Bali is rife with vendors selling counterfeit goods, and plenty of Australians buy a range of fake items because prices are significantly lower.
While it has been easy for the average holidaymaker to tell which stores on the holiday island are legitimate, a new store taking Bali by storm is making things a bit murkier.
Dubbed Bali’s Kmart, Bandung Collection appears, at first glance, to be a sophisticated operation selling genuine goods.
However, there are counterfeit products dotted around each store, prompting the Australian Border Force to remind Australians of the risks of buying fake items and bringing them home.
“If a buyer purchases a fake, not only are they losing money on a cheap and bad quality product, but they’re buying something that is potentially dangerous that could cause harm to themselves, family and the wider community,” they told Yahoo Lifestyle.
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There are roughly a dozen Bandung Collection shops in the southern part of Bali, with one near Kuta and the Denpasar Airport.
According to Bali Live, you can find footwear, cosmetics, skincare, sunglasses, kids’ toys, stationery, office supplies, electronics, gloves, jewellery, and even bedding and towels inside.
In terms of Aussie dollars, you can get handbags for around $14.50, thongs for $5.14, and jeans for $18.20.
Former Melbourne resident Rick Creamer has been living in Bali for more than a year and told Yahoo Lifestyle why some Aussie travellers would love Bandung Collection.
“It’s just the same stuff that you’d buy on the street, but it’s set prices,” he said.
Do you have a Bali story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
Haggling is a cultural norm in places like Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam, and to some travellers it’s a fun sport to get a good price.
To others, it’s stressful and not enjoyable, and they might prefer a place where the price is set in stone.
Rick was flooded with messages after posting a video on social media about his visit to a Bandung Collection store.
“This is where I have been shopping for years,” said one traveller.
“Mixture of everything there. It’s not so big, very Indonesian, some prices are good, and some are a bit pricey.
“Glasses for $2.50, hats for $3, bags for $10. So much selection, and they have a pharmacy part with makeup, perfume, and body wash,” added another.
“I get my polarised glasses from here. I think they are around $10 and are really good for going to events, as you never mind if you scratch or lose them,” wrote a third.
Interestingly, Rick explained that Bandung’s introduction has caused a bit of a rift in Bali.
“It’s taking away from the street sellers, who are now sort of getting quite aggressive because their rents have gone up, and people aren’t buying from them,” he said.
Aussies warned over what they’ll find in Bandung Collection
Bandung Collection was created for Indonesians, not for tourists, and, as a result, the sizing reflects that vision.
While travellers can obviously shop there, it’s worth knowing that you might struggle to find clothing that’ll fit you.
“Aussies are not the smallest of people, so you get to get them going in, and they’re like, ‘Well, there’s no 5XL,'” he said.
“People wear 6-7-8-9XL shirts over here, and then they go to these shops and think it’s horrible because they haven’t got their sizes.”
Rick also explained that there’s an ethical conundrum that you’d have to weigh up when shopping there.
“[Bandung Collection] isn’t reliant on tourists, whereas the ones in the street markets, they’re reliant on tourists, because Indonesians don’t shop there,” he said.
But you also have to watch what you buy.
You can find loads of clothing items, as well as accessories, toys, suitcases, makeup and more. Source: Instagram/HeyRick
There are cheap knockoffs of well-known brands like Adidas, Nike, and Havaianas and while it might be a great idea to pick up something for less than a cup of coffee, it could come back to bite you.
There’s no telling whether the products meet Australia’s high mandatory standards.
“There are serious health, safety and environmental concerns over fake versions of products including children’s toys, cosmetics, batteries, and safety equipment.”
If Border Force catches you trying to bring in fake goods to Australia, the items will likely be seized.
The Australian government introduced a bill earlier this year that could make the importation of counterfeit goods an infringeable offence, with penalties of up to $4,950 for individuals.
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