Dipchand Bihari, OP
Bhubaneswar, June 29:With Goods and Services Tax (GST) all set for a grand mid-night rollout, the bargainbuffs and shopping freaks in the city were seen scouting around major stores and shopping arcades Thursday to make the best out of the last-minute sales bonanza. It’s discount days almost everywhere out here. The nation is all set to introduce the major taxation reform that combines state and central taxes into a unified entity from July 1, through a sounding of the dong at the Central Hall of Parliament at midnight, June 30. The pre-GST panic mode saw retailers in city, as also elsewhere, clear their old inventories before the new tax regime comes into force. There is anticipation of the promised good days ahead, matched only by anxieties as to how things will finally pan out. Taking things in their stride, most of the shopping malls, retail outlets and small stalls are offering huge discounts on several products, with a view to exhausting the existing stocks. There are discounts galore on consumer durables, fashion accessories, branded apparels, automobiles, FMCG prod
ucts, and to a lot more. The white goods — such as air conditioners, washing machines and microwave ovens — come with discounts ranging from a hefty 30 to 50 per cent. On the other hand, shopkeepers and retailers are panicked over the cash flow issues in the initial days of the GST roll-out. They are in a mad rush to get rid of the old stocks. “We are in a hurry to sell items. Prices will not be same from July 1. What, if they fall? We can’t afford to bear the loss. Prevention is better than cure,” said Nimakant Rout, owner of a branded fashion store near Unit-1. Some fashion stores near Jaydev Vihar have already seen out all their old stocks, gearing up for the new tax regime. The crowds were huge at stores selling electronic goods. Retailers said, “Consumer electronics companies gave promotional offers to customers as we refused to take fresh orders. “GST has prompted us to sell old products. We have been offering 20 percent to 50 percent discounts on electronic home appliances,” said Ranjit, a store manager. “Customers get attracted by the discounts. They are getting a chance to buy branded stuff at a discount. The discount on branded footwear has been high at 40 percent at our store,”
said the manager of shoe shop, Ishad. The discount sales do not cover apparels, cars, appliances or FMCG products, though. Some city stores are also offering discounted rates for branded gymnasium instruments. There’s a flat 50 per cent discount on fitness instruments. “If that’s the way, so be it,” said a sales manager. Hear it from the buyers So, what’s the buzz in the shopper’s brain? “This is time for me to splurge on branded items. I couldn’t buy certain items of interest so far, as they were costly. With the pre-GST discounts, I got them at cheaper rates. In fact, I got a 50 percent discount on men’s wear at a premium shopping mall,” said Dhrub Mohanty, a buyer. For some, it was just an indulgence. “This is usually not the time of shopping for appliances or clothes. But, GST has led to a festival-like shopping season. It’s excitement,” said Alekha Chandra Naik, a resident of Bomikhal area. Midnight shopping spree A chain retail giant will have its doors open for customers for a grand midnight shopping bonanza on Friday . “As the nation ushers in the new tax regime, we will celebrate the Muhurat Shopping hours from 12am to 2am. There will be additional discounts for consumers during these two hours,” said Kiran Koley, store manager. The midnight shopping hours are arranged by various e-commerce sites as well.
