Gitex Shopper 2018: Customers play the waiting game

Dubai - Few were carrying the usual bundles of shopping bags you'd expect to see at a retail haven.

The 'wait to buy' approach seems to be the method of choice for many of the Gitex Shopper visitors who turned out on the first two days of the popular five-day event. 
Of the thousands of shoppers flocking Halls 4-6 of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Tuesday and Wednesday, a few were carrying the usual bundles of shopping bags you'd expect to see at a retail haven. So Khaleej Times spoke to visitors to find out why. 
"This is my first time here, but I've already been given some good tips by past visitors. They tell me not to buy on the first few days, as the closing day discounts and bundle offers are usually better," Umesh Nair said. 
Manav Chotrani, a sales officer (exports) for Jacky's Middle East, said bundle deals and further discounts are common across all stands during the last days. 
"The first few days are always busy because it's the initial stage and consumers come in to see what deals are on. And on the last few days, yes, bundle deal offers do increase, but it really depends on demand.
For instance, deals on products like the iPhone 10s and 10s Max will be unlikely to differ because they are in demand. But we always try to match the competition and if we don't match price, we'll add more products to bundles."
"For instance, if we start with 50,000 products at the start of Gitex Shopper, we will reduce the price or offer better bundles on about 20,000 of those products," meaning around 40 per cent of the product deals are altered to better suit the consumer's needs at the point of sale. 
Many shoppers feel they have "more bartering power" during the concluding hours of Gitex Shopper, so if buyers are patient, it could prove to be the best time to buy.
With a Dh2,000-Dh3,000 budget in mind for his TV, Nair said if he comes away spending less than anticipated, he'll be a happy man. 
"If you're looking for a good deal, I'd say that's your best bet. It really depends on the product though. If it's something new to the market, I'd buy it quick. But I'm on the lookout for an LED TV and there are plenty of options, so I'll wait."
For Emirati Majed Majjan, the product scope on offer at this year's event has been "better than ever". And that has meant more time spent checking out what stands have the best deals. 
"I never buy straight away. This Gitex is all about the shopper so we have the ability to cater a product and bundle deal to what we want. I'll come over the next few days and will probably buy on the last day, as offers always increase, as does the footfall."
So for those who choose to wait until the last days of the exhibition before flashing their cash, history has shown that their patience will likely be rewarded, as retailers have made a point of slashing prices further for the weekend rush.
But for six-year residents Alessandra and Marco Rossitto, this is the first time they've heard about the wait to buy trend. 
"This is about our third time here. I can imagine the deals will be better during the closing weekend but to be honest, it will probably be jam-packed too. So we'll likely just seek out the best deals today or tomorrow instead. And maybe we're too impatient to wait." 
kelly@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
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