Another interesting place to visit when you are in a foreign country is the market, particularly art shops or traditional markets where you can get unique items. When you visit Bali and are looking for some unique items to decorate your room or gifts for friends, there are some popular markets and shop that sell interesting goods. However, you need to know the tricks when buying in the traditional market so you won’t get ripped off when shopping. These Bali shopping tips will provide you with some useful information when you want to buy some goods.
Bali shopping tips
It is a normal thing that when you shop you wish to great goods at an affordable price. Likewise, when you visit the traditional market in Bali like Sukawati Market, you can save some money but still get the items you want at reasonable prices. Here are tips that you can when shopping in Bali:
Shop early
If you decide to buy some items in the traditional market, it is recommended that you come early, so you can shop when the market starts. Traditional art market like the Sukawati Market will start operating at 6 am until 6 pm. If you shop in between 6 am to 10 am, you can get a discount you need to shop at.
In Indonesia, the shop or store owners believe that the first customers who come to buy their goods are “penglaris” which means the first sold goods and it is believed it can bring more customers to come to their place and buy their goods. So when you shop at the opening hours, as the first customer, you may get a discount.
Do some research
If you want a cheap price, then take the time to get around from one store to another. That way you can compare prices from different stores.
However, make sure you to be careful when you want to ask for prices. Don’t offend them.
Be friendly to the sellers
Make friendly relationships by being friendly to sellers. Being friendly will help you to get a discount. You can start by using the greetings used by the Balinese people so you can build a friendly atmosphere.
Buy in large quantities or wholesale
If you buy items in a small amount, it will be a little difficult to get a discount. However, if you buy in large quantities, they may give you a discount at a cheap price.
Use bargaining skill
The main key for you to shop at a cheap price is to bargain. As a buyer, you need to bargain on the items you want to buy. Make sure you do not look hesitate when bargaining. Be assertive and don’t rush to approve the offer given by the buyer. Usually, there are other stores which sell the same goods, so if the first shop doesn’t give the item in the price that you want, say thank you and just leave. Go find other shops or stores that sell at a more reasonable price.
However, be considerate when bargaining. Don’t ask for an extremely cheap price for it will cause an unpleasant atmosphere.
Don’t bring a vehicle
If you shop in the popular tourist area like Kuta for example, the place will be very crowded. Since it is the most famous tourist attraction in Bali, many people will visit this area during holidays and this often causes the streets in the area of Kuta extremely congested with vehicles. To make things worse, the parking area in Kuta is also very limited.
If you want to shop in the Legian area or at the Kuta art market, you should look for a price fixed taxi or car rental service that offers car rental plus driver and fuel. By using these types of transportation, you don’t need to think about car parking and traffic jam.
However, if you shop at shopping malls like Beachwalk Shopping Center and Discovery Shopping Mall, you don’t need to worry about parking spaces because every mall in the Kuta area of Bali has a very large parking lot.
Always say thank you
When you have done bargaining don’t shop, don’t forget to say thank you before leaving the store so when you want to go back to the store you visited previously you won’t feel awkward.
Bring cash
Not all shops or sellers in the art market provide payments using a credit or debit card. Therefore, you should bring enough cash. But it will be different if you shop at a typical Balinese souvenir center, you can pay with a credit or debit card. If the place you shop provides payment in credit card, ask in advance whether there is an additional fee if you pay with a credit card.
Shop at Shopping Malls & Department Stores if don’t like to bargain
Not all of us know how to bargain, so if you don’t know how to do it or you don’t feel like doing it, you can shop at a typical Balinese souvenir store. The price of goods in the department store is at the right price.
Find out where to shop for cheap goods
Usually, the goods sell at the popular tourist area is rather expensive, therefore, looking for a low price when shopping in Kuta area is very difficult! If you don’t mind going around and going in and out of the shop, around the Poppies lanes on Legian street, you will surely find the lowest price offer. In addition to the Poppies lanes, there is an art market that is also close to Kuta tourist attractions, famous for providing Balinese jewelry. The name is the Merta Nadi Legian art market on Jalan Melasti Legian.
Ready to shop? Let’s check the list of recommended markets for you:
Sukawati Art Market
Located on Sukawati Highway, Gianyar Regency, it is one of the famous markets in Bali. Sukawati Art Market is the largest art market in Bali that has been established since the 1980s. This market is very famous among tourists both domestic and foreign because it sells various Balinese handicrafts at the lowest prices.
Come in the morning between 8-10 a.m. because traders will usually give you a low price. Don’t forget to bargain.
Ubud Art Market
Do you know the market where the film Eat, Pray, Love, starring Hollywood actress Julia Roberts took place? It is in the Ubud Art Market. Located in front of Puri Agung Saren, precisely at the intersection of Jalan Monkey Forest, this art market attracts tourists for its quality goods and relatively cheap prices.
Bali Guwang Market
This market is less popular compared to Sukawati Market. This market seems neater than Sukawati Market. However, one of the striking things is the large parking lot. The Guwang market is classified as new and was built to support the Sukawati Market.
Tourist buses can easily enter this market because of its big parking lot. The goods sold here are the same as Sukawati Market.
Kuta Art Market
Foreign tourists often buy Balinese shirts with rayon or thin cotton in this market. They usually buy the goods of their own personal needs, to be used during their vacation in Bali. The most sought-after product is a shirt bearing a local beer that is favored by Australian tourists.
This market is open from around 8 or 9 am and closes rather late at around 7 pm. It is close to Kuta Beach and Jalan Kartika Plaza.
Kumbasari Bali Market
This market is located close to the Badung Market. Kumbasari Market is famous as a wholesale market. Handicrafts that are usually sold as souvenirs at kiosks in Kuta and its surroundings are taken from Kumbasari Market.
If you are interested in buying in large quantities, this is the right place. However, buying in small quantities is not a problem. Kumbasari Market is located on Jalan Sulawesi, Denpasar, and is still in one area with the Badung Market.
Celuk Village
If you look for silver artisans, you need to go to the Celuk village. The Celuk Village is not too far from Sukawati Art Market. The distance is only 4 kilometers from Sukawati. Along the Celuk highway, there are galleries and workshops of gold and silver art.
Krishna
Having convenient shopping room facilities, super spacious parking, food court, to the refreshing area, Krisna is indeed suitable for your choice to buy souvenirs in Bali. Open 24 hours, and have several branches located respectively on Jalan Nusa Kambangan, Jalan Sunset Road and Jalan Raya Tuban near the Horse statue, this souvenir shop which was established in 2007 is indeed famous for being super complete to make it easier for you to choose according to taste and price.
Joger
Strategically located on Jalan Raya Kuta, 10 minutes from the airport, this shop was founded by Mr. Joseph Theodorus Wulianadi. The T-shirt produced by this company has captured the world’s attention because of its creativity and uniqueness. This souvenir shop is always full of visitors especially during the holiday season, Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, and before the New Year.
Erlangga
When talking about favorite places to buy souvenirs in Bali, Erlangga is the place you shouldn’t miss. The price of products sold in Erlangga is quite cheap and the quality is good. You can get pants, clothes, shirts, barong clothes, bags, sandals, belts, various souvenirs, and paintings.
Good quality doesn’t have to be expensive. If you know the right place to shop and know how to bargain, surprisingly, you can get good items at a reasonable price. So, are you ready to shop?