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`Don't drop after you shop'

Vaishnavi Venkatesh on smart shopping

PHOTO: R. RAGU

Vaishnavi Venkatesh

I hate shopping. Everything is so well packed and displayed. Most often you get carried away by boards that announce "Up to 50 per cent discount" or "Buy two get one free". Many a time you end up buying so much that you hardly find the time to use half the things and the place to keep them. People should derive satisfaction and joy out of shopping and not end up feeling guilty for having blown up their hard-earned money. Here's my shopping experience. I went to buy clothes. The shop was a nice one, fully air-conditioned, with obliging salespersons and a spacious trial room. After my daughter and I narrowed down on three dresses , we headed to the billing counter. At the counter, I was informed that if I buy three I get one free or I get a 20 per cent discount on the bill. We opted for the first. Now, let me give you the cost break-up. I had bought one item for Rs. 150 and two for Rs. 100 each (Total: Rs. 350). If I had gone in for the discount option, I would have paid Rs. 280. As I chose the `get one free' offer, I selected another dress for Rs. 150. But I was told at the counter that the cheapest among the four (one for Rs. 100) will be given free. So my total came to Rs. 400 (two dresses for Rs. 150 each and one for Rs. 100).

So instead of stepping out with the three dresses that I had bought and saving Rs. 70, I ended up paying Rs. 50 extra and getting four , one of which, I did not really need. I didn't feel cheated, just stupid. I wished I had been more patient and thought over the offer one more time.

Drawn from my experience, I would like to give some tips on smart shopping. Plan ahead: What do I need? What is the purpose that is fulfilled (the extra features will invariably remain unused and be more expensive)? How much am I willing to pay? Don't take children along to shop for grownups. While shopping, be focussed. And if you bad with numbers, carry a calculator.

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