Dubai: Gulf News readers have already started to take advantage of the sales during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2011.
The first weekend of the festival has come to an end and readers say they have started checking off items on their wish lists.
Divya Gianchandani, an Indian national, got some shopping done over the weekend.
In focus: Dubai Shopping Festival
She said: "My family and I bought some garments and sports equipment from one of the malls in Dubai. We will be going out again next weekend to buy electronic items".
Gianchandani loves the enthusiasm that shoppers have during the festival.
She said: "As it is just the beginning of the festival, I can sense that this year there is more enthusiasm amongst the shoppers and organisers".
Almira Sison, a Filipina national, said she had stocked up on items for her next trip to her home country.
She said: "I went out during the weekend to buy some things that I plan to take to the Philippines — things like clothes and souvenirs. I also bought a television and a tablet PC".
Sison said she was satisfied with the discounts being offered by the various stores this year.
She said: "The sales this year are a little bit better than last year. I think the electronic items have very good discounts".
However Ajman-based Karthi Kumar Murari disagreed.
He said: "I expected good offers this year. But, I was thoroughly disappointed at the lack of discounts. I wanted to shop for some electronics and tried most of the electronic stores, but none of them seemed to have good offers".
However, Murari said he bought other things.
He said: "I shopped for garments and found pretty good bargains! I do hope that there are further discounts in the coming weeks of the DSF".
Dubai-resident Rhea L. Canlas said she had been waiting for the sales to complete her maternity shopping. However Canlas said she noticed that the discounts were not as drastic as they were last year.
