Imported used goods gain attention in Batam

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

Used goods coming from the neighboring country Singapore are now hot items in Batam. Not only are the prices cheap, the quality is also good -- as most of them are no more than two years old.

From kerosene lamps to refrigerators and laptop computers, just name it, are all available at Tanjung Sengkuang, the city's well-known center for used goods.

Located on the northern tip of Batam, far and remote from the city's center, this flea market which houses some 200 kiosks is always crowded with customers. The products are easily viewed in front of each kiosk, even if one only wants to window shop.

A community elder in Tanjung Sengkuang, Daeng, 68, said the used goods from Singapore started flooding the place somewhere in 1980s.

He said, back then, the used goods were simply spread out in the open, with only a few people coming to buy. But, now that there are more people residing in the city, the market has become a center for used goods. There are more traders here that earn a living through the business.

And the customers are not reluctant to come and buy.

"Used goods are all right as long as they are still of good quality," said a customer.

A couple entered a kiosk filled with used household utensils like frying pans, gas stoves and cutlery.

""How much is this gas stove?" asked the young woman to the kiosk's attendant while examining a branded gas stove. A brand new gas stove costs around Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000.

"It's Rp 75,000 but you can bargain," the attendant said.

After bargaining, the woman bought the stove for Rp 50,000.

According to Nasrul, 27, who is a trader of used computers at the flea market, orders and pays for the used goods on a large scale without knowing if the products are in good order or not.

"Once the bought products arrive in Batam, we sort them out," said Nasrul who sells a laptop computer between Rp 300,000 and Rp 3 million each. He makes a profit of between Rp 150,000 and Rp 300,000 daily and on holidays up to Rp 500,000 a day.

The trader believes his business has a bright future.

"There's always good demand for used goods and this will keep my business running which will help me feed my family," Nasrul said.

He said the products were mostly two years old since most Singaporeans only use the latest products.

The traders buy the products from a Singaporean and then the goods are transported from Singapore to Batam in several ways. Small-time vendors usually transport their products using medium- sized wooden boats, while the wealthy traders who buy large quantities of goods ship the goods in containers.

As Tanjung Sengkuang becomes more popular as a used goods center, other places such as Bengkong Sekend, Batu Aji and Jodohnow now offer similar products. But as Tanjung Sengkuang was the first, it also supplies used goods to the other three locations.

The presence of used goods markets has helped the industrial city's residents survive, as most of the workers are from the formal sector, like the electronic assembling industry. As the workers earn the standard minimum wage, they don't have much option but to buy secondhand products.

"Without the flea market, I could never own a 21-inch color television," said Iffah, a worker at an electronic company in Muka Kuning, Batam.

Everything she owns -- like dresses and even the mattress, were mostly bought at Tanjung Sengkuang.

"Used goods are fine as long as they are still in good condition. Otherwise, I would not be sleeping on a spring bed like this."