Scalpers at bus station

Scalpers at bus station

From Neraca

On Sunday evening, Nov. 4, 1994 we went to Kuningan, West Java, for a holiday. When we attempted to buy bus tickets at Pulogadung Station at the designated ticket booth, we were told the tickets were sold out. Later we were surprised to learn that scalpers dominate the station. They sell tickets with a 35 to 50 percent markup. The asking price was Rp 6000, up from Rp 4500 for Jakarta-Cirebon, West Java.

On the day I was traveling the middlemen peddled the overpriced tickets virtually by force, even pointing a knife at passengers already on the bus. The driver and conductor could do nothing about it. The passengers, intimidated, had no choice but to accept the deal.

TINA

Jakarta