End of the day bargains

R. Dinakaran Updated - March 27, 2012 at 06:28 PM.

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It is not uncommon to see women go to vegetable markets at the fag end of the day, just before the market closes. To the uninitiated, it may look like a foolish thing to do, as most of the stocks would have been exhausted and there would not be much left to choose from, but many women make this trip deliberately. The reason is that while most of the stocks would have exhausted, many vendors would have some stocks - most of them (vegetables and fruits) – which would perish the next day. The vendors usually try to get rid of these at rock-bottom prices - just enough to ensure they don't make a loss. It is then a win-win situation for both parties. The buyer gets a great deal (though the quality may suffer), and the seller avoids making a loss.

This ‘tactic' holds good not only for vegetables and fruits but also for electronics. There are those who hunt electronics markets for end-of-life products. These are products that are likely to become obsolete soon. When 1 GB pen drives were going out of stock, a friend of mine found one at a shop and managed to buy it for Rs 80. This also happens with mobile phones. When an upgraded model is introduced, older models are phased out. If you keep a watch for those products, you are sure to land a great deal. This doesn't mean you have to go around electronics shops asking for what is old. This ‘hunt' can also be done online, and is easier that way. When Dell stopped production of Venue Pro, the last pieces were available on Flipkart at rock bottom prices. This holds true for all electronic products - laptops, tablets, home theatres, printers, etc. But won't you be saddled with an obsolete product? Yes, and no. Yes, if you like tech or you like to own products with ‘cutting edge' technology. If you are not bothered about the above, it doesn't matter as long as the product serves your purpose.

Published on March 27, 2012 11:38