Shop the cheaper way
Shopping for household accessories can often be a daunting challenge for those of us who have no idea
about costs and where to find them. Many times we just buy all of our items at one store, without even considering that there may be many other stores that sell the same items at lower prices.
- For some of these superstores, shoppers must have a membership card to gain access to the store, like at PriceSmart. The card also provides customers with discounts on items in the store. MegaMart also has discounted membership card shopping but persons without a card can still shop there.
- These superstores are lifesavers as most items are sold at wholesale prices, which is an added benefit. A wide variety of household appliances and items, including decorative vases, ready-made curtain sets, tablecloths, cushions, shower curtain sets, comforter and sheet sets, bathroom towel sets and mirrors can be purchased to jazz up the home.
- Consumers may also choose traditional stores such as Courts Jamaica or Singer to purchase furnitur e and appliances. You will find a wide variety of decorative options in addition to dressers, wardrobes and bedroom sets. When purchasing a bed, you have the option of purchasing the mattress alone or you can buy the whole set. The beds come in a variety of sizes, ranging from a simple divan to king-size for the more big at heart.
- Traditional stores have to pass on the cost of maintaining a showroom, so if you are looking for somewhere less expensive, you can get appliances and other household items at the many trader stores t hroughout the island. The majority of them are found in parish capitals, including Half-Way Tree, Mandeville, May Pen, Santa Cruz, and downtown Kingston.
Ricky Bahrunani, proprietor of Paradise Electronics and Appliances, at Premier Plaza, attributes the success of these stores to the low prices.
"These stores often specialise in elec- tronics and appliances and tend to give the traditional stores competition because their prices are often lower and customers can haggle them down if they feel they are too high," Bahrunani said.
The bottom line is the more you can do or buy yourself, the more you will save. Pablos and Ping's are fabric stores that sell all kinds of material that can be used to create a number of pieces for the home. These materials include drapery fabric, sheer fabric, decorative cushions, basic curtain fabric (which is the cheapest), taffeta and cotton curtain material. For those who prefer to make comforters themselves, the material is sold by the pound. Shower curtain material is also sold per pound.
- Pablos also offers their sewing centre service to individuals who want or know how to sew on their own. Ping's fabric store also sells a variety of fabric and other material that is sold by the yard or by pound.
- Comforter sets and ready-made drapes are also available at these stores. Pricing is depend ent on the material used in the production process.
Convenient superstores
The introduction of convenient superstores to the Jamaican consumer has eased the frustration of those of us who want to get everything in one place. Find bargains under one roof at:
- MegaMart
- PriceSmart
- BashCo
- Azmart