A wide variety of products, some locally made and some imported, are offered during shopping festivals. Stores, large and small, display “Big sale: Up to 70% off” signs in their windows. But are these huge discounts for real? One merchant said consumers decide based on their awareness. Some shoppers said the big discounts are offered only on low-quality merchandise. During visits to some malls, Okaz/Saudi Gazette met some female consumers who shared their thoughts about the sales. Asma Al-Shamari, a shopper, said, “Rarely do I travel abroad for shopping in summer because prices skyrocket during this season. For the last few years, I'm doing my shopping here. Some big sales reaching up to 70 percent off are true, but most products are of low-quality.” Maysoon Muhammad, another shopper, said, “Shopping festivals always come in the summer, especially before the month of Ramadan, and stores compete to display products with different prices, but the Chinese products offered here are different to the ones offered in Europe and America, which are of higher-quality. Is the problem with the goods or the merchants who bring in cheap goods to sell them quickly?” Abla Salem, another shopper, said, “Every summer we see big sales signs in malls because companies want to sell their products and import new ones. The victim is the consumer. When we pay a big amount for a product, two months later we find it being offered for one-quarter of the price.” A shop owner at Tahliyah Street said, “Products offered on sale are not of low quality. Big sales do not mean that. They mean that the shopping season is under way and so discounts should be offered, as recommended by concerned authorities. But the shop owner should consider the number of sales he offers throughout the year and must balance profits without increasing costs to consumers.” Another shop owner who sells European clothes said, “Big sales can reach up to 70 percent discounts during the summer. The consumer knows whether a product is worth the price shown in the tag, whether that is during shopping seasons or other times of the year. Good products maintain their price even during shopping festivals. Most products that are offered for 50-70 percent off are low
