In Reply to: Doing Business in Bali posted by didiaust on Saturday, 7. February 2009 at 00:59 Bali Time:
The tourist walks into a shop to buy a sarong. He/she chooses a new design. Aduh, pak, in mahal sekali, soalnya dollar naik, bensin turun, adik sakit, tetannga lapar (O, sir, this is an expensive one, because the dollar rised in value, the gasonline is now cheaper, my little brother is ill, my neigbour is hungry...) It costs 150,000 rupiah. The tourists knows a bit more about it all, so decides to negociate. He says: "20,000 rupiah. The shop owner replies: "O NOOOO sir!!! Bankrupt!!! 120,000 rupiah is the best price, but just for you, bos!!! I like you, my friend...." The tourist repeats his offer, now a but higher, but at last leaves without buying. He goes to the shop next door and after negotiating he gets the same kind of sarong for 22,000 rupiah. Walking out of that shop, the first shop owner sees him and asks "for how much did you buy??" After hearing the answer he goes: "o, ok, you could have bought it for the same price with me"...........(?????)
A foreigner, married to an Indonesian, wants to get a haircut. His brother-in-law informs with the local barbershop how much a haircut is. 5,000 answers the person in charge. After 5 minutes the foreigner walks in. Hello, I want a haircut, he says in fluent Indonesian. Ok, sir, you know how much it costs? Yes, answers the foreigner, 5,000 rupiah. O no, sir, the price is 30,000 rupiah. No, says the foreigner, it is 5,000 rupiah. No, sir, that is the old price from a long long time ago. Ok, the foreigner says, that price was quoted 5 minutes ago to my brother-in-law..... Well, your brother in law is Indonesian, you are not. Feeling discriminated the foreigner asks what is wrong with his hair, his origin etc. No answer of course. Can I talk to the owner, the foreigner asks... sorry sir, I can not disturb the owner, he is sleeping.....
And obviously no haircut there, never ever anymore.
Many more of these stories to tell, but this sketches a bit the mentality.
Thanks for your reply anyway.