Gold rush windfall over for city jewelry buyers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While most of the country is pleased with the
\nnascent economic recovery, many jewelry buyers who offer their
\nservices on the streets of the city view the burgeoning economy
\nas the end to their businesses.<\/p>\n
Several such businessmen around Senen Market in Central
\nJakarta and Jatinegara Market in East Jakarta said on Friday
\ntrade was slowing because people sold their belongings, including
\njewelry, only when the economy was at its lowest, as was the case
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
\"I got nearly no money in the past few days,\" Krisman Sitorus,
\na jewelry buyer at Senen Market, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"If this persists for much longer, I will probably return to
\nmy hometown in Balige, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
\"What can I do in such a big city with, say, a daily income of
\nRp 3,000,\" Sitorus, a former security guard at a car dealership,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said on Thursday he only had one customer, who sold him a
\npair of three-gram gold earrings.<\/p>\n
\"I only make a profit of Rp 1,000 per gram. I resell the goods
\nto an agent who melts the gold to make new jewelry,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The father of two, who entered the business last year after he
\nwas fired from his previous job due to the economic crisis, said
\nthe situation had reached the point where some weeks he only had
\none or two customers.<\/p>\n
Another purchaser, Ramli, said the golden age for his
\nprofession was when the value of gold peaked following the plunge
\nof the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. At one point, the rupiah
\nfell to 17,000 to the greenback.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, we could sometimes earn between Rp 200,000 and
\nRp 300,000 a day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ramli said he was able to save Rp 4 million during those heady
\ntimes. \"But the money was used to support my family and pay the
\nrent on my house.\"<\/p>\n
Jewelry buyers can be found across the city, particularly in
\nareas near jewelry stores, including Senen, Pasar Baru, Cikini
\nand Sawah Besar in Central Jakarta, and Pasarminggu in South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
These businesspeople purchase jewelry which has been rejected
\nby jewelry stores for various reasons. They also reportedly are
\nwilling to buy goods from thieves.<\/p>\n
However, Sitorus denied this allegation, saying dealing with
\ncriminals was too risky.<\/p>\n
\"The police will come and interrogate us if they arrest the
\nthieves, while the goods have already been sold to an agent,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sitorus said he helped those who found themselves in financial
\ndifficulties. \"Sometimes there are students who desperately need
\nmoney and sell their jewelry because they haven't received money
\nfrom their parents.\"<\/p>\n
A purchaser near Jatinegara, R. Sitompul, was optimistic
\nbusiness would remain brisk even if the economy continued to
\nimprove.<\/p>\n
\"I will still do the job. When the economy was normal in the
\npast, people continuously changed their jewelry. This means we
\nstill have hope,\" he said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gold-rush-windfall-over-for-city-jewelry-buyers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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