Fair ukay-ukay trade
I've held my one-cent worth of opinion on the trade
fair war in abeyance for too long. After purchasing ukay-ukay (there is nothing
else to purchase anyway) from both areas, I found out, to my dismay, that items
are way more expensive in one than in the other.
Understandably, similar goods are not available at level prices
due to several factors. Why in the world are there feeding bottles at P 500
each? And why do mothers prefer them over bottles at P 50?
In the same vein, why do ukay-ukay items here cost so
much more than in there? Well, because items here came direct from US, UK, etc;
items here are new while those in the other side are old stocks close to
decomposition, etc. All the same, these are factors consumers look at other
than prices when they buy a product.
Happily though, the presence of another trade fair in front of
Gaisano provides consumers with a wider range of options. For what is fair
trade without a variety of choices for consumers to browse and pick from?
But people from City Hall, who naturally are in the side of the
city-sponsored trade, contend that supporting the LGU Trade Fair is a show of
solidarity in the spirit of the city fiesta. Point well taken. In fact, it is
now the advocacy of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts that
Philippine festivals should move along with the community spirit and unity.
But I ponder, haven't we, people of San Carlos, shown much too
much solidarity all these years that we are already stuck in our sense of
solidarity in supporting the same political agendas, the same politicians, and
the same hacienda mentality that our sense of progress has been totally
forgotten? Can we still call this solidarity or shall we deem it beyond borders
that it has now become a monopoly?
A more valid reason of the LGU for pleading for a unified trade
fair area is peace and order. The fiesta committee did their homework,
outlined, and now implements a security measure to make sure consumers are safe
while availing of different products (from coats to underwear) and services at
the fair. The installment of yet another fair has placed the police force off
their guards and they are now trying to divide their meager number between two
areas.
So, this one falls as one factor for consumers to consider.
Would you buy from the city trade fair located way far from the city center but
with the assurance of safety courtesy of city police and barangay tanods? Or
would you rather conveniently jock to your to-do list ukay-ukay shopping right
after a trip to the grocery despite the lack of police visibility at Gaisano?
The choice is yours.
Would you rather buy from stalls which offer much cheaper items
but you'd have to sweat out digging piles and heaps of old stocks before
finding a treasure? Or would you rather conveniently point and pick from new
arrivals hung temptingly on an open tent but at much higher prices that you'll
end up going home with burnt wallets?
The choice is still yours, and mine.
So, what is my choice then as a consumer? Well, it all depends
on the weather of my head.
Now, all arguments being moot, what's important is that a wide
range of choices are now laid before us, at least before these options get
folded up with a stroke of a pen.
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