Bali Buying Trips
Bali buying trip: every day planned before you land
Most people who visit Bali to source products waste the first two days in the wrong places. They take recommendations from their hotel, wander into showrooms that look nice, and spend a lot of time looking at things they don’t need. By day three, they’ve run out of time. A properly planned buying trip is completely different.
What I do before you arrive
- Review your brief, product requirements, and price expectations
- Research and shortlist suppliers from my network
- Pre-screen suppliers that match your needs, and filter out the ones that don’t
- Create a structured itinerary by geographic area to minimize travel time
- Brief suppliers on your visit so they’re prepared, not improvising on the day
What the trip looks like
- Private, focused visits to 4–6 suppliers per day depending on distance and product complexity
- I translate, negotiate, and ask the questions you might not know to ask
- We photograph everything: products, workshops, materials, samples
- After each visit, I give you my honest read on the supplier
- At the end of each day, we review what we’ve seen and refine the plan for tomorrow
After you leave
- I follow up with suppliers on any expressions of interest
- I negotiate final pricing and terms on your behalf, as your Bali buying agent
- I manage samples and production once orders are placed, including factory and supplier visits while the work is being made
What a buying trip costs
Two days minimum at USD 300, paid in advance to confirm your dates. Additional days are USD 150 each. That is the total. It covers airport and hotel pickup and drop-off, all driving anywhere in Bali, my pre-trip research and the itinerary I build before you arrive.
If you place an order, you get the fee back on a sliding scale, credited against my commission. From USD 10,000 in goods I credit half the trip fee. From USD 15,000, three quarters. From USD 20,000, the whole fee, up to a maximum credit of USD 600, which is a four day trip. Order value means the products themselves, not the freight.
My commission itself is 15% on the value of the goods, excluding shipping. That is the rate for everyone, whatever the size of the order. See Bali sourcing agent for what that covers.
A note on who buying trips work best for: First-time buyers visiting Bali to source seriously, not casually. Repeat buyers expanding to new categories. Interior designers on specific project briefs. Hotel and villa projects and importers looking to diversify their supplier base. If you’re looking for a tourist shopping experience, this isn’t that.
Frequently asked questions
How many suppliers can we visit in a day?
Typically 4–6 in the same region, or fewer if suppliers are spread across the island. I plan routes geographically to avoid spending half the day in a car.
What does a buying trip cost?
Two days minimum at USD 300, paid in advance to confirm your dates. Additional days are USD 150 each. That covers everything: airport and hotel pickup and drop-off, all driving anywhere in Bali, my pre-trip research and the itinerary I build before you arrive.
Do I get the trip fee back if I order?
Yes, on a sliding scale, credited against my commission. From USD 10,000 in goods I credit 50%. From USD 15,000, 75%. From USD 20,000, the whole trip fee, capped at USD 600. Order value means the products themselves, not the freight. The credit is valid for 6 months after your trip.
What if I need to change my dates?
Tell me and we move them. The booking fee transfers to new dates within 6 months, and longer if you let me know. It is not refundable, because the research and the supplier briefing start as soon as you book.
Can we go to Java?
By arrangement. Java is not drivable from Bali in a day, so it means flights. You cover the flights, accommodation and expenses, plus the normal day rate. Tell me what you are looking for and I will tell you whether the trip is worth making.
Can I combine a buying trip with placing orders?
Absolutely, most clients do. Some orders are placed during the trip, others are followed up once you’re back home based on samples and photos.
Plan a buying trip to Bali
Tell me when you’re coming and what you’re looking for. I’ll build an itinerary that makes every day count.