaining with him, I bought it for Rp120,000; saved Rp100,000 or 45% of its original price.

Mini Bicycle – Original Price: Rp180,000
I bought a mini bicycle measures 12-inch-length and 6-inch-height; seller wanted Rp160,000, I bought it for Rp80,000 after bargaining; saved Rp80,000 or 50% of its original price.

My advice to you before buying something in Bali:

- Unless the item is very unique and cannot be found in other shops in Bali, otherwise you must ask for cheaper price. You can bargain with the sellers start with 50% cut. If you are a good bargainer and you are dare enough, maybe you can ask for more. My bargaining power is only allowed me to get the prices slash between 30%-50%.

- If you visit Bali with a group of friends or family and when you are buying the same souvenirs or items from same seller, don’t buy individually, group together so that you can bargain for better price in bulk.

- Compare the price of the items with few shops. Most of the souvenirs are very common in Bali, you can actually see them selling in everywhere. Survey and compare the prices first, once you know the cheapest price, this price serves as the “standard” for you to bargain with them so that the final price doesn’t exceed the cheapest price.

- Shop in the early morning. Why? I noticed that most sellers (bosses themselves, not employed workers) want to have luck for that day. They believed that once started a sale, more sales would come in. If you are the first customer, wish them good luck in early morning to make the first sale and tell them that it will bring good luck and more sales to them for the whole day. Because they want to make the deal, they will give you slightly better discount. When you pay them money, some of them will take your money to wave at their stuff and say “good luck,” it’s interesting. So, whenever sellers give me discount, I will wave my money on their stuff and say “good luck” before I pay them; they like it and I have nothing to loose by doing so.