The questions people actually ask me, answered honestly

How do I start working with ExportBali?

Send me a WhatsApp message or fill in the contact form with a brief description of what you’re looking for and where you’re shipping to. I’ll respond within a few hours during Bali business hours (WITA, UTC+8) and ask any questions I need to give you a useful answer.

Do I need to visit Bali to work with you?

No. Most of my clients work with me remotely and never visit Bali. I handle everything on the ground and communicate with photos, videos, and regular updates throughout. If you do visit, I can arrange a structured buying trip around your needs.

What exactly do you do, and what do I still have to do myself?

I find and vet the supplier, negotiate, brief the workshop in Bahasa Indonesia, inspect the goods, prepare the export paperwork, and coordinate the cargo. You choose what you want, approve the photos before anything loads, and clear customs at your end. Bali sourcing services sets out each part in detail.

What information do you need from me before you start?

A product description or photos, your destination country, approximate quantities, and your target price range if you have one. You don’t need a perfect brief. I’ll ask the right questions from there.

What products do you source from Bali?

Furniture, indoor and outdoor, in teak, rattan and bamboo. Natural stone (paras stone, lavastone, limestone), building materials (tiles, pavers, stone cladding), home decor, handicrafts, lighting, garden ornaments, and some textiles.

Can you source custom products to my specifications?

Yes, and I do this regularly. Bali’s workshops are generally well-equipped for custom production, particularly for furniture and stone products. I manage the brief in Bahasa Indonesia to ensure your specifications are understood precisely, not interpreted.

Do you only source from Bali?

Primarily yes. Bali is where my expertise and network are concentrated. For some product types I can advise on the right source elsewhere in Indonesia, and in some cases arrange sourcing through trusted contacts on Java. But Bali is where I can truly vouch for supplier quality and relationships.

How do you charge?

I charge a commission of 15% on the value of the goods, excluding shipping. That is the rate for everyone. There are no hidden fees and no supplier kickbacks. What you see is what I charge, and it is written into my terms and conditions.

Can you negotiate better prices than I’d get directly with suppliers?

Usually yes. Long-term relationships mean I get consistent pricing that reflects a history of reliable business. I also negotiate in Bahasa Indonesia, which removes the language premium that suppliers sometimes add for foreign buyers dealing directly.

Do you add a markup to supplier prices?

No. My fee is a transparent commission, not a hidden markup on what the supplier charges. You get the supplier’s actual price plus my clearly disclosed fee. I show you both.

How do I know I won’t get scammed?

The key protection is that I handle payments, or verify payment processes, and I inspect goods before they ship. You don’t pay a supplier and hope for the best. I’m the buffer between your money and a bad outcome. My 20+ years of relationships mean I only work with suppliers I’ve vetted, and they know my standards.

What if the goods that arrive aren’t what I ordered?

This is exactly what the approval step is designed to prevent. When your items are finished I inspect them at the workshop, photograph the actual goods, and send the photos to you. Nothing is collected or loaded until you have seen them and confirmed. If there’s a discrepancy, it gets resolved before the container is loaded, not when you’re unpacking at your end.

What happens if a problem occurs after shipping?

I don’t disappear when something goes wrong. Damage caused in transit is a matter for the carrier and the freight insurer, and I supply the documents you need for that claim. If there’s a genuine production fault that was not visible in the photos you approved, I take it up with the supplier: a local repair capped at my commission on that item, a replacement travelling with your next shipment, or a credit of that commission. This is rare, and it is set out in full in my terms and conditions.

How long does shipping from Bali take?

Sea freight to Australia: 10–18 days. To Europe (Germany, Netherlands, UK, France): 28–35 days. To USA West Coast: 20–28 days. Air freight is 3–8 days to most destinations. These are approximate times from Bali port to destination port. Add customs clearance and local delivery at your end.

What’s the difference between FCL and LCL?

FCL (Full Container Load) means you fill an entire 20ft or 40ft container exclusively. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods are consolidated with other cargo in a shared container. FCL is more cost-efficient per cubic metre at volume; LCL is better for smaller shipments that don’t fill a container.

Do I need a customs broker in my country?

Yes. I handle the Indonesian export side. Your customs broker or freight forwarder handles import clearance at your end. For most importing countries this is a standard requirement, and your forwarder can usually arrange it as part of their service.

What export documents does my shipment need?

Every shipment needs: commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin. Wood and timber products additionally need phytosanitary certificates and fumigation documentation for most Western markets. I prepare all of these correctly, as standard.

Is it legal to export teak furniture from Bali?

Yes. Indonesian plantation teak is legal to export with correct timber certification (SVLK legal timber certificate). I work only with suppliers using legal-origin, documented timber. The documentation is part of every furniture shipment I manage.

Do you handle antiques?

No. Genuine antiques (over 50 years old) are subject to strict Indonesian export regulations and require government permits that are difficult to obtain. I don’t work with antique sourcing. The risk of export complications is too high and the legal exposure is not something I’m willing to take on.