
Almost every month, e-retailers advertise about big sale/flash sale/maha sale and offers on products available ‘exclusively with them’. They promise heavy discounts, which sometimes exceed 70 per cent on branded items from clothing to cosmetics, kitchen appliances to home decors, toys for your little ones to sports accessories, and what not!
It is the discount offered that most of us are attracted towards. Here our need for the product takes a backseat and just because the product is available at half the price we go for it without giving a second thought or looking into our pockets. Most of the times, we end up buying unnecessary stuff that lies unused for years in our house.
But did anybody check the truth behind these mega sales? A voracious online shopper, Dr Divya Munishwar, said customers generally get a good deal during online mega sales but it’s not always true. She shared one such experience. She wanted to buy a 500-ml capacity flask for her husband. She checked several websites, in some the price was Rs 540 for 420 ml, 350 ml was available at Rs 504 while the one that she wanted i.e. 500 ml capacity flask, was available at Rs 580 on Amazon; on Flipkart, the same cost Rs 581, while on Snapdeal it was available at Rs 649, that too after a discount (original price was Rs 749!). She thought of checking the price with a local shopkeeper. She was completely shocked when the shopkeeper told her that the original price on the product was Rs 580 and he was selling it for Rs 490 after a discount. Delighted, she bought the flask from the local shopkeeper. There are many people who find themselves cheated by online sellers who, on the pretext of mega sales, not only fool people but also manage to clear their outdated stock!
Overspending
The other factor is overspending during mega sales. Overspending or over shopping has become a fad in our country with most youngsters involved in intense shopping. Then, some are compulsive shoppers who simply can’t resist themselves from buying stuff they like, while some can’t ignore the heavy discounts available.
Most customers end up buying unwanted stuff during these grand sales that promise heavy offs! This not only disturbs their monthly budget but also make their house a clutter zone as most of the things they buy lie unused for months and in some cases for years.
No doubt that your smartphone is a culprit here with so many shopping apps installed in it. The constantly popping messages of ‘big day’, big savings, ‘mega sales’, ‘crazy hours’, deals of the day,’ and so on, lure you to open the app and browse products available on discounts and, yes, that ticking clock showing time remaining to end the deal! In a hurry, you end up buying a product that you probably will never use. It spoils your entire effort to resist shopping.
How to overcome this
For many, especially youngsters, shopping is a hobby and a favourite pastime, which is a dangerous trend and if not controlled at the right time will lead to negative consequences. Many consider shopping a great stress buster. But when they check their bank accounts at the month-end they become more stressed!
Foremost question is how to avoid overspending? There are several ways to overcome the habit of impulsive spending. Start making and listing your goals according to the priority i.e. house, car, children’s education, vacation, medical bills, savings for an emergency, savings for happy retirement and so on. Set a time frame to attain your goals. Stay away from all kind of distractions as shopaholism can play a spoilsport in achieving your goals. For this, uninstall all kind of shopping apps from your smartphone. Make a separate list of wants and needs and accordingly, finalise your shopping list. Every time you get an urge for shopping divert yourself towards other things like reading books that interest you, playing games or simply go for a movie with friends! Also, you can start investing through SIP or can buy policies best suitable for you. Through this, you will be able to save a fixed amount for your future and this will also help you bid adieu to your shopping addiction!Gs a ‘sorry’ state, examination is the only way we could make people (students as well as parents) take education seriously at present.