Sales promotion roundup

Last week the consumer durables marketers were clear winners, but most of the offers were for consumers in Bangalore and a few for Delhi-ites. Hopefully next time marketers would be more generous to consumers in other states.

agencyfaqs! News Bureau

NEW DELHI

Consumer durables marketers were frantically chasing consumers with tonnes of offers last week. Akai is back with its thundering discount schemes and exchange offers. In the Akai ‘Exchange Carnival' the company was offering a discount of up to Rs 6,000 on the latest models of Akai televisions, audio and video products. To claim the discount, the consumer had to exchange old 2-in-1 music systems and colour TVs for new ones. This limited-stock offer is valid in select cities.

In Mumbai, Sansui was drawing the attention of consumers through its ‘on the spot money back' offer. On scratching the card available with new Sansui CTV or audio CD systems, consumers could claim hefty cash prizes of Rs 25,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1,000 and other guaranteed cash returns. Magnet was pulling the crowd in Bangalore with its own share of freebies. On buying Magnet Internet access device with a video CD and an audio CD player for Rs 11,990, the buyer got five ACDs, five VCDs and three months of unlimited Satyam Online net connection worth Rs 6,390 free.

Philips was not far behind. On buying the Philips FW-V55 music system, the customer got a free MP3 CD with 75 songs. This offer is valid in Bangalore only. In the other offer from Philips, with the purchase of Philips Essential, the buyer got a Luxor cosmic ball pen worth Rs 50 free. This limited-stock promo is valid in Kolkata only. Sharp was aggressive too. With every Sharp VCR (VC-SA360), the buyer got a two-in-one worth Rs 3,290 free. This promo is valid in Kolkata only.

On buying a Sony DAV-S300 movie machine, the customer got a pair of speaker stands free. This offer is valid in the entire of North India. Videocon was offering discounts on a whole range of products, including its CTVs, refrigerators and washing machines. This limited-stock offer is valid in Karnataka only.

In the VIP ‘Wear & Win' offer, consumers had the chance to win exciting prizes. The prizes included one Ford Ikon, five Hero Honda motorcycles, 500 walkmans, 2,000 T-shirts. To be eligible for the mega bumper draw, the buyer had to purchase any two VIP products. This promotion is valid in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa.

The office stationary market was not as hot as last time; nonetheless there were a couple of interesting offers. On select models of Compaq PCs, the company was giving a free Epson Stylus 480 colour printer worth Rs 4,990 and a three-year comprehensive warranty worth Rs 3,000. In addition to this, the company was also giving a 64MB SDRAM worth Rs 6,000 free along with a 10/100 Network Interface Card worth Rs 2,000 free. This offer is valid in Delhi till March 31, 2001. On the purchase of an Epson inkjet cartridge, the consumer got a waiver of Rs 150.

Compared to the previous promotions, the food and beverages market was a bit dull. In the ‘Nirula's & Coca-Cola Super Meal Deals' the customers had a chance to win over one lakh guaranteed prizes. The bumper prize was a new WagonR. The other prizes included NOW ISP connections, Moulinex home appliances, Mahindra holiday packages, Thai Air tickets, Archies perfume vials and many more. All the consumer had to do was order from the Nirula's Super Meal Deals and scratch the card available with it. This promo is valid in Delhi till April 15, 2001.

With the summer vacation round the corner, Mirinda had an interesting way to keep school kids busy. On collecting Mirinda Gaming Dollars under the crowns or fountain cups, kids had the chance to win exciting videogames. This offer is valid in select cities till April 25, 2001. On buying an 800-gm pack of Harvest Gold bread, the consumer got a packet of three pav buns free. This limited-stock offer is valid in the NCR only.

There weren't many offers from the personal care products marketers either. On buying two Mysore Sandal Soaps of 125-gm each, the buyer got one Mysore Sandal Talc of 20-gm free. In a similar offer Mysore Sandal Soap was giving a packet of Bodhisattva Agarbatti free with a Mysore Sandal bath tablet. This limited-stock offer is open in Delhi only. With 'Gillette Sensor Excel great offer pack' worth Rs 155, the company was giving a Gillette shaving foam worth Rs 99 free. This promo is valid in Delhi only.

There were a few offers from apparel, fashion and lifestyle, automotives and household products marketers. Arvind Mills was offering up to 40 per cent discount on the entire range of Flying Machine and Ruggers collections. This limited-stock offer is valid in select outlets of Bangalore. San Frisco was giving away a trendy travel bag worth Rs 250 free with a San Frisco trouser. This limited-stock offer is valid in Ahmedabad.

Music World, Delhi, at Ansal Plaza was attracting music lovers with an offer of a free CD. On buying an international CD along with a Coca-Cola at Music World, the buyer got another international CD free. This offer is valid till March 31, 2001.

Moped and cycle riders in Bangalore got Rs 600 waiver on TVS mopeds. This promotion is valid till March 27, 2001. In the ‘Big Dream' offer, on buying a Kanchan pan, the consumer got another free. This promo is valid in Delhi.

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