Like weekly TV Serial episodes, one thing I wait excitedly with undiminished enthu' week after week is the weekly flier of stores. Though I don't run out the door immediately to buy those attractive items that are advertised, it astonishes me every time to see the effort and work that goes to make these fliers!! Every time I look at the beautiful pictures on super "வழ வழ" paper, I am reminded of my grandfather who would've admired and raved about the high quality paper!! My experience ranges from joy on seeing the humidifier (that the doctor just suggested) on sale to 'வயதெரிச்சல்' on knowing that the butter I bought for $3 a week earlier is on sale for 1/2 price the next week to ecstasy on having a coupon applied for the already on sale item!! The sale items even has helped me many times to come up with a menu on mind-racking Sunday evenings!!
One labour day weekend we landed at the mall having missed the train to Boston! I stumbled on a handbag with a $30 price tag, 50% off for labour day! From then on, every long weekend, I began insisting on going to the mall to going on trips!! It felt sinful to buy anything on regular price! My 'only on sale' policy was getting so (in)famous back home with my mother telling everyone "என் பொண்ணு கீரை கூட sale தான் வாங்குவா(My daughter even buys Spinach when they are on sale)!"!
On our first thanksgiving here, I was overwhelmed by all the 'black friday' sale ads. With each store in one-one corner, we dropped the idea of running from store to store and decided on going to the nearest store, Walmart. Since the flier said, 6AM-11AM, we went 'சாவகாசமா' at 9 AM(proudly thinking we so made it in the time frame!) and was shocked to see the ransacked state of the store! Only in the evening news, did we see the mad rush that happens on these BFs!!! Subsequent year my husband wanted to go to Nashua in New Hampshire(no sales tax state!) for BF purchase and our friends in Nashua discouraged him saying they themselves were going to the next city, Manchester, NH as Nashua desi crowds were getting unbeatable!!
And then came Christmas sale, then Valentine Sale, then Easter Sale, then Memorial day Sale... Almost every month there was a sale! Every year the same items went on sale during the appropriate times! The most eye-opening was my purchase of a clock radio(I wanted one ever since I watched "Ground Hog Day") for $9.99 on sale at a high-end store and finding the same brand clock at Walmart for $9.97!!!!
"Where else do you find counselling for shopping stress?" comments Varun(Nagesh Kukunoor) about US shoppers in the movie, "Hyderabad Blues". Now with online shopping and price comparisons and product review websites, things are getting even worse! I am so skeptical to buy anything without reading about it that even to buy a tooth brush, I'm on the web searching for reviews(and wondering if the reviewers are genuine!)!!!!!
17 comments:
mmm.. On our first black friday here, we were in Miami holidaying, but I went prepared with Best Buy locations for the sale, much to the surprise of my host. Luckily, I managed to buy my 'dream item', the laptop..
well!a good realisation I would say.//"என் பொண்ணு கீரை கூட sale தான் வாங்குவா//ivalo sale famousa neega?I have gone to Thanksgiving sale once just to observe people there.Had fun.I have observed one thing that every year the same items come on sale.எல்லா பொருட்களும் எல்லா நேரமும் கிடைக்காது.Summer time sale items vanga miss panna,then you have to wait till next summer to see that item.nalla marketting technique these people have to lure people.;)--SKM
ennadhu, is buying chinese trash ur idea of holiday-shopping?!
Your Mom's keerai pride is applause-worthy.:-) Thats why we need Moms, to talk high of us no matter what we do, right?
Nothing like making us feel like being clever having bought an item on "sale"! No other sales technique can beat that.
raju, wow! So, did you go BF shopping (in the cold) this time?
skm, "எல்லா பொருட்களும் எல்லா நேரமும் கிடைக்காது." - Quite true! During my first trip to India, I wanted to get some frocks for my friend's kids and since it was around November, I couldn't find any cotton ones and the velvet/holiday dresses எல்லாம் நம்ம ஊர்ல எங்க போடறது!!
i, where on earth can you escape them now??
deepa, you are making me homesick!
jc, by the time we realise that they would've made all their profits and would've started their 'going out of business' sale!!
deivamay.....eppadi eppadi eppadi...how do u do it???
....i hate those ads....thats the only reason my mail box gets filled up.....
...never thot abt going to thanksgiving sale ..i dont have the drive to buy something standing in the cold....
....i hate mail in rebate thing....till now i got 2 MIR ...one for $80 and another one for $100....i forgot to mail them both....:(((
...i would love to have u as my neighbor...anytime i want to get something....i would just ask you....
@ME: LOL!
//i hate mail in rebate thing....//
neega anupa marandha avan yenna saivan.
you shd atleast once go to this sale.X-mas sale is coming.oru 7 manikku pongo.summa janaga eppdi parakurangannu pathuttu vanga.It is fun.aana 7Am kadai kalaiyanalum aacharya padradhukkilla.Have fun.
--SKM
MeToo,indha dresses irukke,Oh!god!romba kashtam.colorful cotton spring season la mattum varum.xmas time ore red and green.easter time light shade of blue and pink.Kadavulae ivanga selection adhai vida.Hi,Nalla irukae nu edutha adhu kandippa"made in India"nu than irukum.--SKM
lol@response to I.
most of the clothes-stores stock garments made in Bangladesh or Pakistan :/
me, "baktha, move South, escape the cold and save some money(with this neighbour's help!)"! Infact, my husband is such a person that when he gets to know of a good deal(in electronics, ofcourse!), he will be so heart-broken if he cannot find anybody in our circle who would want to avail it!!!
skm, yes, 'made in India'-nnu potta dress-ai kondu poi India-le kudhutha avanga enna nenaipaanga!!
ttm, I was quite surprised when my Dad wouldn't buy clothes with 'made in Pakistan' tag!!
didnt notice sandaikozhi's comment. 'Oru tshirt/jersey kooda vaangama vandhirukke solraanga' anga pona. avangala eppadi puriya vekka?
It's becoming very difficult to decide what to buy(besides shoes,electronics,perfumes) for folks in india :(
They could use some good soap.
//skm, yes, 'made in India'-nnu potta dress-ai kondu poi India-le kudhutha avanga enna nenaipaanga!//
yup,adhuthan prachanai.This year when we visited they asked us not to bring any chocolates,dress,but instead asked us to bring storage boxes for cereal,sugar etc; travelling pillows kind,notebooks,and dryfruits.--SKM
Me2: innimel i will buzz u before i buy some electronic stuff....
SKM: adhulam evalovo mel....enga veetu makkal asking ipod,cellphone,digicam&laptop....
...othar othara kekamodhu aadi poyiten....
no no.. Not much to buy this time, so got up lil late (6 AM) and went to buy the portable DVD player for my wife.. thats it.. I was amazed when my undergrad told that she stood whole night in rain and cold to buy the Plasma TV.. sema enthu.. chance-ey illa
ttm, yes, India shopping is getting to be the most stressful!!
i, actually, I brought back some 'Mysore sandals' this time from India!
skm, those are good ideas except that they occupy too much space in the luggage.
me, we will buzz you about sending in your MIR! ;)
raju, whole night for Plasma TV, huh? Wow!
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