Parents rush to buy, repair gadgets for kids as classes move online

With the concept of virtual classrooms, e-learning and homeschooling on the rise, more and more parents are now feeling the need to invest in smartphones, laptops and tabs exclusively for their children, albeit reluctantly. In Kolkata’s electronics markets, demand for these products has skyrocketed and the trend is expected to continue as schools stay shut until further relaxations.
Surge in demand for cheaper phones
While children below a certain age were not allowed to have their own mobile phones before the lockdown, it has become almost a necessity for them now. “Many of our customers are parents looking for cheaper phones that are good enough for online classes. They are going for phones priced below `10,000. Earlier, the most popular range was between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000,” said Aman Arora, owner of a phone store in Chandni Chowk, adding, “Compared to March, there has been a 100% increase in sales of phones and tabs.”
With overall spending going down, demand for cheaper handsets is going up and there are hardly any takers for high-end phones. "Phones that used to cost Rs 5,000 are now being sold at Rs 7,000 since the demand for low-range phones is far more than the supply," said Leyaquat Ali, the owner of another shop. Along with phones, tablet sales have increased too. The basic versions, starting from Rs 12,000, are selling the most.
Many takers for Pre-owned gadgets
As long as offices were shut, children were relying on their parents’ gadgets for online studies. But now with offices reopening in the city, there is no option but to buy separate ones for children. Stay-at-home mom Sanghamitra Gupta, who recently bought a second-hand laptop for her daughter, said, “Tiasha was using my husband’s tab all these months but now he has started going to office. And it is difficult for me to let her use my phone for hours. So, we had to buy her a laptop for her virtual classes.”
While many customers are interested in getting old, used gadgets repaired for children, high repairing costs are forcing them to opt for new ones instead. "The cost of spare parts has gone up massively due to almost no supply in the lockdown. So, most people think it is a better idea to go for second-hand devices instead," said MD Raja, a mechanic, explaining that while the minimum cost of repairing a smartphone is Rs 800 to Rs 1,000, one can buy a second-hand phone for Rs 1,500 or less. "So, why would people come to us for repair," he added.
Bhaskar Ghosh, from an electronics shop in Gariahat, said that parents are enquiring about used phones and laptops. While some are buying new ones (between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000), others are getting their old gadgets repaired. "If someone can get a used phone at one-third the price of a new one, why wouldn't they? People are thinking twice before spending even a penny," he said.
Safety comes at a price
Working parents Nandini and Sorbojit Sen recently bought a new phone for their son Adit, a Class II student. Though Nandini had asked around for a spare phone, she couldn’t get one. “Initially, Adit was using my husband’s laptop for his online classes. But now, both Sorbojit and I have work commitments, so we had no option but to buy him a new phone. First, I thought of purchasing a second-hand phone but then I felt it may not be a safe option in the current scenario. However, we didn’t want to invest in a
laptop or tab right now,” she added.