Flea markets for the poor

Flea markets for the poor

By Hera Diani

JAKARTA (JP): Flea markets often surprise us by offering
things that cannot be found in supermarkets, shopping malls or
other stores. That if you do not mind using or wearing used
items.

Try strolling along the Kebayoran Lama market in South
Jakarta.

Located beneath an overpass, you will find dozens of stalls
selling second-hand goods.

From shoes, electric guitars and bedcovers to electric fans,
cassettes and bicycles, its all here.

If you take a good look at each stall, you might find
something unique or funky, such as a floral silk vest with fur
for only Rp 25,000 (US$2.30). Of course, you can bargain.

In other stalls you can find shocking pink fabric covered with
Chinese symbols, a record as old as your grandfather and silver
jewelry. All at negotiable prices.

Most of the items are in good enough condition, considering
that they are second-hand goods. Except for the sheets and
blankets, many of which are faded and stained.

A vendor named Ginting, who sells bedclothes, said he
purchases his goods from a Korean.

"We bought them from this distributor who sells them in bales.
A bale contains over a hundred bedcovers or pieces of clothing
and costs some Rp 1.25 million ($113.64)," he told The Jakarta
Post on Tuesday.

Other vendors, such as Marbun, get most of their goods from
shopping centers.

"Items that haven't sold for a long time are sold to us. So,
practically, the stuff is new," said Marbun, who sells mostly
shoes at his stall.

"I also often look around for stuff. Or sometimes I purchase
things from individuals who come here," he said, pointing to a
collection of men shoes, guitars and various types of rackets.

The shoes at Marbun's stall are priced from Rp 20,000 to Rp
125,000, while the guitars go from Rp 100,000 to over Rp 400,000.

With such prices it's no wonder that people, especially those
from the lower income brackets, go to flea markets instead of
department stores.

A housewife named Ida and her son were seen looking for shoes.
She said she went to flea markets to find items for her children,
adding that the quality of the goods at flea markets was
satisfactory.

"But the main reason, of course, is because it's cheap," she
told the Post.

Marbun worked for the Oil and Gas Institute before being fired
when the economic crisis hit the country. He said he opened a
stall at a flea market in Taman Puring park in Kebayoran Baru,
South Jakarta, some three years ago.

When the South Jakarta mayoralty decided to evict vendors from
the park, Marbun, along with the other vendors, moved to the
Kebayoran Lama flea market, opening his stall here on April 5
last year.

Many vendors have complained that there are few customers at
this new location. And compared to Taman Puring, the Kebayoran
Lama market is indeed difficult to reach.

If you come in your own vehicle, finding a parking space is a
chore. And with public transportation, you have to go through the
traffic jam in front of the market and then walk 500 meters or
so.

"Now I only earn some Rp 50,000 or less a day. I used to earn
more than that in Puring," Marbun said.

Ginting said he had the same experience. Other vendors,
however, said it made no difference whether they had their stalls
in Taman Puring or Kebayoran Lama.

"Both are good. These days, though, there are few customers,
but I don't think it's because of the place, but because of the
crisis," said one vendor.(hdn)