Love it, hate it, but you can’t ignore it! If you are a girl residing in Delhi NCR, chances are that you’ve been to Sarojini Nagar market at least once. This place is the Holy Grail for many college going girls, and is like a goldmine for anybody who likes to shop on a budget. And for good reason! There is nothing you can’t find here; jewelry, clothes, shoes, accessories, bags, home decor items and a lot more, you name it and it’s here, that too at jaw-droppingly low prices!
If Sarojini Nagar market had a tagline, I think it would go something like this: ‘सस्ता, सुन्दर और टिकाऊ !’. Personally speaking, I love this place. If you’re not a brand-conscious person and are mainly concerned with the overall look of products, then my friend, this is the place for you. I realize that going to a flea market, such as this one, may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I think that is mainly because of some misconceptions/expectations regarding the quality of the goods sold here. Firstly it’s a flea market, so if you expect to get excellent quality when you’re paying Rs250 for a sweater, then you’re being highly unrealistic .Secondly, shopping in such markets requires a lot of patience, for one needs to go through several stacks to find the good quality stuff. So please don't write-off such places unless you've spent at least two-three hours hunting. Lastly, one also needs to be lucky enough to be in the market when it is flooded with the latest trends and not the old-rejected products, which is not different from shopping in a mall.
After innumerable trips to Sarojini, I’ve come to realize that a shopper needs to possess certain key skills to emerge triumphant (aka loaded with shopping bags) from such markets.
In this article I aim to share my limited wisdom on the art of successful shopping in flea markets. Okay so here goes:-
1. Eagle eye: You must possess the ability to spot the treasures in a trash pile otherwise you won’t be able to find anything nice. Sometimes the best items are at kept at the bottom, that’s when you must channel the inner archeologist in you and dig through the stacks!
2. Super Speed: Vendors usually have only one piece in each style so you have to be as quick as a cat and grab whatever catches your eye. Absence of this skill can lead to ugly brawls between shoppers and trust me, you don’t want to be a part of that.
3. Extra Energy: Don’t even think of coming to shop in such places on an empty stomach! Maneuvering through a sea of people and searching for items to buy, requires tremendous stamina. If you think you can snack and shop at the same time in a market where one barely has any breathing space, well then... enjoy your delusions!
4. Perseverance and patience: Impulse buys- the bane of gullible shoppers and the boon of all sellers. Don’t make the rookie mistake of buying the first thing you see. Always check out the neighbouring shops to compare the prices, variety and quality. Also, the saying ‘All that glitters is not gold’ holds a special significance in this context. If you don’t want to end up with a dress with bad stitching or a top with stains on it, make it a point to examine all the items you want to buy before making the payment.
5. Badass bargaining: I saved the best for the last. Bargaining is the essence of Sarojini Nagar, that rush of adrenaline when you successfully manage to get the price of the product reduced substantially, or when you pull off the ‘walking away from the shop’ acting bit, is truly unmatched! For those of you whose negotiation skills are not 'on point', here is a little tip: always quote 50% of the price stated by the vendor as an offer to him and then gradually keep on increasing it to meet him mid-way. But you should also know when to put your ego aside and pay as asked because it’ll be a steal no matter what!
Once you get the hang of it and have all the best shops mapped out clearly in your mind, it’ll be an experience second to none. Also, never underestimate the fashion related knowledge of the vendors. They are some of the first ones to know about the latest trends, thus not only are they selling you the good stuff but also telling you about the items that are popular -two for the price of one!
So ladies hone these skills and avoid going to Sarojini on weekends, but if you can’t do so, then ‘May the force be with you’ !
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