Refer a Good Local Shop (page 2)

Estimated turnover of major Multi Marketing Firms in Crore of Rs, for the Indian Market in 2003-2004.

Nutrition and wellness products contribute more than 35% of the total Multi Level Marketing (MLM) industry turnover. MLM is a 2,300 crore industry comprising of companies like Amway, Tupperware, Oriflame, HLL, Modicare, and Avon. Healthcare products chip in around 25%. Cosmetics make upto 15%, while personal care products account for another 15-20%.

• Analysts believe this is surprising phenomenon, since the products of direct sellers are, on an average, far more expensive than those from retail sellers.

• Senior officials from competing Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) frown on this practice. "How ethical is it for such professionals to sell a product to a person who trusts them, and is psychologically vulnerable to advice from them on a professional level?" asks the marketing head of a leading FMCG group.

Worried that your local vendor is charging too much for your fruits and vegetables? Better arm yourself with the wholesale rates at the Azadpur Mandi and other produce markets.

You can find the daily prices for the Azadpur Mandi at Daily Prices - Azadpur Mandi. The other Mandi's are not very diligent at updating their prices but you can see the whole list of markets at Current Bazar Rates At Various Mandis.

You can also see the rates of a produce like apple at different mandis at Commodity Prices at Various Mandis.

Any suggestions? My current requirement is a return ticket (same day or next day) to Pune for November 24 or 25. I want to leave by the earliest morning flight and come back by the last evening flight. Thanks.

• One criteria is that they must be available on the web so that out-of-station customers can select the items and pay on the web itself.
• Another criteria is that they should have options for express delivery, and they should be able to deliver within hours for urgent orders.
• The vendors should offer reasonable compensation in case of missed or late deliveries - tardiness is not an option.
• The rates should be reasonable, and the arrangement of flowers or gift wrapping should be of high quality.
• They should have been in business for at least an year.

• Mythological story-telling,
• mini-basketball,
• taekwondo,
• yoga,
• theatre,
• karate and
• western dance .

  are some of the activities on offer

Classes are held for different age groups starting from children aged three-and-a-half years and above. And these classes are open not just to pre-schoolers but for students up to classes VIII.

• "We teach them good manners, confidence, cleanliness, etiquette and good body language. We also try and instil in them values like honesty and respect for elders," says Simi Sahnan, whose classes are offered at a playschool in GK-II.
• Priyanka Jhunjhunwala, who runs a playschool-cum-activity centre in south Delhi, adds: "Our mythological story-telling session wherein we narrate tales from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to the children helps them get an idea about our culture."

• bookshops and
• departmental stores to
• travel agents
• to banks,
• pharmacies and
• even fast food joints,

  everyone is offering their services at the customers’ doorstep.

Is it sustainable? “The more the customers, the more the cost. But with more customers you have more revenues and it all balances out in the end,” says Kotak’s Arora.

That it helps companies to build a long term relationship with the customer is another plus.

But the logistics of home delivery are all outsourced. For instance, at ICICI Bank, the people who put the money in the ATMs operate the Dakia service. With only variable costs involved, companies claim that all their offerings come for free.

For decades now, neighbourhood kirana stores have been delivering groceries to homes in the vicinity. And vegetable vendors either knocked on doors or stationed carts outside buildings. Then came the new restaurants and takeaways that began serving their fare at home. Having spoilt the Indian consumer, it was only a matter of time before the big branded boys stepped on to the home delivery bandwagon.

Some new home delivery services have been introduced by ICICI Bank.

• Four months ago, it launched Dominoes, a home delivery service for all its customers, catering to requests for cash withdrawals, deposits, loans or even a mere chequebook. Actually launched three years ago, this offer was earlier available to only ICICI’s high net worth, private banking clientele, who were charged a service fee of Rs 40 per transaction.
• Initiated a month and a half ago, Dakia is like a courier service, with a minimum withdrawal sum of Rs 2,000. An ICICI Bank representative goes on a fixed beat which is available to all customers. Unlike Dominoes, this service is not on call and the response time is overnight.

Thanks.

1. Shri Rama Computers
   Contact: 98 106 52123, 206 5055, 508 1235
   105-106, AKD Tower, Near HUDA Office
   Sector 14, Gurgaon

2. SD Computers Ltd.
   Contact: 256 0122, 256 0133, 98 995 99809
   114, Vashist Complex (First Floor),
   MG Road, Sikanderpur, Gurgaon.

3. Netsys Technologies
   Contact: 98 104 35969, 508 3571
   110, AKD Tower, Opposite Nathu Sweets
   Sector 14, Gurgaon

4. Deep Technologies
   Contact: 503 5345, 510 5556
   #11, Sector 31-32
   Main Jalvayu Vihar Raod, Gurgaon

5. SRC Computers
   Contact: 98 108 30893, 309 6697
   Shop 100, Sector 56
   Park View, HUDA Market, Gurgaon

6. Pacific Computers Pvt. Ltd.
   Contact: 504 3583, 98 910 14410
   A-133, Super Mart - I,
   DLF City Phase IV, Gurgaon

7. Su-Tech Computer
   Contact: 505 5135, 98 106 58773
   21, Sushant Mkt., Near DLF Galleria
   DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon

8. Paras Information Technologies
   Contact: 504 4068, 98 101 68555
   A-226, Supermart - I,
   DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon

9. Maars Computer Pvt. Ltd.
   Contact: 233 5799, 98 116 61539
   E-12, LGF, Anal Sushant Arcade,
   Sushant Lok I, Gurgaon

1. Monday - On the Sector 23/Palam Vihar Border going towards Bijwasan, and a few hundred yards away from the Police Check Post.
2. Wednesday - Near the New Palam Vihar (Railway line)
3. Friday - In Sector 22, Near The Rotary School
4. ??? - In Carterpuri

Though the vegetable sellers say that the increase is routine at this time of the year, customers attribute the rising prices to parched summers.

Senior officials like X K Mahto, vice-chairman of Agricultural Marketing Board, said: "The prices are stable for major commodities except for some of seasonal vegetables which have shown an increase of 10-20%." But Mahto ruled out that impending drought has caused this situation. He added: "The real villains are the retailers who increase the prices as and when they want."

Officials in the Ghazipur vegetable mandi admit that there has been a 10-20% increase in the vegetable prices. "The month of June and July register an increase in the vegetable prices every year, due to the oppressive heat, this year the lack of monsoons have only compounded the problem," explained an official. He however, assured that the prices were likely to come down in August.

First they did not have the Rs 1080 cards that I needed.

Second he tried to sell me an Airtel EZ Charge card and he would set it up instantly. Like an idiot I got interested. I told him that I had to make a call to the US in a few hours to wish my buddy on his wedding. No problem, he said.

After he put the SIM and activated my phone (giving me a new number) he then realized that I can't charge it without connection charges as he had earlier told. So, instead of getting a talk time for Rs 1000 I got it only for Rs 850. Right there I lost Rs 150.

Anyway, I said it is fine. Just make sure my International Calling works. Yes, yes, he said. And so I walked away from Suraj Enterprises with Rs 2100 less in my pocket and only Rs 850 of talk time.

At night when I woke up at 3 AM to make my call to the US, it would not let me make the call! "Yeh suvidha aap ke phone per uplabhd nahi hai. The whole reason for my going last night to Suraj Enterprises was shot. I missed the most important call that I had to make this month.

I called up the Airtel Customer service in the morning and I talked to 2 of them. One customer rep told me to add #1 and the number and call. It did not work. The 2nd customer service was worse. I shouted at her and hung up. They want me to deposit Rs 7500 to make ISD calls - Now they tell me, and that too on a prepaid card? I have had it with Airtel. And the person at Suraj Enterprises was deceptive about describing the plans to me and hitch in them. He did not have even rate informations at his disposal and worse lied to me to make a sale.

Luckily I am supposed to give him my ID for the connection today morning. I will refuse to do so. And I am going to return the connection to Suraj Enterprises. The person is not knowledgeable about the product. He told me wrong things to make a sale. And despite explaining to him the most important call I had to make he lied that I would have no problem.

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