Are discount sales really discounted?

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Anamika has put brakes on all her shopping plans. She is waiting for the Freedom Sale on online websites. Freedom sale starts on every website as soon as the month of August begins. And as soon as it started, Anamika’s shopping too began. But seeing the price tag of each of the items she chose, the question that kept arising in Anamika’s mind was that whether there is any discount on this item or not?

Her suspicion is not without basis. From Amazon, Flipkart to Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, Instamart, Big Basket to Croma and Vijaysales.com all organize sales and claim to give 60 to 70% discount. But do these sales really save your money?

Think of this: A Woodland shoe which has an MRP of Rs 2,900 in a physical store was available on Myntra for around Rs 1,800 in July. The price of the same shoe has gone up to around Rs 2,000 during Myntra’s Freedom Fest sale… that too with a discount of 35%. What do you think? Why did the price increase instead of decreasing in the sale? Because Myntra gave 35% discount on MRP of Rs 2,900 but earlier it was even cheaper…so then what does this sale really mean?

Similarly, grocery delivery app Instamart is claiming up to 50% discount on grocery items, but when we checked the prices, we found something else. A 5 kg pack of India Gate’s Everyday Basmati Rice is currently available for around Rs.350 and it was available at almost the same price at the end of last month. Similarly, Happilo’s 1/2 kg cashew packet is currently available for Rs.527 while it was available for around Rs.520 last month. That is, despite the sale, the prices either remained the same or increased in some products.

Such manipulation of prices will also be seen in electronic items, gadgets and so on. Fifty to 65% discount is being claimed on the sites of Croma and Vijaysales.com, but when you calculate the price difference between the discounted price and the original price, the difference would only be a few rupees. New products are being launched on these sites such as smartphones, laptops. But there can be no reduction in their price, as they are new and of the latest version.. but…you are dragged to the website on the pretext of sale.

You should also take care of hidden charges. Sometimes free delivery,  delivery fee, sometimes handling charges and sometimes convenience fee… all these charges get added to the product in the end. So you have to pay this money as well.

Whenever you shop and whatever you shop, do not do it with the intention of greed that you are getting things at a very cheap cost. These sales are also a major reason for overspending. Before shopping in an online sale, assess whether you need that item or not? Before spending online, check the prices by visiting physical stores, compare the prices and only then shop from where you find the right deal.