Sale — the buzz word in Pindi

Doing Eidul Azha shopping, while scouring the narrow alleys and posh showrooms of Rawalpindi, has certainly its own charm. With only a day left for Eidul Azha, city markets suddenly became the hub of all activities.

Markets across the city, especially in the old city were decked up and men and women were seen doing last minute shopping before the festival of sacrifice.

“I took a stroll down the main roads and marketplaces in the evenings, and found myself engulfed by an excited crowd, shopping for Eid. They were buying readymade garments, foot wears or some savory snacks for the happy occasion of Eid. Yes, it was time to go a shopping for me as well,” said Iqtedar Hussain from Saddar.

“During my visit to all of the busy markets in Saddar, Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market Satellite Town, Murree Road and in Saidpur Road and Jamia Masjid Road, I was amazed at the discounts offered by the retailers. So, I was keen to make the most of these sales, which offered a discount of anything up to 50 per cent,” says Naghma Taqi living in Gulraiz Colony.

Mrs. Shabbir Hussain from Tench Bhata Bazaar says: “I also availed of the best deals with discounts offered on not just non-premium segments, but also on branded items. Regular clothes shops as well as branded clothes outlets offered good discounts. Various companies also put up their sales on exhibition windows or stalls. So, for all those who were craving like me to buy the best of clothes actually struck a good deal with these sales?”

“Last night the ‘sale’ and ‘discount-on-sale’ offers by each and every retailer worth his name, came as a boon for customers. Even though everything was available on discounted prices, but that was also not affordable for a lower-income guy like me, so I hunted the hawker markets, footpath and makeshift shops for goods of my choice,” said Bismal Zaidi from Saidpur Road.

“A heated argument took place between me and the man selling children’s wear over the price of the clothes I had chosen for my young ones as I was extremely worried about spending too much money on their clothes, as their schools’ fees were due soon and other essential expenses also staring right in the eye. However, I wanted to make my children happy,” said Nazakat Hussain from Chaklala.

“But how genuine are these sales? Though these sales lure customers with an offer of up to 50 per cent off, there are very few articles that are available on such a heavily discounted price. Most of the articles, especially in garments and shoes of latest designs, the discount is of 10 per cent,” says Nosheen Ali from Satellite Town.

Basharat Hussain, a shopkeeper in Saddar, on condition of anonymity, said, “Shopkeepers have to clear their old stocks and are left with no option than to sell them off at a discounted price or face loss, besides making arrangements to stock up the woolens for the coming winter season. So the best bet was to put up a discount sale.”

“Generally all branded companies hike the prices of their goods by almost four times and then sell it to the retailer in the beginning of the season. The retailer gets a fixed percentage from the manufacturer, and during the sale, the retailer loses on the percentage of profit. But as the quantum of sale increases, he does not suffer much,” adds Basharat.