Bitter Truth about Nepali Jewelers in Nepal

Most of the Nepali jewelers live in one room with their families which is used for  bedroom, kitchen and workshop. Many of them borrow money from a money lender in high interest in Kathmandu.   They make investment in jewelry making. It takes them about 2-3 months in production. Once the product is ready, they take their jewelry pieces door to door in shops in Thamel, Kathmandu.  The shop owners will bargain as much as they can. The artisan is already paying interested from the day he borrowed the money.  So he agrees to sell his jewelry in half of the price, but shop owner keeps the jewelry and tells him to come back in a week to get his money.  But he does not get paid in full next week. He has to go many times to get his payment in smaller portion.  That’s why most the Nepali jewelers are poor and have high debts.