LAHORE: E-commerce and online shopping continue to be popular as Eid approaches, but that does not mean traditional shopping sprees have died down.

Customers, interviewed at random, said they shopped online because the prices were reasonable. Clothes, accessories, gift items were most popular articles being sold on websites among an array of products. But the shopping was not limited to personal items only; it involved electronics as well. With even televisions available on up to 70 per cent discount on one of the websites, many people bought appliances before the festive occasion.

“The discounts offered online are so tempting,” said Ammad, a banker. “I don’t usually spend in Ramazan, but these deals lure one into buying something.”

For some, the convenience of online shopping is everything. “By the end of the month, I just can’t be bothered to drive in traffic and go shopping. It’s so convenient and timely online, and we get to see what deals we can get. Now, most stores have their own websites where they have a home delivery option, so the best part is sitting at home and browsing everything they have,” said Ayesha, an interior decorator.

For others, online shopping is restricted to accessories. “I can’t buy clothes online if I don’t know what kind of material it is, and sometimes they look different in pictures than they are in reality,” said a college student. “So my sister and I just order things like costume jewellery or bags.”

Some customers feel online shopping spoils a festive event such as Eid.

“Shopping is like socialising,” said Mehreen, a school teacher. “You go out and are among people and that is half the excitement of bazaars. Online shopping may be convenient, but the glamour of public shopping is different.”

And while online shopping is more popular in middle socioeconomic classes, the upper class tends to gravitate towards labels and malls, preferably in posh localities. Shopping malls in the Defence Housing Authority, Gulberg and Cantt saw an influx of customers.

“We get all kinds of people here. But because of the labels and price tags, the elite class shops more,” said the manager of a branded clothes shop. “However, we are also getting orders through our websites.”

Off from work and closer to holidays, it is the middle and lower classes who go out to shop despite the harsh weather. The upper class is mostly already done with its shopping much prior to Eid.

Ramzan also involves a lot of charity work, including providing food for the poor. Donations also rise as the month proceeds towards Eid. Edhi Centre kiosks reported receiving more and more bags of clothes and monetary donations.

This year, as a repercussion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, more Chinese goods have come in, including smuggled goods, said economist Dr Qais Aslam.

“The middle and lower classes always think twice before buying anything, but these smuggled goods are sometimes excellent copies of original products and for half the price, so they are bought in large numbers.”

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2018