They are everywhere – promises of huge discounts, blandishments such as those buy one get one free offer, limited period sales, thousands of products at never before prices and so on – all in the name of the Republic Day sale. So should you succumb? Should you give in to temptation and shop? Here are some things to keep in mind if you plan to shop the Republic Day sales:
Traditionally we had festive sales such as Diwali sales because people wanted new clothes, exchanged gifts, consumed mithai and dry fruits during that time. We associate no such celebrations with Republic Day – most of us are crashed out on a couch before the TV. So keep in mind the fact that these are artificial sales, created by retailers simply to encourage you to part with your hard earned money
Think long and hard before you make a purchase – why am I shopping right now? Do I really need what I’m buying? Don’t buy things simply because they are being sold at an ‘irresistible’ price. You don’t want to experience buyers’ remorse after you're saddled with a bunch of stuff you don’t want, couldn’t really afford and have nowhere to keep!
Prices may be “slashed” and you are supposedly being offered the “lowest price ever”. However, you need to check whether this is really so. What is the actual retail price (don’t go just by the 70% off tag)? Does it make more sense to buy from a physical store where you can bargain or perhaps get a few freebies thrown in with big ticket purchases (peripherals with a PC, speakers with a TV etc)?
If you decide to go the online way, shop around. Which website is offering the bigger discount/ better freebies? Also, check out the site credentials and the seller credentials. Virtual marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay or Flipkart, where buyers are permitted to rate individual sellers and publish reviews of products are may be more transparent in this sense. The more reputed online stores also use secure payment gateways which protect your financial details.
Be skeptical of free shipping offers, particularly for larger items such as furniture which are expensive to transport. Remember you're going to pay for that shipping; one way or the other because the shipping is actually factored into the retail price. Why, for instance, is pepperfry.com charging the same to ship an item from Delhi - whether the buyer is in Delhi or in Kochi!
That Gucci perfume or the Lacoste shirt you are thinking of buying may be a cheap knockoff. In fact, one study showed online shopping accounts for as much as 25% of fake luxury items being sold in the country. So you may well not be getting the ‘premium brand’ you think you're buying. Again seller ratings and product reviews on reputed sites could be good indicators to go by.
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