Retail Plus
Chennai
Bargainer’s Bliss
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At Burma Bazaar, you can haggle away to kingdom come, cut down costs by half and increase your purchasing power. But do remember that you are buying at your own risk!
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The snaking line of four feet by three shops along Burma Bazaar is quite reminiscent of pigeonholes. Only, the occupants are way more enterprising! In the 1960s when Burmese settlers took refuge in this area, a trading market was opened for their benefit. Somewhere along the way though, the natives of Burma slowly disappeared to make room for our own ingenious Tamilian traders.
Why ingenious? Well, just the manner in which the imported goods were once brought to this market, could give George Clooney and his thirteen a run for their money. Audacious tradesmen would row in the darkest of nights to ships anchored across the port, and weigh goods sealed in plastic gunny bags, underwater. After pulling them out, they would then paddle back to shore and sell the ‘imported’ goods at Burma Bazaar. Please note that the goods would be sold irrespective of whether the seawater got the better of them or not!
The arcade must be given credit for keeping pace with evolving trends in the sale of gadgetry. It is a fact that the Apple I-phone was available here two days after the international launch and at half the rate. For electronic items, a switch-on test is as far as you can get to check the functionality of your purchase. Besides, Japanese gizmos, colorful Korean candy, Singapore perfumes, Swiss watches and German luggage have made their way to this fascinating bazaar.
The DVD souk here is a place that even Kollywood turns to for inspiration. Several shopkeepers testify that top-rated movie directors come here to purchase unique foreign movie titles. Nevertheless, here are a few pointers if you are new to the city or uncomfortable with negotiating prices. Feel free to beat down the shop owner’s stated rate by half and then work your way up. Settle for a little more than half the cost. There is a tacit agreement between the shop owners that all prices must be in the same range. So if you’ve been to one, you’ve seen them all. Do not waste your time trying to find the ‘right’ shop. There is no such thing!
SHRUTHI SANKARAVADIVEL
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Retail Plus
Chennai
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