Broken cookies still sell
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta is full of options for the entrepreneur.
If one cares to go the extra mile and project a good bargaining skill, canned cookies, commonly sold in supermarkets, can be bought on the street at about 30 percent from the shelf price.
Street vendors also sell broken, but not passed their expiry date, cookies for those not so meticulous about the condition of the biscuits they consume. These cookies are sold by the ounce, and are definitely cheaper from the ones sealed and intact inside cans.
Every year during Ramadhan, and close to Christmas, vendors line the streets in front of the Khong Guan cookies factory in Ciracas, offering a wide selection of biscuits, mainly from the factory.
Narwan, a vendor, said he took on the same business last year. During the off-holiday season, he makes money selling garments at the Pasar Rebo market.
"It's a pretty good business," he said. "And it's not difficult to sell, I've noticed that even people who are not from around this area came and bought the cookies."
Many customers, he noted, purchase in large amounts.
Canned cookies can be had for anywhere from Rp 10,000 to Rp 25,000, depending on their type; the broken ones, meanwhile, are sold at between Rp 3,000 to Rp 5,000 per ounce.
"At the breaking of the fast, we would usually have snacks beside the main course ... because the price is cheaper from the stores, I choose to get the cookies from here," said Maimunah, who just bought a can of wafer biscuits.
Not far from where she was standing, a group of women were selecting a variety of broken biscuits.
"It's not expired and it's still consumable, the only difference is that these biscuits are not packed in plastic or cans ... I see no reason why I shouldn't buy this," said Nursita, a resident of Ciracas.
She bought some of the canned biscuits to serve to her family and guest on Lebaran.
Meanwhile, according to the vendors, the busiest time arrives three days before the holiday.
"The price could go up a bit on those days," Narwan said. "But, of course, it's negotiable."