LAHORE, Oct 25: Sale of home appliances, especially geysers, usually picks up with the feel of winter in the air but most dealers are jittery this time round amid rumours about acute gas shortage.

Dealers in various markets and localities have displayed geysers in the hope of making a fast buck ahead of peak winter. What worries them is increase in the prices of the gadgets and expected gas paucity.

A visit to some sale points showed the prices of geysers had increased up to 30 per cent this year due to high prices of iron sheets being used in making outer layer and water tank. The rates of burners and thermostat also have gone up.

Despite obvious worries, Aftab Bashir expects to have more customers at his Iqbal Town display centre because of “lower prices than those at Abid Market.”

“A number of people have already started visiting our shop to buy geysers and heaters. I have tried to improve quality of all gadgets,” he said.

He said the prices of geysers had gone up from last year’s. “A 25-gallon geyser is now being sold between Rs11,000 and 15,000, 35-gallon between Rs13,000 and 17,000 and 50-gallon between Rs15,000 and 19,000. The price difference is due to weight and quality of iron sheet,” he said.

He said the experience of importing small geysers (six to 10 litres) by dealers in the city wasn’t successful due to shortage of expert mechanics. “Mechanics easily remove the fault in the normal geysers but not many know how to handle a special (imported) one.”

Aware of the ominous gas issues plaguing the country, Zulfiqar still hopes to have improved sales. “Most people turn to electric geysers in case of gas shortage,” he claimed.

Standing at one of the shops was Shahzad who told this reporter that he would buy geyser despite its high price. He said his family spent last winter without geyser and it was very tough doing without it.