Kerala   

Tug of war at TV shops for Onam

Boom time: All showrooms expect good sales this Onam.

One of the busiest places these days in Kerala must be a television showroom. For, Malayalis prefer to buy televisions and home appliances during Onam.

Not without a reason, as all the companies are involved in furious price wars.

“Our sales figures were around Rs. 30 lakh per day last month. It has gone up to Rs.1 crore from the beginning of this month,” says A.R. Rajesh, sales manager, Nandilath G-Mart, Kozhikode. “We are expecting more business over the next few days, as the salaried classes are due to get bonus soon,” he added.

G. Harish Kumar, sales manager, Kannankandy Sales Corporation, Kozhikode, also feels that sales could improve over the next week. “Many families wait for the school examinations to end before purchasing television,” he reasoned.

The prices of television have come down over the years.

But when you buy them during Onam, you also get free gifts. “A 21- inch flat television that costs Rs. 22,000 is available for Rs. 7,000 now,” says Rajesh.

But that television set may not be as good as the one that was sold for the higher price, according to Harish. “Earlier, if a television set was expected to last 10 years, the manufacturer now wants you to discard it after five years,” he adds.

The prices of home appliances too have been slashed. “Microwave ovens are selling like hot cakes now,” says Mani Vazhayil, managing partner, Bharath Electronics, Kozhikode. “There are also discounts for computers ahead of Onam.”

But, it is indeed television that people are buying more than anything else. “Large screen flat televisions and LCDs are in great demand now,” says Rajesh.

P. K. Ajith Kumar

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