Don't be fooled! Online sale discounts exposed - offline market offers real deals

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Amidst the glitzy festive sales on Amazon and Flipkart, are you also considering buying something after seeing the big discounts? If so, beware! The illusion of 50% to 70% discounts being offered could empty your pockets. You'll be shocked to learn the truth behind this online sale, because the real, big deals are available in your city's offline market.

How does this 'game' of discounts work?

E-commerce companies cleverly show you discounts on MRP, whereas no product is sold at MRP. For example, if the MRP of a phone is Rs 50,000, then it is being sold for Rs 45,000 since its launch. But during the sale, the company entices you by showing that a phone worth Rs 50,000 is available for Rs 25,000, whereas the actual discount is only on Rs 45,000. The timer running on the website creates psychological pressure on you so that you make the purchase immediately without thinking. Whereas in most of the cases, even after the sale is over, the product is available at the same price or even cheaper.

Cheaper offline than online! Bumper deals on these products

This festive season, it's wise not to jump to online offers and make purchases. When our reporter surveyed markets in Jalandhar and other cities, he found that major products like ACs, TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines are available at offline stores for significantly cheaper prices than online. In addition to major stores like Croma, Vijay Sales, and Reliance Digital, bumper deals are also available at your neighborhood store.

This is the mantra of 'smart shopping': How to get the best deal

Do your online research first: Check out the product you want to buy on 2-3 websites. Take a screenshot of the final price, including card offers and no-cost EMI.

Visit offline stores: Now visit your nearest retail store and show them the screenshot of the deal you are getting online.

Negotiate: In 90% of cases, an offline store will offer you a better price than online. They may cite counterfeit goods or warranty issues, but stick to your guns.

Ask for freebies: One of the biggest advantages of shopping offline is freebies. Don't forget to ask for freebies like covers and tempered glass with your phone or wall mounts with your TV.

Want to sell your old phone? Get the best price here

If you're looking to exchange your old phone, offline retail stores will offer a much better price than online platforms. After checking rates on sites like Cashify, take your old gadget to an offline store; you could get anywhere from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 more. So, this festive season, don't be fooled by discounts. Do a little research, head to the offline market, and reap the real savings.