Less
transactions are taking place in authorised mobile phone stores in
Lagos ICT hub, popularly known as Computer Village, Ikeja, as more
shoppers now prefer to strike deals with operators in the grey market.
The reason is
not unconnected with present harsh economic situation which has
overwhelmingly taken its toll on prices of technology products, leaving
shoppers to seek respite from unauthorised dealers and road side
merchants for cheaper prices.
According to an
operator in one of the white market outlets who would not want his name
in print, “sales had not been this bad in recent years.
“Prices of
devices have dramatically gone up while customers’ purchasing power is
getting weaker. So many factors especially with the fluctuations in the
currency market can be blamed for this. But we cannot sell below cost
price.
“Most of the
phones sold on the roadside are not original but because they are
cheaper, people prefer to patronise road side kiosks. Besides, most
people can no longer afford a new device, this explains why they
patronise the grey market to get used phones which in most cases are
stolen “.
When Marketplace
approached one Mr. Dapo who was negotiating phone price with a phone
hawker in the village on why he did not patronise any of the known
outlets, he replied, “ I can only get what my pocket can afford here, if
you go to those shops, all they know how to do is to speak big grammar
and charge you high, but these guys here will take you to the
negotiation table and give you a satisfying price for a desired phone,
whether new or used one”.
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