I 100% agree with Mr Andrew's analysation.And I am surprised to see a foreigner making out such a exact grass root level analysation.Indians bargain a lot just because they are not poor,but its an tendency that they developed during the course of time.And this tendency is not just Indian but I would say its an Asian.Lot of Asian country people have this tendency.I found people bargaining for small electronics to big cars like Benz or BMW(Car dealers in US very well know about it.).One big Asian customer phenomenon is that low cost with hight quality. This is clearly demonstrated in many ways.For example Nokia sells more phones in Asia(But in US Nokias are not very often seen with People).Another example to quote is about cars.majority of the Asian commnity in US drive either Toyota,Honda,Nissan...some Asian Brand since they believe they are of good reliability.
Secondly,regarding the small road side vendors and kirana stores,I don't see any threat to their business.Because in US in spite of having huge Walmarts and other large retailers,there are tons of small individually owned stores running successfully and making good money.With huge population and difference in mentalities there are customers for every kind of business in India.
RE:I agree with Mr Andrew
by venu pillai on Dec 05, 2007 04:56 PM Permalink
s customers will approach the indiviual stores and roadside venors and kirana stores becuase they can get good quality products or they can complaint to them or replace the material or otherwise can enjoy the warranty claim offered by the manufactuers through them.
Further roadside vendors are supplying fully fresh material and they bring the material every day in small quantity.
Considering the above I do not feel that the retail out let make a threat to them. Retial outlet is only a fashion purchase not a qulity and cheapest one.
In short i have been seeing every day that one roadside vendor near to one branded retail shop selling his product in good quantity than the retail shop. I have seen good rush in front of the vendor than the retail shop. So we can very well say Indian women are quality and price concious.
RE:I agree with Mr Andrew
by kanu kangal on Dec 04, 2007 09:22 AM Permalink
What do you expect from Andrew or for that mater any salesman ? He will always say what you want to hear. I have travelled/dealt with people everywhere, most intelligent consumer are german, americans,Greeks. They go by the adage 'Value for the money'. Some items are priced so high in India.What is the point in discounting/bargaining on already marked up item. Don't get caried away by someone's statement and then plug in your own half baked one track analysis. However such iniatives will ultimately cut down the n-number of middle man where by both producer and consumer will benefit in the long run.
