In Reply to: Sukawati ?? posted by bunbury gal on Friday, 25. February 2005 at 18:24 Bali Time:
Sukawati Pasar (bazaar) is not fixed priced, but it is next to a-city-block-and-a-half FULL of stores in competition. You don't have to be good at bargaining in many of the stores; you just have to ask the price and slowly walk away as you mull it over. They usually give you a price closer to the best price as you move on to the next store/stall.
One or two bargaining tricks could serve people well. Being able to say "Berapa" / "Brapa" and understand the number system gets prices down fast, but I don't expect many short-timers to take the time to learn the numbers.
My wife and I work as a pretty good team with one of us saying, "C'mon honey! Let's check somewhere else."
I've heard of others asking for the "morning price", "beach market price" etc. , but My wife and I just pretend they aren't listening as we talk about how much we paid for something in Kintamani etc.
It's ironic, but one of your best bargaining tricks won't work in Sukawati. That trick is talking about "going to Sukawati to check out the prices there!"
Believe me when I say that I am usually happy to pay a little more than the lowest price to save myself some time and give the locals a bit more profit. My wife loves to bargain and is a cut-throat negotiator. If your offer is too low, they won't sell and may plead with, "Meee bahnkroot!" (= I will go bankrupt.) Keep smiling and joking and with a sense of humor, it is enjoyable.
I must say that we went to Tootsies on the recommendation of BTR members( it's a fixed-price stall at Sanur beach market), and we walked out without buying anything in 3 minutes. Sorry, but Tootsies has a very poor selection, poor prices and is not worth going out of your way to get to.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO BARGAIN! And don't feel like "asking the price" means that you have "started the bargaining procedure." There is nothing wrong with telling people that something is nice and you like it; but it's a little out of your price range.