WHO YOU CAN EXPECT TO BUMP INTO WHILE SHOPPING
Who: The ultimate bargain hunter Name: Ranzel Barretto, India
“I’m born and brought up in Dubai and whenever Gitex Shopper is here, I come. I would definitely categorise myself as a bargain buyer. In the weeks leading up to this event, I research prices online and in-store for the product I have my eye on and I actually keep an excel sheet with all the shops, products and price details on it. That way I’m best prepared for bartering on the best deals at Gitex Shopper. Researching hard like that really does help me. I find it’s not so much about saving money here though, because product prices aren’t much different than in the shops; it’s more about getting more bang for your buck. Last year I walked away with a phone and the bundle included a power bank, Bluetooth headset, headphones, an extra charging lead... More than what a shop purchase would have got me. This year I want a better smartphone; the Samsung s9 Plus. I want a phone that will last me three to four years.”
Who: The student Name: Abdullah Khan, India University: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai
“This is my first time at Gitex Shopper. I came for the low prices and bundle deals. I’m on the hunt for a gaming laptop. I’ve thought about getting one for a long time but talked myself out of it as I already had a laptop. But when I heard Gitex Shopper was coming to Dubai again, I decided to wait and save up some more money so I could finally buy something. My budget is Dh5,000-Dh6,000; Dh4,000 of which I saved over two years. When it comes to bundle deals, I’ll be looking for something with antivirus software included. It’s a must nowadays. I’m studying mechanical engineering at university and I’m a graphic designer and 3D designer in my spare time. So it’s good to have the most up to date tech at my fingertips.”
Who: The first-timer Name: Paul Hunt, UK
“This is my first time here and I’ve come to buy. I’ve been looking for a TV for a while now and I ended up doing some research before coming today, just that I could get an idea of prices so I would be in a good position to barter. And...so far so good. I managed to bring down the price of one TV already. The stand next door offered me a better deal, so I went back to the first salesman and got him to bring down the price from Dh3,000 to Dh2,600. I’m aiming for Dh2,500 though. I may be a first-timer but I’m not shy when it comes to haggling on price. It’s a good event, especially if you’re looking for something specific, but I can imagine it being a place where you end up spending money you didn’t really plan on spending, because the bundle deals are enticing.”
Who: The fitness tech fanatic Name: Aindrea Sewell, US
“I heard about Gitex Shopper from friends and I’ve come here for one thing; a fitness watch. I’ve been looking for it for ages and it’s been on the market for about 18 months now but I’ve been biding my time waiting for it to go down in price. When I realised this event was coming to Dubai, I took it as a sign to finally buy the thing. The watch is only about Dh550 in shops, so it’s not mega expensive and today I’d be happy to spend Dh400 on it. I know people say the last few days give the best bargains but I’m not coming back. I’m here for one day only so I’ll be buying today, no questions asked.”