Discounts. A Christmas banner at Banana World at Cham Towers along Kampala Road. Companies look forward to cashing in on the festive season by offering discounted prices on selected products, while others are disposing off stock to kick start the New Year. PHOTO | PAUL MURUNGI
A big banner showing discounted prices for electronics products at Hisense Uganda, an electronics store along Jinja Road juts out at a distance. The electronics shop was a beehive of activity last week when some Ugandans queued to buy electronics at discounted prices.
As
one approaches the city centre, blaring music, and banners and flyers in
different shades are spread out along Kampala Road mainly dealing in
electronics, save for a few which are dealing in clothing and other
products. The promise for a good discount is alluring for any Ugandan
with some loose cash. Some promise discounts while others maintain the
price and offer gift hampers to supplement the product.
Most
people find the festive season as an opportune time to spend their hard
earned money. This is largely because companies are always looking
forward to cashing in on the festive season by offering discounted
prices on selected products, while others are disposing off stock to
kick start the New Year.
According to Fatuma, at Banana World along Kampala road, the model of giving discounts is premised on two factors; this includes giving a discount on an in- demand product to make huge sales, or offering a discount on a new or relatively unpopular product to push customers to buy.
However, with the adage, ‘Not
all glitters is gold’ it is not just about going for a deal but getting
the best out of a discounted deal during this festive season.
Here are some tips as you scout for discounted products.
Go window shopping
Isaac
Tugume, a Jumia agent, says before buying a product, it is important to
go window shopping. This term is sometimes called browsing in digital
speak, as an activity in which a consumer browses through or examines a
store’s merchandise as a form of leisure or external search behaviour
without a current intent to buy.
Tugume says window shopping
provides you with an option to compare prices of products at different
shops or online stores. For most shops offering discounted prices
especially in Kampala, there are banners to ease access for any
potential customer.
“Before you choose a product, try moving around
town and inquire from different shops. What you may get at an expensive
rate may be much cheaper in another shop especially for gadgets.”
Look out for online reviews
Covid-19
has accelerated and changed business operations, forcing most companies
to go online to continue with business. Tugume agrees that online
shopping is on the rise this festive season as more people fear to
contract the coronavirus.
Most companies doing discount promotions during the festive seasons
utilise social platforms to promote their products. A cursory glance on
Twitter or Facebook show most companies are ready to make delivery of
any product you order online.
This provides an opportunity for
a customer to double check the product before buying. Double checking
also gives you a chance to read reviews of the product by other people
in the comments section. For instance, if the company has been doing
annual promotions, it provides easy access to feedback from other online
customers. This can help you to gauge other people’s perceptions on the
quality of service, customer care and quality of the product.
For products bought online, Tugume says you should also be wary of delivery. “Products bought online can take time since some have to be shipped from abroad. In such a case, make sure you are aware of such delays to avoid disappointment,” he says, noting, “We have had situations where a buyer orders for a shirt, and it becomes large on arrival.”
Return policy
‘Goods once sold cannot be either
exchanged or taken back’ is a common phrase that a curious customer can
observe at some shops offering discounts for the festive
season. Whereas such a statement can easily be observed at a physical
shop, it may be a different instance for online shoppers.
Tugume says some companies have a return policy on some discounted products such as apparel and electronics while others may not have a return policy such as undergarments. However, other companies or businesses may not offer that option.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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