Daily Times

KARACHI: Sales of deep freezers and refrigerators recorded an increase of around 15-20 percent this Eid-ul-Azha, importers and traders said.

“On every Eid-e-Qurban, usually sale attracts additional buyers of total annual Hijra year sale”, Arshad Saeed, member of Karachi Electronic Dealers Association said.

Despite hike in average price of a freezer around by Rs 3,000 to 4,500 while fridge a rise of Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,700 after duties and taxation, potential buyers do not bother to make purchases, he said. The manufacturers of these domestic appliances announced schemes for promotion of sales besides traders also curtail their margins by around 5-7 percent.

During every Eid-ul-Azha, we see surge in sale. “Along with local buyers dealers and traders from interior Sindh also visited and booked orders especially for Eid-ul-Azha sale.

Usually sale improves during 20 days of Eid-ul-Azha on three counts. The domestic users want to change their old machines with new as they store more and more meat. Secondly fast food outlets and hotels wanted to replace their machines and installments dealers also increase their purchase in order to cater their customers who purchase these items on installments.

People with intention to give these machines to their daughters’ on weddings also make purchases in number. “Immediately after Eid, wedding events are held without break as next month is Muharram-ul-Harram when no wedding takes place,” he asserted. Buyers who are in dire need and can afford buy these products of their choice.

Sale during Eid is more than around 15-20 percent of total sale in whole year, because people bought items in order to celebrate Eid with new stuff.

Saeed of Apollo Electronics at Abdullah Haroon Road said Chinese and Taiwan-made products were in demand this time, but they would not be able to grab more than 20 percent of market share, as there was no warranty and non-availability of after sale service for such products.

People prefer locally-manufactured refrigerators and deep freezers, as the local companies guarantee after sale service and their products accompany warranty for a certain period, he added.

Amount that traders earned during this period was equivalent to 20 percent of their whole-year sale. The sale of deep freezers and fridges remain frenzied and we keep our shops open even after midnight during last 10 days, he said.