`Higher prices, less money for vendors'
The price of staple foods is rocketing ahead of the Idul Fitri celebration. But this does not mean that vendors in traditional markets are enjoying large profits. On the contrary, they have been complaining about slow business, as told to The Jakarta Post.
Amat Jaelani, 52, is a trader who has sold chicken at Pasar Ikan traditional market, North Jakarta, since 1972. He lives with his wife and eight children at Pluit Dalam, North Jakarta:
My business has been so sluggish this Ramadhan.
Last year, I sold 75 to 100 whole chickens per day, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Now it's getting much harder. I still start selling chickens at 5 a.m. and continue to 2 p.m. or later. I have only been able to sell 35 at the most. They sell at Rp 9,700 per kilogram (kg), or Rp 11,400 per bird.
Before Ramadhan I sold chicken at Rp 8,700 per kg, or Rp 10,000 to Rp 11,000 per bird. At that time I could sell 30 to 70 birds per day.
The price increase does not necessarily mean an increase in our income. In fact, my income has gone down as I've made less profit due to the higher prices. Fewer customers are interested in buying. I can only make about Rp 200 to Rp 300 profit on each bird.
I don't know why business is as slow as this. Perhaps last month's bombing in Bali has caused it.
Regarding the current situation, you'd be wrong if you thought that vendors made a huge profit from the higher prices -- no way!
Suharto, 38, has been a vegetable vendor at Cengkareng market, West Jakarta, for three years. He comes from Semarang and lives in Rawa Buaya, West Jakarta, with his wife and two children:
The fasting month is a really tough time for me as a vendor, and maybe for all my fellow vendors too. It's difficult to cope with the price increases on all commodities here.
On a total Rp 1.6 million turnover per day, I earn only about Rp 40,000 in profit. That's less than I'd make on a normal day, when the net profit reaches Rp 80,000.
Don't think that ahead of Idul Fitri the price increases will automatically mean increased profits for us. It's simply not true.
My profit is only about Rp 200 to Rp 500 per kg, depending on the item.
I make only a small profit for fear of losing my loyal customers. To my mind, my customers are just like brothers and sisters who form a mutually supportive relationship.
In addition, there's a kind of tradition among traders here to give free a little bit extra of the items that customers order. We do it on purpose to please them during the holy month.
Fitri, 32, is a vegetable vendor at the housing complex in Pasar Kemis, Tangerang. She is divorced, while her two children live in Kebumen, Central Java, with her parents:
I wonder how lower-income people can get by as it is getting harder to earn money, particularly during the fasting month this year.
I feel a bit depressed that I have to spend twice as much on stock compared with normal days. Usually I spend around Rp 400,000 per day but now its more or less Rp 900,000.
Worse still, the more I've spent, the less profit I've made, just recently. I think it's hard to make even Rp 30,000 per day.
It's almost impossible to make much of a profit as I'm afraid of scaring off my customers. So, I try my best to make a little under these circumstances. Fortunately, the price of meat and fresh fish has remained relatively more stable than other items so I can make enough of a profit.
Suhar, 50, is a chicken vendor at Sumur Batu traditional market, Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta. He is married and has four children:
Last year I was able to sell more or less 250 chickens per day. But now I can sell only 50 per day, which is the same as my sales on normal days.
I think people have less money to spend these days, given the current economic situation. I guess people tend to live more simply than they used to.
I mean, perhaps many don't wish to spend too much on something not deemed essential, like chicken.
If the country has really entered the reform era, why do we still suffer as we do?
-- Leo Wahyudi S