BigBazaar has organised a mega shopping event called “Sabse Saste 3 Din” starting from today till 26th of current month. BigBazaar is a subsidiary of Future group and is primarily into ruuning a chain of hypermarkets across major cities in India.On the eve of Republic day and long weekend, BigBazaar has set up this event to attract huge crowds.
I went this morning to Banshankari BigBazaar store which is very close to my home. Since I went there early in the morning around 10, it wasn’t that crowded. Though I had no intention of shopping, wanted to check out the offers. There were some real good offers for sure on various items ranging from grocery to apparels, footwear, toys, luggage, kitchenware, bed and bath ware, home decor, furniture, electronics and even gold jewellery. Public Announcement system over there kept on repeating the various offers across multiple floors in diversified segments. Some of the salient products that may capture people’s attention are:
* 32″ LCD at Rs.22,990/- under exchange*
* Kodak 8 mega pixel, 3x optical zoom, 2.4 LCD screen digital camera (C 813) at Rs.5,299/-
* Two mens jeans of upto Rs. 499/- each for Rs. 599/-
* DVD player together with a 5.1 with sound system at Rs. 2999/-
* DVD player alone with USB, 5.1 support at Rs. 1199/-
* Sony Ericsson K530i with Bluetooth for Rs.7,499/-
* Three designer sarees of upto Rs. 599/- each for Rs 999/-
* Four mens shirts (formal & casual ) priced between Rs. 299-599/- each for Rs 999/-
* 22 K Gold Jewelry at making Charges of flat Rs.91/- per gm*
* Minimum Rs 260/- off on combo of 5 kg each of Rice, Oil & Sugar costing Rs. 880/- to Rs.910/-
* Proton Metal Bed of Rs. 6,000/- for Rs. 3199/-
While you get attracted to all these offers, keep a tab on * conditions apply items. BigBazaar folks are known for deceiving customers with the enticing offer modules. No one can feel safe about any deal until they reach the billing counter! I have seen many a times, the wrong/excessive/inappropriate billing. Make sure to doubly verify the items you have purchased against the bill and the offers available. Last but not the least, know what is needed as against what is available and shop responsibly… I don’ t need to remind you folks about the economic crisis 🙂
Akila says
Interesting Information . There is always a temptation when it comes to the words “DISCOUNT”, “OFFER” and “SALE”. It just gives us a smug feeling of achievement.
As far as Big Bazaar and other supermarkets are concerned ,I cant help but think how things used to work earlier. ( Please exclude clothing and electronics). The Kinara shop on each street would deliver home whatever the needs of house may be. They would never delay, you could always argue on the quality and of course be in the comfort of your own rather than an overcrowded mall with endless queues to pay .
Mohan says
Ah.. that is the human mentality anyways 🙂
I have resorted back to the kirana shops and feeling good about it!
Mike says
Very nice information. Thanks for this. I stopped to say that your blog is very well written .. 😉 Lovely information!
Chitra says
We went to the same BigBazaar you have mentioned this evening. It was so damn crowded we spent nearly a good 40+ minutes in the billing queue. At one point of time I was about to walk away. Its a mad rush! Oh my god, I just can’t imagine me going there again during weekends.
Mohan says
@Shrinidhi Hande
Yes even I have observed that. Especially when it comes to toiletries they seem to have a number of such products. Those products are always run with promotional schemes irrespective of the season!
BigBazaar has been selling various groceries and flours under its own brand name since a long time, my mom asked me not to get them anymore almost a year back because of their quality 😉
Shrinidhi Hande says
Another factor to be noted: Future group has started replacing branded items with their own private lables -cheap products manufactured by some unknown company but sold under big bazaar brand name…
Shrinidhi Hande says
Another factor to be noted: Future group has started replacing branded items with their own private lables -cheap products manufactured by some unknown company but sold under big bazaar brand name…
Mohan says
@Shrinidhi Hande
I agree and have experienced that myself many a times!
@Chintan
@Ved Prakash
Thank you. I think finding a near by store wouldn’t be a tough task. Just need to build a rapport with ‘kaka’ and he will deliver good at your door step… that too free of cost!
@Deepak
@Radhika Ganesan
Yes, that is the whole idea of hypermarts. They dilute your idea of shopping for specific products, instead they entice you a whole lot of other items. So, it is obvious that customers forget their initial intent of shopping what is needed. Like I have mentioned before, it is the usage of credit cards that is causing a huge dent in our pockets.
Radhika Ganesan says
Last para had the most important info regarding billing … i have personally experienced wrong billing TWICE and we (friends and i) were really upset with it ! First time i thought i could be because its really over crowded but seeing it happening the second time was sad ! My roomies and i have started avoiding malls because they are too overcrowded, too messy , you have to wait for hours in the queue for billing ! And as you said , we end up buying more than what we want !!!!
Deepak says
You all should know one more trick BigBazaar is playing now. They are selling BigBazaar credit cards in tie up with ICICI bank like hot cakes. Also they have come up with Future money an arm of Future group to fund your high cost items in the form of EMI’s. They are employing all possible mechanisms to upsell their products and customers like us are the scape goats. They repeatedly post QoQ, YoY profits like anything while we are the stupid idiots having no savings at the end of the day.
Other day, I was in the same bigbazaar outlet and though we had not purchased Onions, 3Kg’s of it was existing in our bill. After a huge shout at the billing counter and having it checked all again by unpacking the tied bags, they reverted the amount. Be cautious friends.
Ved Prakash says
Isn’t it funny that we go to shopping malls without the list of items required? Very valid point. I will ensure to make a list of items before heading to Big bazaar, Total mall, Food world etc., with immediate effect. Also i have many a times observed that the “Kaka stores” are more cheaper with better quality. I miss those stores nowadays. I should go in search of one 😛
Chintan says
Nice topic Mohan. I see a great value in your last para as pointed out by Shrinidhi. Everytime I go to any shopping mall, I end up buying many not so needy items there by the bill shoots up. I feel going to a friendly next door shop makes more sense as the prices are more or less the same and you go with a list of what you want.
All these shopping malls including BigBazaar are nothing but promoters of upselling by offering wide range of items under one roof.
Shrinidhi Hande says
Your last Para is what makes this post worth. I’ve explained in my most certain factors customers should keep in mind while shopping at supermarkets…
One needs to verify if their billing system is updated with the reduced prices. Also cheating in quantity is common… They run this mega discount sales several times an year-so nothing special in that. Also, I find their collection and quality relatively poor
Shrinidhi Hande says
Your last Para is what makes this post worth. I’ve explained in my most certain factors customers should keep in mind while shopping at supermarkets…
One needs to verify if their billing system is updated with the reduced prices. Also cheating in quantity is common… They run this mega discount sales several times an year-so nothing special in that. Also, I find their collection and quality relatively poor