Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – One thing that definitely happens when making transactions in traditional markets is bargaining. Usually there is 'fighting' between traders and buyers, especially women.
Buyers want to buy goods at the lowest possible price. Meanwhile, traders are the opposite. This situation is indeed annoying. Interestingly, European traders who traded hundreds of years ago in Indonesia also experienced the same thing.
For the record, Europeans are used to carrying out trade transactions systematically. The price offered cannot be tampered with because it is based on market mechanisms. On this basis, buyers never bid.
However, this habit disappeared when making transactions in the Southeast Asian market, including Indonesia.
Denys Lombard in Nusa Java Cross Culture (1996) explains, Europeans are often irritated by the bargaining transactions that are customary in Asian societies. This irritation is understandable because they are immigrants who do not understand the local language and customs.
As a result, they consider it tiring and unnecessary. Moreover, sometimes they are given high prices by sellers just because they are foreigners. Therefore, they often consider themselves victims of fraud due to bargaining transactions.
“Asian custom requires paying attention to the social relations that exist between the seller and the buyer. So it is considered completely lawful for the rich, especially foreigners, to pay more for the same goods,” said Lombard.
So, who is the central figure in market transactions and price bargaining?
The answer is women. This refers to Anthony Reid's explanation in Southeast Asia in the Commercial Period 1450-1680, Volume 1 (1992) who stated that since the 15th century market activities in Southeast Asia have been heavily dominated by women. So Europeans were annoyed and did not move when faced with women who were good at haggling over prices.
This habit is common because women, whether as buyers or traders, are given the authority by men to manage household finances. Reid quotes local writers' notes about women's activities and their actions in haggling over prices.
Take for example in Siam (now Thailand) in the 15th century, where it was common practice that all trade transactions were handled by women. Meanwhile, in Maluku in the 16th century, women were given the authority to bargain, open businesses and other buying and selling activities.
Likewise in 17th century Java. Women are entrusted by their husbands to manage finances and buying and selling because men are usually stupid when it comes to managing money.
“Early traders from Europe and China were forever amazed that they had to deal with women,” says Anthony Reid.
Even so, the attitude of Europeans who are reluctant to bargain also makes local residents annoyed. This happened in Maluku as explained by Anthony Reid in Southeast Asia in the Commercial Period 1450-1680, Volume 2 (1992).
At that time, Dutch people wanted to buy goods at a fixed price determined based on their own wishes. Maluku traders don't want to do that because it's not customary. They want a bargain. However, because the Dutch changed this habit, local residents became reluctant to plant and trade cloves with them.
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