Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[Kaboon]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hehehe...when one can buy many stuffs for S$0.10 each & better things for no more than a S$1 in Singapore. Shopping in Batam no longer as cheap anymore (there are still things whereby it is still cheaper to buy from Indonesia Batam tho).

Not forgetting there are fairly good things thats going at 90% to 95% discount.

All the bluetooth earphone i am using now (almost a dozen of them), each cost no more than S$1 (most of it cost no more than S$0.50).

Nobody here will believe what u said.

Just as much as u tell ppl can still use 10 cent to buy things in Sg. Maybe go p toilet still can.

U may wish to bring your discussion here -

https://sbfsg.agency/showthread.php?p=...5#post21781725

for an easier talk. But get ready a few nice chinese songs to share.

[HeatguyAlvin]

Originally Posted by nono1973

But i will not be buying this deal above.
(got lower price, i am sure most will not like to pay higher
Sorry, i am getting a bit greedier.

Interesting spot! Just when i was mentioning that the old qoo10 days are gone. Also saw a cheaper deal at $36++ for 2 ways for sindo with a minimum order quantity of 20pcs. only gripe is the sellers are all pretty new without any previous reviews for the cheaper ones. Shall wait to see the credibility

[HeatguyAlvin]

Originally Posted by Black Page

That is less than 2% fee! Very good.
They are not a charity. They run a business, which is applying a markup on currency conversion.

Ah, i noticed I've framed that wrongly. I'm definitely not complaining about 200 rupiah variance but how in a matter of a day or two the XE rate rose to 11,000++. Its no wonder why hotels don't collect deposits in their local currency any longer, noticed that on my XE card throughout my three nights i had a 1% to 2% markup on several days. Thought it was weird but it could be just currency fluctuations.

[HeatguyAlvin]

Originally Posted by lbcben

1. I don know how ot pay in advance or xfer - so no issue
2. My friend also tell me this - will do
3. Let say i reject, do we need to give "reject fee", like how much the market rate?

I think in general for batam, its better to go down and seee then book for overnight.

Btw Hallo Kitty massage now got telegram to view and book ST, comes with free ride to the place 😂

[lincoln3010]

Hopefully Fame Spa does the same as hello kitty
Show a catalog of beauties

[Cougar21]

Anyone in batam now? Can ask for help to provide sgd cash while i transfer to u? Am at nagoya area now. Pls reply or PM me. Thanks

[Ninja_Assassin]

Originally Posted by penyet

Years ago, Wavemaster offered a big discount on tickets sold in Batam. I bought a bunch. Shortly after, they moved from Batam Center to Harbour Bay (which just open) and Wavemaster either changed name or taken over. The discount tickets no longer valid and can only be redeemed with a big hair cut! So be careful about buying discount tickets in Batam. The ferry operators are very mercenary!

Muahaha..... now then you say.
I had oredi bought 10 sets of 2-way tickets for S$56 each on my last trip to Batam. Validity is until 31.03.2023..... hope they dun chut pattern and void the tickets.

As my usual habit..... I like to kpo and tcss alot even with strangers. I was taking a rest at the ferry agent office in Harbourfront and managed to tcss with the staff there.
During the tcss.... I learnt that they sell discounted tickets to tour groups.... S$63 each for below 5pax and S$56 each for more than 5pax..... managed to psycho them to sell me 10 sets of 2-way tickets at the discounted price.... 😀

[Ninja_Assassin]

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

Ah, i noticed I've framed that wrongly. I'm definitely not complaining about 200 rupiah variance but how in a matter of a day or two the XE rate rose to 11,000++. Its no wonder why hotels don't collect deposits in their local currency any longer, noticed that on my XE card throughout my three nights i had a 1% to 2% markup on several days. Thought it was weird but it could be just currency fluctuations.

I have a BNI bank account in Singapore..... I can use their bankcard to make withdrawals in Batam bypassing the need for moneychangers. No overseas service charge and exchange rate on par with the market rates. Very convenient.

[Moredhel]

Heading to batam on 8th or 9th for a week. Any bros going there during that period?

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by Ninja_Assassin

I have a BNI bank account in Singapore..... I can use their bankcard to make withdrawals in Batam bypassing the need for moneychangers.

Not bad idea. Worth considering especially for regular cheongsters. But ferry fare is the killer.

[maddog_mlvn]

Originally Posted by nitecrawllerr

Not bad idea. Worth considering especially for regular cheongsters. But ferry fare is the killer.

Use OCBC bank can withdraw in Btm Penuin area OCBC Indo ATM, .200 below at the time u withdraw on bank trading market rate.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

Ah, i noticed I've framed that wrongly. I'm definitely not complaining about 200 rupiah variance but how in a matter of a day or two the XE rate rose to 11,000++. Its no wonder why hotels don't collect deposits in their local currency any longer, noticed that on my XE card throughout my three nights i had a 1% to 2% markup on several days. Thought it was weird but it could be just currency fluctuations.

Noted your explanations with thanks.

I think it is worth to provide some explanations on how MasterCard/VISA cards work. I assume also other international circuits work in the same way, even with some slight variations, because the business is the same.

When you purchase a good with a credit card out of your country (in local currency!! ALWAYS opt for the local currency!!), or you withdraw money abroad in local currency, you will be charged using the current interbank buying rate at the time the transaction is finalized, the one we see on XE.COM (there are two exchange rates at any time: one for buying, one for selling a currency) PLUS a +2% fee (that goes to MasterCard/VISA).

When you do several withdrawals in a day, it is possible, but not likely, that the exchange rates are different.
When you use a credit card to withdraw money from ATM, that is cash advance. They lend you money. Then, on top of that +2%, you also pay +4%. ==> ALWAYS USE DEBIT CARDS to withdraw money from ATMs.
On top of that, for debit or credit cards, it is possible that the local bank and your bank also apply their fees (my bank charges ~3 SGD flat fee on each withdrawal I do abroad).

Said all this, the cheapest way to convert our home currency to a local currency is most of the times one of the following two:
1) Use a debit card on an ATM (at best, we pay %2 + some 2 SGD flat fee). This is also the easiest and less time consuming. I do this.
2) Search an exchange office that applies best conversion rates. This takes time, but it may be profitable, because some offices apply a fee that is less than 2%, for example if you give new 100 USD notes, that have a special market in Indonesia (I think they are good for unofficial business transactions). I do this when I have some USD cash, which I want to spend in Batam

Originally Posted by Ninja_Assassin

I have a BNI bank account in Singapore..... I can use their bankcard to make withdrawals in Batam bypassing the need for moneychangers. No overseas service charge and exchange rate on par with the market rates. Very convenient.

I do the same with my bank card, but do not be too optimistic.
As I have explained above, you will pay a +2% fee applied on the XE rate, not because BNI bank is bad, but because that is how international circuits change currency. Even if your card is does not pass via VISA or MAsterCard (do you see their logos on your BNI card?), then you have to pay some 2% (ok, 1.5%?) to the international circuit that makes the conversion.
What I write is not valid, only if your BNI bank account in Singapore is denominated in IDR, which I doubt.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by maddog_mlvn

Use OCBC bank can withdraw in Btm Penuin area OCBC Indo ATM, .200 below at the time u withdraw on bank trading market rate.

It depends on when the transaction is finalized. Rates fluctuate up and down. I am sure you do not think that OCBC systematically loses money on ATM withdrawals...

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by lbcben

And what is DP?

I know "Double Penetration", but I doubt this is on their menu

[qwerty1213]

Originally Posted by lbcben

1. I don know how ot pay in advance or xfer - so no issue
2. My friend also tell me this - will do
3. Let say i reject, do we need to give "reject fee", like how much the market rate?

Never once I paid a reject fee. Although most of the time I sit in the lobby and observe from a distance when she comes in. Lol

Like the other poster mentioned, now spas advertise their girls in ig, TikTok or telegram. See what you like, head down and proceed from there. Some of them able to come to your hotel for ST or overnight.