And there are all sort of different bonuses for different drivers from different cities.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hurhurrahrah
They probably use their profits from other markets like Jakarta, Bandung etc. to cover up the losses from Batam to help grow the Go Car driver numbers in Batam.
Yep,that might be the case then,since they also provide other services too,i mean beside just ferrying passengers around,hehehe....thanks for enlightening.
I am just studying how these things work and in hope to get some benefit out of it whenever i am in Batam,hehehe...
There will be inconvenience using this Go-thingy, like trying to find a secluded for pick up and drop off,so as not to make anyone unhappy,but still it is a kind of resource worth looking into. (Batam dont have Go-Massage now,hehehe...but i am sure its only a matter of time there will be)
Your question seems easy and to lead to an obvious answer, but it's not.
Actually,you already replied me what i need to know,to bring out my full message. And I thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
By the way, on my last time I changed only few hundreds dollars (200? I don't remember), because that was the only cash I had! Overall, I spent maybe 1500 SGD including everything, but I took all that cash from ATMs using my debit card (the Maestro exchange rate has only +1.25% vs. the official posted on XE.COM).
However, this is not the point you raise.
So,in one way or another,you did somewhat convert about or around S$1500 to IDR for your expenses (from credit card or debit card,there's an exchange rate too) during your 1 week stay in Batam,didnt you? That i suppose didnt include your friend's expense of his one week stay, aren't it? S$1500 would be about 50k rupiah x 3 of saving and then multiply it by another 2 if your friend spends the same.
This is what i need to know for me to bring my message across. 1 week stay in Batam with girls etc, S$1500 is about your average spending. Stingy as of the like of me, probably need about S$1250 (a guessing amount),hehehe...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I agree with you that 100r difference in exchanging SGD to IDR in most cases is a significant amount, worth negotiating.
Nah,if its only 50k rupiah on its own,i wouldnt say its not worth negotiating for or if it is but thats only when negotiating was a a few min breeze (50k rupiah is still money). Negotiating usually takes about a min or maybe 2 (especially for the like of me who dont understand bahasa indo). How long does one takes to ask the money changer 3 simple questions, like..."how much is S$ to IDR?" , "how much if i change S$1k (or even S$200 to S$500)?" and then follow by "next door offer same,can you offer better?" ; repeat same 3 questions over next few shops.
Opposite Nagoya Plasa Hotel,one whole stretch of at least 5 money changer shops,its only takes me no more than 15 mins to go thru most of them,hehehe....moreover, these money changers were only less than 5 mins walk from Formosa hotel. (opposite formosa money changer all close during CNY except the one at Linda Massage)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I say "in most cases", meaning:
- if we change more than 500 SGD (50k is a taxi ride, after all), which is the typical expenditure for a weekend;
- if the effort spent to find a better exchange rate is not too much (I would not spend 1 hour walking around the shops to save just 50k, that is two coffees at JCo).
This trip,i was testing out Gojek also call Go car,each one way trip was about 10k rupiah on average,hehehe...50k is about 5 one way trip tho. I gave the driver/s an extra 5k to 10k rupiah tip occasionally ,and they were so happy...even help me open my car door and gave me a name card for future business.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
Personally, I would not spend 1 hour of my time to save 50k, but everyone has a different sensitivity.
Wasting money is wrong anyway, but also my time has a value. We have to find a balance and decide what is the value we assign to our time.
i wouldnt spend an hour looking for the most value money changer or took those time to bargain either (i doubt anyone would tho,be it newbie or oldbie),its just like i wouldnt take a 60k to 70k rupiah taxi ride to Batam Center just to save 50k rupiah because my friend tells me he knew of a money changer that is giving him the BEST of the BEST rates in town (unless i am staying within short walking distance of the area ,of course).
From the start,we here in this thread do not know which money changer offers better,but thru this thread,by sharing the rates and places we exchange our currency...we all get to know who offers what. It's like the good info you have shared below :
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
..but I took all that cash from ATMs using my debit card (the Maestro exchange rate has only +1.25% vs. the official posted on XE.COM).
Otherwise most reading this thread will be changing their money in Sillypore money changer already,and be losing even more. And this is another message i am trying to bring forward too.
Everyone shares a little, put them together, everyone most likely benefits (if they read),hehehe...
A side note (just for you) :
Your room price just increase by 20k rupiah for both weekdays and weekends. Costing 560k and 610k rupiah respectively. (they have the tendency to increase price in silence,hehehe...i am updating) And if i dont remember wrong,you should be getting a free night stay in your next trip and your card should be upgraded to Silver,entitling you some 15% off in hotel amenities, hehehe...
So,in one way or another,you did somewhat convert about or around S$1500 to IDR for your expenses (from credit card or debit card,there's an exchange rate too) during your 1 week stay in Batam,didnt you?
Obvious. I said and I repeat: the Maestro circuit adds 1.25% on the official interbank rate of the day (the one posted on XE.com). Most money changers apply a much higher commission (try at Changi airport: +15% or +20%!!), so ATMs are 99% of the times the best place to get local currency
(Not in Batam, if one has cash. With negotiation, one can approach the XE.COM rate or even get a better one, sometimes. I think they need dollar cash to sell to traders involved in black market)
Once more: I am speaking about DEBIT cards. Avoid to use a CREDIT card, because on top of the 1.25% they add 4% to advance the money (credit means they loan money to you).
Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
That i suppose didnt include your friend's expense of his one week stay, aren't it?
I was not paying for his expenses. I just directed him to the ATMs supplying 100k notes and not 50k. His savings are not my savings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
Opposite Nagoya Plasa Hotel,one whole stretch of at least 5 money changer shops,its only takes me no more than 15 mins to go thru most of them,hehehe....
That is exactly where I said I go when I have cash to exchange.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
This trip,i was testing out Gojek also call Go car,each one way trip was about 10k rupiah on average,hehehe...
The only taxi I take is from/to Harbour Bay, with all my luggage (I pay 50k), or out of disco if I have a girl. Best saving for me is walking or taking ojek.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
Your room price just increase by 20k rupiah for both weekdays and weekends. Costing 560k and 610k rupiah respectively. (they have the tendency to increase price in silence,hehehe...i am updating)
This reminds me the tale of the boiled frog. You put the frog in a pot, and if you increase the temperature slowly 1° every day, she will be enjoying the bath until she finds herself boiled without understanding what happened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nono1973
And if i dont remember wrong,you should be getting a free night stay in your next trip and your card should be upgraded to Silver,entitling you some 15% off in hotel amenities,
I will be sure to remind them. I am not sure they would spontaneously apply a discount.
Obvious. I said and I repeat: the Maestro circuit adds 1.25% on the official interbank rate of the day (the one posted on XE.com). Most money changers apply a much higher commission (try at Changi airport: +15% or +20%!!), so ATMs are 99% of the times the best place to get local currency
(Not in Batam, if one has cash. With negotiation, one can approach the XE.COM rate or even get a better one, sometimes. I think they need dollar cash to sell to traders involved in black market)
So far,the people who joined me in the past 3.5 years,none holds a Maestro Debit Card. A couple of them hold Singapore local bank ATM card and try using it to draw money from the Batam ATM,and what i notice was for every 1.5 juta drawn,S$5 was deducted from their account,and that's not counting the crazily bad exchange rate given by the bank of the Singapore local bank after they returned. Hence my guess is, most Singaporean wont be taking your good advise.
(you are also a frequent traveler,most Singaporean who visit Batam probably arent)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I was not paying for his expenses. I just directed him to the ATMs supplying 100k notes and not 50k. His savings are not my savings.
He might probably buy you a drink or something when you help him save,hehehe... you lose nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
The only taxi I take is from/to Harbour Bay, with all my luggage (I pay 50k), or out of disco if I have a girl. Best saving for me is walking or taking ojek.
I remember reading from one of your post about 7 years ago (or was it 8 years?) you paid 50k rupiah for taxi fare,today you still paid 50k rupiah,hehehe....good job on the consistency part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
This reminds me the tale of the boiled frog. You put the frog in a pot, and if you increase the temperature slowly 1° every day, she will be enjoying the bath until she finds herself boiled without understanding what happened.
I remember when i 1st step into Batam,my 1st hotel was formosa (the one after it too),and their most basic room cost me about S$62 for weekday. 2nd time stay cost S$63. My 3rd or 4th trip onward,i learned and find out about Kaha,and got an about S$45 pricing,but it was eventually increased to S$47.50. I talked to the hotel and they later made the same basic room to S$48 with a membership sign up. But every 15 nights stays,there's a free night stay (basic membership,on basic room).
I guess i froze the frog,hehehe...
Nowaday,depending on situation, i could pay for a 560k/610k room but gets an upgrade to a S$82 and/or a S$102 room,hehehe...its a really big room where i can play hide and seek with my girls,hehehe...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I will be sure to remind them. I am not sure they would spontaneously apply a discount.
Most staffs wont bother (as many are still new) but you can always ask them to check how many nights have you stayed over the last 12 months under your membership. They will get the idea. Or even simpler,just flash your card.
Considered your nick name, I wonder if you are asking how much could we offer for your services??
Haha.. sorry bro not yet open service.. haha..
I want to know batam girl how much for 1 night booking.. anyone can help.
How much to stanby in rupiah if stay 2D 1N..
Appreaciate for bro here to help.
First time visit batam for trip.
....
Most staffs wont bother (as many are still new) but you can always ask them to check how many nights have you stayed over the last 12 months under your membership. They will get the idea. Or even simpler,just flash your card.
they need only the card number for reference... so..you don't even need to flash your card....
if you don't remember your card's number. Just provide the name you used during your membership registration.
They can trace it out.
Hello all. I would like to know which pharmacy sells the most variety of medicine in bAtam. Meaning those that u cannot get without a prescription in sg. Such as arcoxia, anarex etc
23-02-2018, 11:42 AM
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