Issues with a furniture producer in Bali

[Captain]

Hi,

I have a friend who have some issues with a bad furniture producer in Bali. Basically manufacturer produced very poorly 1 st time, took it back to Bali but want now balance of money before delivery but agreement was after delivery.

He said that if my friend does not pay balance now, he keeps his initial payment but if he pays balance, there are good chances to get a bad product (if he gets it).
My friend has no opportunity to go to Bali now and it does not worth to make a special trip there ?
Any advise ?

[waarmstrong]

The information you provided is a bit too sketchy to elicit meaningful comment. If you would name the offending company, perhaps members of the Forum could impart experiences with the particular manufacturer that would be instructive.

It would also be helpful to know the amount of money involved. If the money already invested is a substantial sum, it might be worthwhile to hire an agent in Bali to inspect the finished product to assure it meets your friend's standards before paying the balance.

[Captain]

The information you provided is a bit too sketchy to elicit meaningful comment. If you would name the offending company, perhaps members of the Forum could impart experiences with the particular manufacturer that would be instructive.

It would also be helpful to know the amount of money involved. If the money already invested is a substantial sum, it might be worthwhile to hire an agent in Bali to inspect the finished product to assure it meets your friend's standards before paying the balance.

for the name, I am not sure and I need to ask to my friend but for the price, I think total price was around Rp4 ml and half has been paid. I know it is not much and my friend believes that "it is Indonesia, it is the way things are here and nothing can be done, we have been f... up and let's move on..." but I still believe something should be done as it is not only a question of $ but of principles.

One thing is sure, I bought already several times in Bali and each time, I have been disappointed (broken items, poor quality, damages during transport) so I ended buying only in Jkt and found that with time, quality is much better and price quite reasonnable.

[stt_cibubur]

Well..I think its time to stop buying furniture from Bali if the quality is bad, better to send back to bali, ask for refurn or replacement. .. I never bought any furniture from different city and have it delivery it by land cargo...are you kidding?..the road is bad all the over java.. sure it will be wreck when it get to Jakarta. Best is just get it in Jakarta, go to the shop, see it, buy it..and take it home with you.

[Captain]

It is good to laught sometimes...

Guess what ? I heard recently that some companies ship their goods overseas (or all over Europe) by planes, ships or trucks and very luckily sometimes it is not damaged when it arrives !
The other day, I saw a bottle a Vodka in a Bar of Jakarta and it was truely made in Russia... and there were still vodka in the bottle since the glass was not broken. Is it a miracle ?

Alternatively, I can tell you that we travel from a country to another all over the world (from Europe to Asia and within various Asian countries) with all our personal belongings in a 40' container including mirrors, glass table, electronics. Professionnal movers pack and unpack everything and damages are generally extremely minors (almost none in fact) !

Have you heard that many items, furnitures and appliances sold in indonesia are made in China (it is a place a bit north of Bali) ?

We are talking about a professional company selling furnitures right, not college boys trying to make extra ! they should know what they can do and cannot do ? Furthermore, you may know that most items sold in Bali often come from.... central Java, travel to Bali and are exported from Bali by Balinese to many countries !

Basically and if I underdand your opinion, my friend is naive and unresponsible to believe that a company from Bali was able to manufacture correctly and make a proper packaging ?

Honestly, I can accept that some companies are unprofessional but I am a disappointed when I see an indonesian who think that it is mostly the customer who is at fault. How do you want one day your country to be prosper, your local companies to be efficient if customers can not even make pressure on them so they can improve their efficienty ?! when you try to protect them when they are at fault, you kill them. Do not be surprised if customers only trust foreign companies in Indonesia.

Thanks for your time

[waarmstrong]

Well..I think its time to stop buying furniture from Bali if the quality is bad, better to send back to bali, ask for refurn or replacement. .. I never bought any furniture from different city and have it delivery it by land cargo...are you kidding?..the road is bad all the over java.. sure it will be wreck when it get to Jakarta. Best is just get it in Jakarta, go to the shop, see it, buy it..and take it home with you.

My experience is the opposite of yours, stt_cibubur. I purchased several pieces from a company called Java Teak in Jepara, sight unseen (I know, risky) off the internet at a very good price -- much better than I was quoted in Jakarta for essentially the same thing. The shipment, by truck overland, arrived on time, without damage in transit.

What is really impressive about the company is this. On inspection, I found a very noticeable chip in a self-storing table leaf. I emailed the company about the defect and another small blemish. Shortly after the email, the company sent a carpenter from Jepara with a replacement leaf which he installed quickly and expertly. He fixed the other blemish as well and made some minor adjustments that I did not even ask for.

Perhaps Java Teak is the exception that proves the rule. Still, not all non-Jakarta furniture makers are quick buck artists. If you need/want teak patio furniture, I suggest you give this company an opportunity to compete for your business. The more success companies like Java Teak enjoy, the more likely they will be emulated.

[atlantis]

I purchased several pieces from a company called Java Teak in Jepara, sight unseen (I know, risky) off the internet at a very good price .

Do not hesitate to post the URL of this company. Good and reliable service deserves to be promoted.:cool:

[tobaman]

Hi all...bali is not that bad...customers only trust foreigners company?...have been doing business in bali for 12 years now, what i found that actually foreigners make lots of profit by getting/buying stuff from local producer then sell them with high prices in many countries...it's an up side down thought. As far as i know indonesia (include bali as one of the biggest contributor) is one of the largest and best producer of furniture to many countries in the world because the government policies are not as tight as other countries which makes wooden and other forest commodities cheaper to buy in indonesia means bigger profit can get. If bali manufacturers, expedition/cargo, dealers, sellers are that bad, how stupid are all the PMA companies and personal business peoples who run their business in bali and got millions of dollars from long time ago till NOW. Stuffs in Jakarta are also mostly from Java and Bali, Captain's friend was on the right way to buy from Bali, only their luck is may be not really good that time so they have to met a wrong supplier from other hundreds of good suppliers. Bad n good peoples not only live in Bali, it's happen everywhere around the world.

So let's back to the original poster intention that is to get an opinion on how to solve their problem if anybody has a good way/idea BUT not to make the problem wider and worst.

[stt_cibubur]

I never had problem with furniture because most of furniture in my house are made to order ( like kitchen cabinets, wardrobe etc.) I designed it and then they make it, I am happy with their work. I have 2 dining tables, 1 is form Vinoti and 1 is from Jova ( Nyatoh solid wood). I bought garden table with umbrella and six chair from Index ( Ace Hardware), they are ok.
I bought lots of stuff from Bali too but not furniture, its wood carving, masks.
Its not all the furniture from Bali are bad and not all from Jepara are good..there are so many different range and quality. If you have bad experience with one co., you should look for another one, better, reputable one.

[satrio]

Hi bro and sis,
It nice to find this forum, just spend Sunday. Bali, Jepara, and other city is too early to claim that the product which has been produced from both city is become bad and worse. Lets think simple, there are many furniture company and supplier but they use different method to produce and serve customer needed. Please find below information, maybe useful for your furniture business;

1. WOODEN MATERIAL
In other case you will find the company that provide very high price which caused by Wooden Material. This step make you sure that the furniture product which caused by good wooden material should become quality furniture. There is not true at all, in several case I can say YES. But there are several method to produce middle wooden material with dimension under 30cm to become High Quality Furniture at Affordable Price.

2. PROCESS OF DRYING
Look and See, what the manufacturer used for controlling Drying Process?. Every country has different season and weather. That is the common problem that buyer or purchaser found.

3. CONSTRUCTION
The classic problem that buyer found is damage and broken on top board. There are right method to make sure before purchasing item such table, commode, bookcase or other item which has top board. What kind of construction system which manufacturer used, Floating System or other. In this case you can ask to your destination seller.

Above all what I can share to you.
Best Regards from Jepara Central of TUKANG KAYU.

[arkaanson]

We need to be very careful when choosing suppliers. It is worth to check the company directly to ensure that they really have warehouses since many suppliers act just like a broker. Thanks.







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