Today we are going to talk about the evolution of the frugal shopper, as well as those who missed this evolution.
How it all began
Those who wanted to save money were at all times, and the 20-21 centuries are no exception. Usually such people always knew where they could get something cheaper, with a discount, but of the same or comparable quality. In the late 90s – early 2000s, such places for technology were radio markets, the same Gorbushka. Then it really was possible to buy something cheaper there than in the same chain stores.
Continuation
Gradually, by the mid-2000s, online stores were added to the radio markets, many of which were located on the same Gorbushka, it was just easier for buyers to choose a product on the network and order it home (especially since stores sometimes offered free delivery in the struggle for a buyer) .
Nowadays
But gradually, online stores also began to be squeezed out by various sites like eBay, Amazon, AliExpress. These services (Amazon through intermediaries) made it possible to order gadgets, appliances, clothes and many other things (I went to the 'Everything for the kitchen' section on AliExpress and was very surprised how many convenient little things are sold there, I think that within the framework of the weekend article I will definitely tell you about them) at a price significantly lower than that of ordinary retail. Even prohibitions on the maximum amount of purchases per month by the state did not stop our buyers. And I can perfectly understand them, because when a case on Ali is sold for 2-3 dollars, and our analogue costs 1,000-1,500 rubles, then the desire to save is quite justified, especially for the regions.
Behind the times
But in today's column I wanted to talk not exactly about the evolution of buyers, but rather about those who missed this evolution. This is, of course, the older generation. Once I was in the shopping center Novye Cheryomushki, which is very similar to Gorbushkin Dvor in terms of assortment. I walked around the first floor, looked at the prices of the same products Apple and Samsung. It was clear that the guys were trading there mostly in “gray”, but prices, prices! They were at the level of PCT devices, and the profit of such tents from one smartphone is most likely higher. And then a person comes there, confident that everything is cheaper in such places, and buys the same iPhone for the same money that he costs in some Svyaznoy.
I myself somehow got into this situation. I urgently needed a bracket for a TV, there was no time to look on the Internet, so I bought it at Cheryomushki, at home I decided to look at the Yandex.market how much it cost, it turned out that in half of online stores it was 30-40% cheaper .
And you know, it became somehow a little offensive and unpleasant, not so much for myself as for those buyers who, perhaps, will never know that they actually overpaid and did not save.
The same situation was with TVs. People ran to buy them en masse when prices had already risen and there was no particular sense in such a purchase in order to save their savings.
Conclusion
Perhaps in today's conclusion, I urge you, dear readers, not to be lazy and tell the older generation about current trends and help them choose a store that has a good price for the equipment they need. Sellers have a simple task – to get the maximum profit.