Dubai: Bargains and best buys may be nothing new, but Dubai shoppers are making a beeline to a new wholesale store which claims it prices are unbeatable, with some of its products selling at 150-200 per cent lower than the retail market.
Much like the concept of bulk buying stores like Costco in the US or Metro in India, the Dubai-based Surplus Stores, which is located in Nad Al Hamar, currently stocks over 1,500 products across 18 categories covering everything except perishable and fast moving consumer goods.
The wide range of products includes home décor, furniture and accessories, hardware, kitchen supplies, bed and bath products, bags and wallets, stationery, arts and crafts, celebrations, beauty accessories, toys, games and books, electronics and electrical ware, hardware and carpentry tools, auto and garage accessories and opticals.
Unique structure
Pankaj Kumar, general manager of the store, said, “We only sell high quality, premium brands with a unique price structure. Some of our products are 150-200 per cent cheaper than the retail prices. The more you purchase, the less the cost. The minimum purchase is one carton and the number of items in each depends on the product.”
For example, one to five cartons of the German brand SilverCrest’s power bank costs Dh187, with each carton containing 10 pieces. “That’s Dh18 a piece as against the average retail price of Dh43. The prices get reduced further if more cartons are bought: Dh183.18 for six-20 cartons, Dh177.46 for 21-50 cartons and Dh171. 73 if a consumer buys our entire stock.”
Dh58.80 for one to five cartons of a 16 piece Mainstays stoneware dinner set with each cartoin containing two sets; Dh120 for one-five cartons of the fast-selling 7 Eleven foldable trolley bags, with each carton packing in four bags; Dh236.41 for one to five cartons of the American brand Hamilton Beach’s coffee cum spice grinder, with each carton containing six pieces – steal deals can be found across sections.
Kumar said the low prices have been attracting not only traders, corporates, contractors, hotels and educational institutions who want to buy in bulk but also individuals and families who want to move into a new home, refurbish existing units or look for gifts before they travel home.
An Arab woman who picked up a set of Levolar curtain rods said, “I have moved into a new villa and was looking for curtain rods when I came to know of this wholesale store. I feel bad that I paid four times the amount for one rod in a retail showroom earlier.”
Another family shopping ahead of Christmas said, “This is a perfect place to buy gifts and decorations. We not only got all our stock of streamers, paper plates, caps etc in the store’s celebrations section, we picked up some very fancy gifts at throwaway prices. Among the gifts we bought were a Brinkmann barbecue set for Dh29.10 a carton, with each carton containing six pieces and a Bimar novel toaster carton (with four pieces) for Dh125.40.”
The store’s marketing head Ara Jay Ong said apart from the low prices in general, customers can also get additional benefits from limited stock offers, pellet deals, best buys and monthly promotions.
“Every month, we add new products.”
She said a complete list of the products, with their description and prices is available on the store’s website (https://surplusstores.com) and the store provides assistance in picking up customers, delivery within the UAE and export to other countries.
