Great sales puts items up for grabs until July 14

JAKARTA (JP): Attention ardent shoppers. The Jakarta Great Sales '97 is underway, and about 50 shopping centers and malls around the city will offer tempting discounts ranging from 5 to 70 percent until July 14.

The month-long event, the first in Jakarta, is organized by the municipality in celebration of the city's 470th anniversary today. It is also expected to boost sales of Indonesian products, promote Jakarta as an international trade and tourism center and attract local and foreign tourists.

Clothing piled high in boxes with discount signs marked in big red letters greet shoppers at most malls. Bags, shoes, accessories and even furniture are also on sale, which may be as big a draw as the freezing air-conditioning systems in this sweltering climate.

An Abang and None couple (Mr. and Miss Jakarta) await shoppers at every entrance of Pasaraya department store in Blok M, South Jakarta, bearing traditional Betawi ornaments of colorful cut crepe paper affixed to palm leaf ribs. The ornaments, which have two candies stuck to them, are presented to many Pasaraya visitors.

Yulin, a businesswoman who shops in Pasaraya, praised the Jakarta Great Sales. "For the customers, it's a good event."

Almost all of the women's apparel in Pasaraya is discounted at between 10 to 50 percent. Most of the dresses and suits tagged with the highest discount were dirty and old stock.

A sales assistant in Pasaraya's shoes section, Yanti told The Jakarta Post that she could sell between 10 and 15 pairs of shoes daily during the great sale period, compared to usual sales of between three and eight pairs a day.

"Not all of the 50 shoe counters in the shoe department offers discounts," Yanti said. "Current stock is discounted between 10 and 20 percent, and old stock is discounted by 40 percent."

Shoppers will find paltry discounts in the traditional handicrafts and ethnic clothing section.

But all sales are a guaranteed magnet for shoppers. During lunch hours on weekdays, the shopping mall swarms with employees of nearby companies making the best of their break to browse for choice buys.

"I bought a branded passport holder for just Rp 84,000, down about 30 percent from its original price of Rp 120,000," exclaimed Ani, a shopper at Plaza Indonesia.

Like Ani, many other people take advantage of the great sales to buy the international brand name items which would usually be out of their budget.

"Some famous branded clothes are on sale. This is the best time to buy my favorite American designers'," said Ima, a young, energetic Jakartan.

In Pondok Indah Mall, an optical store offers 50 percent discounts on some frames. Many other stores also offer discounts while cosmetic stands have perfumes, body lotion, deodorant, facial cosmetics and lipstick packaged in attractive bags with reduced prices. Revlon, for instance, gives shoppers one free lip conditioner for every two lipsticks purchased.

A woman who sometimes hunts for bargains in Singapore looked satisfied with the items she purchased at the Metro department store in Pondok Indah.

"The Metro department stores here looks more beautiful than the ones in Singapore," she added.

A mother of three complained about the quality of goods at the Metro department store in Plaza Indonesia.

"The children's clothes and toys offered at 50 percent discounts are in poor condition. Some shirts and skirts are torn." (10/cst)