Chennai Through the
Eyes of a Bargainer

chillibreeze writer — Julian Gomes

Need an editable PowerPoint map of India

Almost all of the major cities of India have areas where the hard-core bargain sniffer frequents. If you’re Indian, chances are that you already know Chennai was called Madras and even earlier called ‘Madraspatnam’ which was a collection of villages and settlements around Fort St. George. The most recent tag bestowed on Chennai is “Detroit of South Asia”. But the mission of this article is not to bore you with mundane and brain numbing details of Chennai and its population, rainfall, climate etc. This article is meant to give you a head start in hunting down that bargain you can find in Chennai regardless of whether or not you actually need the product or have any use for it!

Now, depending upon your age and taste, you might find different spots appealing to you. The young bargainer might be interested in Burma Bazaar which is popular for imported items which include electronic gadgets, nik naks, perfumes and accessories. The more laid back and middle aged shopper might like to shop at T.Nagar and Anna Salai (Mount Road).

Any reference material or hearsay might point you to the most common shopping areas in Chennai like T.Nagar, Parrys and Anna Salai. Be warned that these areas whilst being haggle friendly to shoppers; they do not offer any degree of comfort while shopping. Be ready to be confronted with trampled toes, deadly elbows and no respect for your personal space, but just as any self respecting haggler, we push forward in the face of adversity.

George Town has some of the best deals if you’re looking to buy cloth materials, decorations, furniture small and large. Your bargaining prowess in Chennai would yield different degrees of success and satisfaction depending on many factors, which include:

How well you know the product you’re buying
How well you can pretend that you really don’t need what you’re buying
You get a better bargain if you’re a frequent customer
Your ability to haggle in the local language - Tamil

No doubt a lot of these vendors might know Hindi but prefer to stick to speaking Tamil as it gives them the edge to stick to their price. It’s always advisable to take someone with you who knows Tamil and preferably from Chennai to maximize your chances of nailing the bargain. Another advantage with taking a local friend along with you is saving on the commute to the shopping destination, as your friend would know the shortest route to take to get you there, and if you’re traveling by auto-rickshaw you will most definitely get ripped off if you do not speak the vernacular.

Ideally, the vendor would set the price of the commodity anywhere between 150%-200% of the actual selling price depending on your attire and composure. In order to tip the scales in your favor you should begin your pitch at 40%-50% of the selling price, it might seem a little too drastic but this is the dynamics of city shopping for a bargain, eventually you justify your pitch by elaborating the above mentioned points and settle for 70%, and head home happy with your purchase.

For the electronics buffs, there’s Ritchie Street near Mount Road to push all your right buttons. This is the Mecca for gadget lovers, there’s virtually everything you need and again haggle friendly. Things you find here range from Cameras, Computers, Mobile Phones, both branded and unbranded. But beware; products bought at the roadside for a steal-of-a-deal might just end up as a paper-weight once you reach home.

The hot spots for shopping make it easier for the shoppers looking out for a bargain with vendors yelling out “special offer” prices, all the while lowering their prices to compete with the adjacent shop. I guess we could say that there really is “Power in Numbers” when it comes to shopping here. “Two for the price of one” offers are dime a dozen here. All you have to do is ask, chances are you will be lucky more than once before the day is over.

Another favorite haunt for those seeking good deals and great shopping is Purasawalkam, this area is popular because it is easily accessible as it is located near both the railway stations Chennai Central and Egmore. There are many textile showrooms showcasing the best, but don’t hesitate to venture into the all of the side streets off the main road as these shops are where the best deals are available. It is not surprising to find showroom quality products at a fraction of the cost (after haggling of course!!) without compromising on quality. The proximity to Parry’s corner (named after Thomas Parry) another favorite among hardcore shoppers is a double bonanza if you are shopping in and around Purasawalkam. Parry’s corner is possibly among the oldest shoppers paradise areas of Chennai. Let your inhibitions go and you will not be disappointed with the results, Parry’s has different streets offering different merchandise that you might be interested in, for e.g.;

Anderson Street for Paper and Paper Products
Badrian Street for fireworks
Devraj Mudali Street for cosmetics
Elephant Gate Street for textiles
Kasi Chetty Street for stationery

Bear in mind that these vendors in Parry’s are mostly wholesale dealers and haggling for a good deal is the way to go.

Of course you have the convenience and charm of the new shopping malls armed with all the brands from Sony to Levis but nothing would dissuade the true shopper from paying more for the merchandise than it is actually worth, and for these peculiar people nothing beats trying their hand at haggling to obtain that perfect deal.

Shopping at these popular shopper hot spots is a delight for bargain seekers and no amount of swank and “SALE” gimmick can lure away the charm of the flea markets where a bargaining experience is valued more than the best discount available at the most popular chain of stores.

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in May, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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Chennai Through the Eyes of a Bargainer

chillibreeze writer — Julian Gomes

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Chennai Through the
Eyes of a Bargainer