The Many Faces of Shopping in Jakarta

From streets lined with antiques to markets filled with name brand knock-offs there are thousands of shopping opportunities in Jakarta. We have Tokopedia, instead of Amazon, pasars instead of downtown shops and wet markets instead of grocery stores. There is one thing we do have that is just like the US. We have MALLS! Malls on every corner that make the Mall of America look like the Manchester Parkade! (The tiny mall of my hometown:-) There are over 170 different malls within the city limits of Jakarta! There are a limited number of public spaces in this city and malls tend to be the weekend destination of its inhabitants. The malls are not just for brand name shopping. They are THE place for dining, children’s activities, movie theaters, drinking coffee, hanging out with friends and even grocery shopping. Many malls even have direct access to large apartment complexes and hotels. People who stay and live in these places really don’t have to leave home for anything at all! This is one way people deal with the terrible traffic situation in Jakarta.

Of course, the malls don’t always have the best prices and there is no bartering in the malls! If you want to get the best deals, or just to try your hand at bargaining, you must visit the pasars (markets). There are multilevel pasars here which are essentially malls filled with small kiosks. You can visit a brand name knock-off pasar, an electronics pasar, a fabric pasar, an antique pasars, a flower pasar, and even a pet pasar! If you can name it, you can find it somewhere in Jakarta.

As a bule (caucasian foreigner), the price they give me will always be the highest. I always offer about 30-50% of what they are asking and start the bargaining from there. It is always good natured and played like a game. I’m getting better at walking away if I don’t get the price I want. If the shopkeeper isn’t willing to go any lower they will always let me leave with a smile. No pressure!

In Jakarta one doesn’t really have to go farther than the street outside their door to do shopping! Entrepreneurs set up their small warung (family business) or peddle their goods by cart or bicycle! Need a pair of pants altered? Just look for a sewing machine. Need a snack? You can’t walk 5 feet without spotting a food vendor. Need fresh fruit? No need to fight traffic to the grocery store. How about gas? It’s on every corner…..just don’t expect an Exxon!

I cannot forget the bazaars! Leading up to Christmas there were bazaars for expats almost every weekend. These charity bazaars are hosted by the many women’s associations and the local international schools. They are usually held in hotels and convention centers and are made up of of booths filled with handmade local products. There are hundreds of fun and different items and most of the bazaars are held to raise money for underprivileged children and adults in Jakarta. I always find new and interesting items at the bazaars.

As you can imagine in a city of over 10 million people, there is a buyer for every item, and of course, a seller to match! No matter what type of item or shopping experience you are looking for, it can be found here. Come to Jakarta with patience and a smile and you will be blessed with great deals and happy shopping!