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Smooth gimmicks
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SOUND OFF! Anitha Krishnan confesses how she fell prey to discount tricks
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Business development is a euphemistic manner of referring to sales tricks and marketing gimmicks. Being a business development manager, I used to pride myself on being able to see through these chicaneries.
Yet, I could not help but get carried away when a hypermarket announced a 50 per cent discount. Armed with a huge list in one hand and a credit card in the other, I made my way to the store. I peered at the nearest sign to check for any disclaimers that usually accompany such advertisements, like ‘Offer valid on limited stocks only’ or ‘Up to 50% off’. Finding none of these usual let downs, I headed for the nearest trolley. Everything seems affordable when it is priced at a massive 50 % discount. I picked up wheat flour, salt, spices, vegetables and fruits, crockery, kitchenware, and toilet products that I did not really need. Happy with my loot, I made my way to the busy billing counters after nearly two hours. Back home, I looked at the bill for the first time - 22 items, bill running up to Rs. 3956.50, discounts 0.00! That was a shocker! I called up customer care to immediately check if they had forgotten to give me a discount on my purchase, only to be told 22 times that there was no discount to be availed on each of the products I had bought.
So much for the flat 50% off! I had a good mind to sue the hypermarket. But I think I was more pissed with myself for being the gullible, unsuspecting, compulsive shopper that these marketing professionals target while executing their smooth gimmicks.
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