Everything is available, except…

I moved to India recently, after staying in US for almost 14 years. And, I am writing some of my experiences here in India, which are very common growing up in India, but I found them strange now. And, I am sure there are reasons behind it, just that I am not able to explain.

While setting up a place to stay (long time) in India, I went on appliances shopping spree, the common ones like Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Microwave, TV etc.

There are many online options like Amazon.in, FlipKart.com, RelianceDigital.in, TATACliq.com to name a few. Though, large appliances usually need in-person feeling and then could be explored online.

While going to in-store, I found that prices are not much difference than online, so decided to purchase from in-store because of two reasons. (1) They stress on after-sale “service”. Not sure what exactly it is because the installation and any other warranty and related services are provided by the manufacture partners anyway! (2) Warranty in-store vs on-line could be different for the same product (like Costco provides longer warranty compared to other stores). But, more about them in separate article.

Usually, when we go to electronics stores like BestBuy in US, we get to see most of the available options in the store itself. And, once you purchase it, you can simply take right there if you can carry them (while typing this, I can just visualize folks loading huge TVs or Sofas in their truck from Costco or Walmart). If you cannot take them with you, then schedule for delivery (with extra cost ). In India, most deliveries are free — except if delivery guys had to carry the appliance up to multi-story buildings.

Coming back to the main topic “Everything is available, except…”. So, while visiting in-store for appliances in India, I’ve noticed that the stores carried very limited modes or styles or colors for display (or for same in warehouse), and in most cases they don’t have the one you researched (online) or wanted. Though, they can somehow order it or get it from somewhere. Which changes the entire concept of what is available for consumer. Just because it is not on the floor, doesn’t mean it is not available for sale. Just ask for it, you would get pretty much everything.

Another experience of “Everything is available, except…”, but this time the item in really not available. Went for show shopping for kids, liked a particulate design and asked for desired size, and not available. Then selected second choice of design, again — desired size not available. In short, everything is available, except “the one you like or want or need”.

There is another store to tell about the experience with “Installation”, and I will write about them in separate article.