Bargain hunters trawl malls for deals

Shoppers draw up buying strategies, compare offers and take their pick

The shopping mall is their battlefield. Just like armies that draw up plans before going to war, some Dubai Shopping Festival ( DSF) visitors go into malls with a strategy to get the best offers. Some people see shopping as something that should be done as quickly as possible while others tend to shop on impulse. But to Tamara Lelian, DSF means working hard and strategising to get the best deals on her most wanted items.

“I follow a systematic approach; I go to a mall, put all the things I like on hold, then visit the next mall to see if I can find better deals. I visit three of the main malls in Dubai before finally making the purchase.”

She told Gulf News that since her shopping techniques require a lot of walking, she makes sure that she is wearing comfortable clothes and running shoes.

“I think it is totally worth it. To begin with, it gives me an opportunity to think before purchasing an item. If I go home and I am still thinking about it, that means I really want it. It also gives me a chance to go back to my mum and get a second opinion.”

She said that items running out of stock is an issue she often faces — many stores don’t hesitate to sell her held items when

To begin with, it gives me an opportunity to think before purchasing an item. If I go home and I am still thinking about it, that means I really want it. It also gives me a chance to go back to my mum and get a second opinion.”

Ta ma r a L e l i a n |

Shopper

given the opportunity. Soonto- be- married Hassan Mousa, on the other hand, is planning to get the best furniture deals for his new home.

“I am getting married next month. I still have not bought any furniture for my new house because I was waiting for DSF to start. My fiancee and I, however, have already picked out all of our furniture and left our numbers at the stores so that they call us as soon as any of the items go on sale.”

Mousa added that one of the stores has already called him regarding a bed set that went on sale, revealing that if he decides to purchase it after a discount, he will save Dh6,000.

“I think that the sale is most effective when purchasing big and expensive items like furniture because a 30 per cent discount means saving a big amount like Dh6,000.”