In Reply to: I agree with CBB posted by 4thetinlids on Wednesday, 15. June 2011 at 06:03 Bali Time:
It has been many years since we shopped at the bigger markets and not sure that this practise stills happens. Maybe the mobile phone has made runners obsolete.
Agung who used to be our regular driver confirmed our suspicions with us. A runner was a local (usually young boy) who follow you around the markets noting what you were looking at. They would then tell other runners what you were interested in and fellow runners would scurry off around the market letting stall owners who stocked similar merchandise that the tourists were coming and the prices given.
So where there is a will, there is a way for anyone to withdraw their commission from the walking ATMs.