Shopping in Bali
Everywhere you go in Bali you'll find plenty of things to spend money on. Fortunately if you're coming from the U.S. the dollar goes far and the prices are rediculously low compared to what we would pay here. There are large malls in the major cities where you'll see designer names everywhere. These stores also carry the art and handicraft items made in the villages, but the prices are usually 2-3 times higher than what you can negotiate if you buy the same item in the village it was created.
Visiting the villages of Bali is an exciting trip for anyone, especially those who loves art and handicrafts. Nearly everything manufactured in Bali is original art, each piece being custom made. A trip to the villages with the most extensive collection of art and handicrafts can be done in several days, but keep in mind that if you were to spend three months in Bali, shopping every day, all day, never visiting the same store or factory twice, you would barely make a dent in seeing what is available. As you travel from one village to the next, you'll see that each village has a specialty. One village will specialize in sandstone carvings, the next in batik quilts, and the next in bamboo furniture. You'll want to schedule time to visit as many as possible.
The wood carvings of Bali are legendary and you'll find them being sold everywhere. To get the best prices don't miss the opportunity to go to Ubud to visit the homes and workshops of some of the most talented woodcarvers in the world. In the nearby village of Mas you will find a huge center that has everything you can imagine carved 
from wood.
Celuk is famous for its fine quality silver and gold. You can go directly to the factory and negotiate rock-bottom prices for beautiful, quality sterling silver.
Although batik is not traditionally Indonesian, beautiful artistic batiks are created in the village of Tirtodupuran. A tour of the batik factory is an interesting side trip.
In and around the Dempasar area you'll see furniture factories everywhere. The quality and craftsmanship is outstanding.
Lombok
The village of Mataram in Lombok is famous for beautiful pottery. Visitors may tour the factory and witness artisans at work creating their next piece. There is not mass-production done here. Each piece is handmade by an artist on a potter's wheel. A huge selection of beautiful pottery is available for purchase. They also offer cargo shipment for those who get carried away with the selection and prices, but the shipping prices can be quite high.
In the village of Sukarare you'll find creative weavings and batiks. All the fabrics are hand made with a process that begins with the spinning of the yarn. The artists then tie off various bends and bundles of yarn with plastic ties and dye the yarn before it is woven. Once dyed and dried, the artists place the yarn on the loom and begin their work of the traditional weavings. This tradition is carried down through each artists' family and the designs are as individual as the artist and their ancestors. The tour is complete with a visit to the modern gift shop where you may purchase the finished goods.
Down the road you'll come across the traditional village of Rambitan. The village trips are by invitation only and the village head is happy to give you the full guided tour. Definitely worth the 15-30 minutes, you'll experience the traditional life of the villagers. In exchange for their hospitality, you'll be expected to make a donation to the village or purchase something in their handicraft store.
Shopping in Jakarta & Bandu
For hard core shoppers, a trip to Jakarta is not to be missed. Since many US manufactures have factories there, the local people know better than anyone how to make the perfect replica. When guided to the right stores, you'll find bargain basement prices on everything from computer software (very obviously bootlegged) to Gucci bags and purses and Monte Blanc pens and leather accessories. Be prepared to negotiate!
Just how easy is it to fill a container?
There are cargo companies located everywhere in Bali, but not all offer such great shipping rates. Before you get carried away by the incredible prices, check to see what it will cost you to ship your purchases home. Calculate in those additional fees that you'll pay in the US just to claim your merchandise (could be $50 to $100, plus customs fees if applicable). Carrying them home is always the best option, but for over sized and overweight items such as furniture, be prepared to negotiate the shipping in the purchase price. This might cost you much less than trying to arrange shipping yourself. Many of the cargo companies will impose a minimum size or weight which could make the export quite costly. Most the furniture manufacturers have special deals with reliable shipping companies.
When the shipment finally does arrive in the U.S. you'll now take on the roll of importer. There are several things to know to make this process go more smoothly. Upon receipt of your merchandise, you'll be contacted by a shipping company. They will charge you a fee for the handling of your shipment in the US.
Airline Baggage Restrictions
The airlines baggage weight limit is only 20 kg per passenger. This is barely enough to accommodate your personal items, much less additional purchases. Although you may get away with bringing in more than your limit, it is unlikely you'll go home so easy. Check with your airline well in advance to see what fees will apply for overweight baggage.