What didn't you bring here that you wish you had...?

[tihzho]

It is very hard to compare any large retailer located in Indonesia to their namesakes in Western countries. IKEA Indonesia is nothing like the IKEAs in the West just as ACE Indonesia is nothing like ACE USA. ACE Indo is nothing but a price gouging Kris store. IKEA an outlet for the prettier Chinese procucts with a few European products tossed in.

Comparing prices, it is in all likelihood the shipping cost and taxes on the procucts coming in that limit them and cause the overpricing to the consumers.

And these are "bule western things" so you pay the "bule pricing". I haven't gone to the IKEA here for one reason, traffic, shoot me first!

 

[Tupai Hitam]

Shipping and taxes/import fees certainly add to the pricing. But from what I have seen in ACE, it is no excuse. They are grossly overpriced no matter what the add ons are, and in my opinion very shoddy products for the most part. I really can't understand how they stay in business.

A good barometer for the quality/value of Ace Hardware is its outlet on Jalan Gajah Mada, as it is alongside Chinatown. It is mostly empty (usually has more staff than shoppers), as there are better quality and much cheaper items to be found in Glodok. Local Chinese say Ace is just overpriced junk and that only fools would shop there. I buy my termicide at Ace.

After visiting Ace Gajah Mada, you can go downstairs to the Grand Lucky to pick up all the imported sugar drinks. Or you could just be sensible and drink water instead.

 

[jstar]

And these are "bule western things" so you pay the "bule pricing". I haven't gone to the IKEA here for one reason, traffic, shoot me first!

And you live on the 'right' side of the city!

Was looking at some Hemnes in the online catalog and the price is €289 in western Europe. The same item is 5.490.000 IDR over here. So that means it is €80 (1,2 juta) more expensive over here.

 

[jstar]

Being an ex carpenter and building contractor .., I wish I had ; My complete extensive range of top tradesman quality tools (from building to mechanical) which 10 years later on I am still hoping to one day ship over,

I'm sick to death trying to 'make do' (and botching things LOL) with a cheap crappy multi wrench and a saw that should belong in a Childs pretend tool kit.

I am also a bit of a tool nut, I had a very impressive range of both contraction and mechanics tools. When I left the UK to go back packing around Australia I put them into storage in my dads garden shed - one thing led to another (as it usually does) and after being away 20 years I was visiting my parents in the UK, Dad decided to have a sort out of the shed "to see what I wanted to keep" after 20 years in a damp leaky shed they had all turned to a lump of solid rust. Totally heartbreaking as I had built the collection up over years and it cost a lot of money. Heartbreaking because we ended up throwing 98% of it away.

In Lindeteves (Trade Center) though, they even sell high end brands like Hilti or Rothenberger (mechanical tools). These are in western countries only available to professionals. And Estwing, Makita, DeWalt, Kärcher, etc. aren't that bad either. Also the Bosch blue line is available for prosumers here, unlike the green line only in DIY stores in the west.

I did ship my Kress saw but forgot to take the Lie Nielsen chisels (again).

 

[godmachine12]

My wife was quite put out with IKEA, we went to buy some wall lamps and a few other bits, she was quite horrorfied to find it was all made in China and not Sweden, she was not going to buy, but I told most other stores would be Chinese so while we are here we will buy it, had a bit of a sulk, but she's over it now

Of course the goods aren't made in Sweden. If they were, the prices would be astronomical.

 

[godmachine12]

Thanks for the explanation. Not surprising I had no idea what they were. Upper body stuff is a road less traveled for me.

If you train even remotely seriously, they are well worth buying.

 

[nosox]

and what did you bring that you wish you'd sold before you came. For me its some air tools that I will probably never use again. I doubt any mechanic here would want to buy them as they are kinda high end