Tips for early Christmas shoppers

10/18/2009

The Philippines, the only Christian-country in Asia, celebrates the longest Christmas. By September we can already hear Christmas tunes and songs in the air and some already making Christmas decorations.

For some budget-conscious shoppers, they start looking around for Christmas gifts for friends and relatives because prices for goods and products are still much cheaper. And also during this time the crowds in the shopping malls are lesser. But as December nears, prices will be higher and buyers will be more.

For Christmas shoppers an ideal place to visit is the Greenhills Shopping Complex. A pre-Christmas trade fair dubbed Philippine Toys, Gifts, Housewares and Christmas Decors Fair is ongoing until Nov. 2. The day trade fair is expected to be crowded by shoppers and bargain hunters looking for high quality but low-priced products and goods as gifts.

The tiangge king, Henry Babiera, offers some tips on how one can get best deal for hard-earned money.

Babiera said shoppers must be in simple attire if they prefer tiangges. By this way, then can move easily and more comfortable. But here, beware of pick pockets and slashers. They thrive where there is a big crowd.

Shoppers can get much lower price of goods and services in tiangges, especially if they know how to haggle prices.

First, Babiera says you must have a complete list of all the items you plan to buy and stick to that list. The purpose of the list is to prevent you from impulse buying. Then check how much cash or credit you can spend.

But when shopping, go around and compare prices. For example, when shopping at the tiangge, go from one booth to another. Check the merchandise. See if it is okay. Check for rips, tears, dirt or smears. Ask the price. Then the price you want. If the seller is reluctant, give a higher price. If the seller is still reluctant, pretend to leave or transfer to another booth.

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