Navi mumbai: APMC traders offer discounts ahead of Diwali

With Diwali fast approaching, Navi Mumbaikars are making a beeline to the city’s APMC market to make their purchases. Buyers are looking out for everything this festive season, from grains to dry fruits and other consumables, and are going the extra mile to ensure they’re of good quality. Not only are they pleased to have so much variety in the wholesale market, but the traders are also encouraging them by offering good discounts.

“We come to the APMC market to get the best quality in foodgrains, something we do not get in malls or retail stores. While there are around 35 varieties of wheat available in the wholesale market, the retail shops in malls have only 5-10 varieties. Also, there is lot of difference in the rates at which the stock is sold in the APMC market and at which they are available in malls. We do not mind spending extra on fuel if we get good quality foodgrains at a cheaper rate in the APMC market,” said Sapna Jain, a Kharghar resident and a homemake, who  has been purchasing her kitchen stock from the wholesale market during Diwali every year.

Vashi resident and medical practitioner, Vrunda Pathak, said that she routinely purchases her essentials in malls, but this year she plans to visit the APMC market to see what is on offer.

Besides this, wholesalers are also offering discounts ranging from 15-20% on various foodgrains, so as to attract buyers. Some traders are even offering to deliver the goods to buyers’ residences, since the latter have been visiting them from areas in Navi Mumbai and also from neighbouring Mumbai, Thane, Panvel, and Kalyan areas. Some are coming down all the way from areas in the western suburbs to Vashi to make their purchases. Traders say that to avail the home-delivery facility, buyers will have to make purchases of minimum 50kg, and its charge depends on the area of the delivery.

Now that traders are offering discounts to attract consumers, the chairman of the Navi Mumbai Merchants Chamber and unit chief of the Confederation of All India Traders Kirti Rana said the former now face competition from malls. Also since the wholesalers at APMC offer quality grains and have less expenses, they can afford to sell at a lesser profit margin, which is not the case with malls.

“Also this year, many traders have made bulk purchases as most people will be getting their salaries by the the end of October since Diwali will fall in the first five days of  November. These are the people who stock foodgrains as they have some money in their hand as well as they get quality. So, to attract them even the traders dole out discounts and earn good profit,” Rana added.

ADDING SOME FESTIVE CHEER
Residents are out shopping for food grains, dry fruits and other consumable goods in the APMC market, and are going the extra mile to ensure they’re of good quality. Not only are they pleased to have so much variety in the wholesale market, but the traders are also encouraging them by offering good discounts

Wholesalers are also offering discounts ranging from 15-20% on various foodgrains, so as to attract buyers. Some traders are even offering to deliver the goods to buyers’ residences, since the latter have been visiting them from areas in Navi Mumbai and also from neighbouring
Mumbai, Thane, Panvel, and Kalyan areas. For the home-delivery facility, buyers will have to make purchases of minimum 50kg; charges will depend on area

Wholesalers at APMC offer good quality grains and have less expenses, they can afford to sell at a lesser profit margin, which is not the case with malls

Many traders have made bulk purchases as most people will be getting their salaries by the end of October, since Diwali will fall in the first five days of  November. These are the people who stock foodgrains as they have some money in their hand as well as they get quality. To attract them even the traders dole out discounts and earn good profit