Rechargeable fan and light products are in high demand among consumers as the hot season approaches.
In order to cope with the coming frequent and sudden power outages, many people in HCMC have found an effective solution to their problem by purchasing rechargeable fans and lights.
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| Shopping for a rechargeable fan. |
Taking this opportunity, many electronics stores have swiftly stocked their shelves with these products to meet growing customer demand. Hundreds of rechargeable items are selling everyday at these stores. Brands such as Blacker, Sunca, and The East Panasonic, originating from China, are dominating the market.
At Cho Lon electronics store, an average of 50 - 70 rechargeable fans are sold everyday, sometimes even 100. The two most common brands here are Midea and Blacker, the latter a more popular option due to its lower price.
Blacker rechargeable fan products, during its discount period at Bic C Supermarket around mid-April, were sold out the same day they were made available. Many other locations of Big C have been out of stock for over a week now.
Nguyen Van Long, from Ward No.3, Binh Thanh District said, "I wanted to buy 2 rechargeable fans for my family to use for when there is a power outage, so I went to Big C on Nguyen Kiem Road to check it out. However, when I got to the store on the afternoon of May 11, an employee informed me that they were all sold out, and she was unsure when the new stock would arrive. I visited a few other electronics stores and the result was much the same."
Tu Trinh electronics centre has been welcoming dozens of customers coming in to look for rechargeable fan products everyday. One employee at this store told us, "Sunca rechargeable fans are selling very fast at the prices of VND 790,000 (USD 40) and VND 890,000 (USD 46). One reason for this particular type to be so popular is that it also has built-in light and radio. "With this increasing demand, we don't know whether we have enough stock. The new stock might not arrive in time," he added.
According to a few business sources, the supply for rechargeable fans and lights are not profuse due to their being seasonal products. Moreover, due to the low profit made from selling this commodity, many businesses only bring into their store a reasonable amount of stock. This is the reason why customers have to visit many places before finding one to buy. The prices for rechargeable products have increased by 10% in comparison with the previous year.
When consulting customers about features of these rechargeable fans, the electronic's store staff did not hesitate to exaggerate and praise it, so that more value was added to the product, something many customers only realise after their purchase is complete. Nguyen Van Duc, from Tran Hung Dao Road, District No.5, said that he was introduced to a type of rechargeable fan that only needs recharging for 8 hours and can be used for 5 - 6 hours. He then agreed to buy the fan with VND 1.3 million (USD 68). "It lasts for about 6 - 7 hours as said by the staff, but the amount of time that it takes to recharge is actually double (15 hours)," Duc said angrily.
Consumers buying rechargeable fans should pay attention to the warranty of the fan's battery and instructions on how to maintain it properly. Battery used for rechargeable fans does often has a short life, and it costs a great deal to replace it.
A rechargeable fan often creates high energy losses and it is recommended that they should only be used in emergency situations.
