In Reply to: A few ??'s please. posted by Mic on Sunday, 25. February 2007 at 07:57 Bali Time:
Why do you not think that your driver is getting a commission?
I have a number of friends who are drivers and trust me it is part of the way business is done in Bali.
There is nothing wrong with that and I might suggest that if the price you have quoted is what he is charging you then he is probably making getting a good deal from the people you buy from.
As I say nothing wrong with this, it is standard practice in Bali.
One friend worked for a European couple for about 3 years. They never paid him to drive when they came over for buying trips for their business back in Italy.
When the goods were arrived in dock and were in good order etc they would transfer him a substantial amount of money for his work, this included him organizing cargo etc.
He definitely got commission from the places they bought from. Sadly, on their last 2 trips to Bali they had him drive and organize cargo etc but they never paid up what they owed him. The said business was too slow and the stock not moving. Little comfort for him, his wife and young children. cheers :-)