crosskeyscottage wroteOpening a small resort this summer and coming from Europe where we were used to discounts when bulk purchasing. We are new to Bali buisiness and its suppliers. Any pointers please for buying electrical (t.v's, d.v.d's, fridges,etc) nice sofabeds etc etc etc, (we have the general furniture bit covered already).
Any good suppliers out there offering quanity discounts?
From my experience you need to first get a realistic price (say at Carrafour, Hypermarket-Galaria, Lotte Mart, which are in the Sunset Road/Bypass area of Bali) and then take a few days out to visit the electrical stores in Denpasar. The usual place for lowish prices has been Bali Electonic Centre, Jalan Teuku Umar, Denpasar, but there is a brand new place opposite, on the same road you should visit. Huge, 4 stories high, all glass, with (tiny) underground parking, which has some surprisingly low prices just at the moment. Most importantly, the staff in this new place are very helpful and willing to show you a range of goods. In Bali Electronic Centre, in my experience, staff are not in the bit interested.
As for furniture, you may find that you get better quality at the price you are willing to pay if you have it made, rather than the standard European way of buying what is displayed. Do not expect to get 'shop soiled' prices like Europe. You get what you see. It is 'buyer beware'. If you go to the tourist areas, expect to pay tourist prices...but also expect to see some amazing designs. Take a camera and tape measure. Photograph the furniture WITH the tape in view in case there is any question afterwards about what sizes were used. (inches and centimeters ARE different!).
We have friends that took photos of everything they wanted, got a price for each, then arranged for their Balinese staff to negoticate a better price, including delivery, and in the process got around 20% reduction in the prices they were originally quoted. The most difficult thing to find out is, in my opinion, what is the realist price should be. The other option it is to say, I will only spend RP X million on that item, then if you get the item for less, yippy! If the price is too high, walk away. If you are not asked back, then it may be time to revise your estimate. Don't rush. Treat the whole buying experience as part of the 'getting to know Bali'.
Good luck and I hope your venture is successful.
Barekarma
