Jan 21, 2009 01:03 AM
21624 Views
(Updated Jan 21, 2009 10:55 PM)
I had been to Home Town(@ Ishanyaa Mall in Pune) several times to gain better knowledge about the latest household items(from plastic boxes, cleaning clothes to tiles, commodes, washbasins, modular kitchens etc).
*What did I like the most in Home Town?
It's a massive, spacious showroom.exclusively for household items
Items have been organized by groups
Inside Escalator faciilty
You can get almost everything for your house
Some items(say Rs. 1000 or so) looks a good buy!
*Wooden Floor Tiles & skirting(Fake discount offer!)
Wooden flooring was on sale upto 50% during 2nd week of Jan-2009, the price after discount was listed as Rs.50 per Sq. Ft. When I saw the same item was listed during Dec, 2008(around Dec 25th), it was listed around Rs. 79 or so. I thought this is a good offer so I called up a sales person and he confirmed the discounted price as Rs.50. Fine! Then I asked about the price for "wooden skirting"(skirting is what that is being fit on side-walls for just 3 inches in height at where the FLOOR and the WALL meets!).he said there is no offer for "skirtings". Here comes the first catch. for a running meter(1 meter=~3 Sq.Ft), the cost was Rs.790.(means it comes~Rs.265 per running sq ft.) that also for simple "edged" skirtings, not for a curvy, step-cut skirting.that would have costed more than Rs.1000. I smelled "something is fishy". Ok, then I asked about the labour charge to fix those wood plates on the floor, here comes the second catch.the charge is Rs.45 per Sq.Ft. When I did a math, the cost for a single room of size 12" x 13", here is the **estimate from Home Town:
Flooring(156 Sq.ft total) @ Rs.50 per Sq.Ft.= Rs. 7, 800.00
Skirting(4 side-walls; 12+13+12+8; 45 running Sq.Ft)= Rs.11, 850.00
Labour charge(156 sq.ft @ rate of Rs.45)= Rs. 7, 020.00
Total Cost(including tax, Delivery free)= Rs. 26, 670.00
I walked-out of Home Town and immediately walked-in to another wooden flooring store(exclusive shop only for wooden floors) called "Floor Zone"(at Arcade-2 & Level-2 in Isahanyaa itself), where I found various collections/shades in wood floors. There was also a 20% offer, I chose one(much better quality than one I saw in HomeTown) which cost me Rs.99 per Sq.Ft after 20% discount(which includes labour charge an Tax), the skirting costs Rs.200 per running sq.ft, here is the **estimate from "Floor Zone":
*Flooring(156 Sq.ft total) @ Rs.99 per Sq.Ft.= Rs. 15, 444.00
Skirting(4 side-walls; 12+13+12+8; 45 running Sq.Ft)= Rs. 9, 000.00
Total Cost(including tax, delivery free)= Rs. 24, 444.00
I saved about Rs.2200.00 and got a better quality.
*What else is NOT GOOD in Home Town?
Overall the pricing(for any bigger items) is confusing, it seems it's their tactics to confuse the customers enough!
"The Great Indian Shopping festival"(Future group's business model which includes BigBazzar, Pantallons, Loot Bazzar and many other stores) - When I had purchased a IQIP's commode & designer washbasin(together was priced Rs.7999.00 in Dec, 2008), I paid the bill at 2nd floor where they have commode's section. They told me to go to ground floor, show the payment receipt and get a gift. At the ground floor counter, I was given 15 stickers(one sticker per every Rs.500 purchase) of size less than a kid's nail and was asked me to peel and stick them all in a very small notebook in order to claim a gift(which is a 6-cups set). This was a ridiculous process.it took us 15 minutes to complete the peel & sticking process. When I claimed the gift at the ground-floor counter, they told me to go to the second floor(a diffferent counter for handling gift claims) and claim it. We went there and it took another 20 minutes for handing over the gift! Wht do not they keep the gift center also at ground floor near by exit door. Only God knows!
Customer service at "Tiles" section is WORST! The sales person does not even try to help us to show the bathroom tiles which had been stacked side-wise at one corner.no one in that section is not bothering about what the customer is looking for.
*Recommendations to customers visiting Home Town:
*1. Ask every individual charges involved in buying an item(material cost, any labour cost, tax, delivery etc. mainly the supporting item's cost, say if you buy a Pillow ask price for the cover as well they might be quoting that as extra)
Only ask the price, do NOT buy them in Home Town.(They will say this offer is only for today and tomorrow.blah.blahhh; Please do not get trapped; the same item most likely be on sale within few .may be priced little differently, but if add up all individual prices of supporting item, labour and all.you may be paying same amount similar to earlier offer.
Visit other stores in Ishanyaa(even small stores could do better than Home Town)
If possible visit "Good Home Store" at Kalewadi(next to Park Town, ~6 kms from Aundh/Bermen Chowk). They have little items compared to Home Toen, but their collections look unique(particularly "lighting" items and bedroom set).
"@Home" in Ishanyaa(and also in Wakadewadi) is also good for "lighting" and decorative items. But @Home is not good for bedroom sets/wardrobes.I had bought from @Home and it gets broken.few times I had to call up their customer service. At least, they coame and fix the issue three times so far in the last 18 months.
If you still think Home Town is best in terms of value for money and acceptable quality-factors, go back Home Town to buy and enjoy at the mall as well!
Little calculative shopping can help YOU to be MORE happy at HOME!
Cheers!
