Consumers demanded expansion of discount offers

Outlets that raise their competitiveness with quality initiatives to ensure the best prices and cash returns

• The initiatives are an added value to the dealers and a positive phenomenon in the competitiveness of the markets.

  Emirates today

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The retail market in the country has recently witnessed competitive manifestations between outlets to raise market sales shares through qualitative value-added initiatives, most notably ensuring low prices for consumers, in addition to offering cash returns for purchases.

Consumers indicated to «Emirates Today», that it is necessary to keep pace with these initiatives, with the further expansion of discount offers, and that the initiatives do not affect the number of offers.

In turn, retail officials stated that these initiatives are an added value to customers and a positive phenomenon of market competitiveness, while an expert in retail trade called for a greater focus on competitiveness in price reductions.

retail

In detail, the consumer, Mahmoud Ibrahim, said that “a number of retail outlets have become focused on their competitiveness during the recent period through qualitative initiatives, the most prominent of which is ensuring the provision of lower prices compared to other outlets or giving buyers cash returns through gift cards or loyalty cards,” pointing out that "These initiatives are positive, but they should not affect the amount of discount offers offered."

And the consumer, Hassan Ali, considered that “qualitative initiatives to guarantee prices and others have positive repercussions on consumers and outlets alike, and also raise consumers’ confidence in outlets that allow these initiatives, especially since price guarantee initiatives are available through two types, the first provides the commodity for free when Verifying through purchase receipts that they are available at lower prices in the market, and the second return of the price, when there are lower prices in the outlets of sale in Dubai.

And the consumer, Issam Othman, added that “the initiatives that outlets compete with recently, including guaranteeing prices, are positive things, but it is important that they do not negatively affect the volume of discount offers, which most consumers need more.”

And the consumer, Kamal Abdul Majeed, pointed out that “these initiatives must be accompanied by expansions in the discount offers, especially since their introduction raises the concerns of some consumers by relying on these initiatives only, and reducing the number of discount offers.”

Price Guarantee

In turn, the Director of the Marketing and Happiness Department at the Union Coop, Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki, said that "the cooperative launched the product price guarantee initiative, which allows consumers to obtain compensation for the price differences of any goods sold at cooperative outlets and are available at lower prices in retail outlets in Dubai."

He added that "the initiative, which was welcomed by consumers, depends on providing the feature of matching the prices of purchased purchases compared to other outlets that operate only in retail trade, while the price differences will be returned to the consumer, by adding (the amount) in the cooperative loyalty card."

He explained that "the initiative contributes to limiting the rise in prices in the markets, by raising the rates of competitiveness among retail outlets in Dubai, which positively affects the sector or consumers in obtaining goods at reasonable prices," noting that "the initiative keeps pace with the plans of periodic discount offers that The cooperative will not be affected by this initiative.”

quality initiatives

For his part, the official spokesman for the "Aswaaq" group centers, affiliated with the "Dubai Government Investment Corporation", Abdul Hamid Al Khashabi, said that "the qualitative initiatives in the retail sector, which have recently spread in the markets, keep pace with the high competitiveness in the sector positively," pointing out that "The group has a qualitative initiative by giving buyers cash returns through the group's (Wafa) cards, at rates ranging between 5 and 10 percent, according to the value of purchases."

Positive policies

The Director of Community Relations and Public Relations at the Sharjah Cooperative, Faisal Khaled Al Naboodah, explained that “the competitiveness of initiatives in the retail sector is one of the positive policies that bring benefits to consumers and outlets, and thus increase initiatives with discount offers,” pointing out that “the cooperative was introduced through the Center (Al-Rahmaniya) is an initiative that gives consumers, upon purchase for certain times, cash returns through gift cards and purchases.

Ibrahim Al-Bahr, an expert in retail affairs and head of “Al Bahar Consulting” company, considered that “the qualitative initiatives from various outlets are positive, but the most important thing for consumers is to increase discount offers more effectively because they provide direct benefits to consumers, as well as provide greater sales to outlets.” He pointed out that "some initiatives focus on marketing aspects of outlets and competitive factors with other outlets."

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