Mangaluru: Demand for used laptops, tablets spikes

MANGALURU: The aggravated economic scenario in the country may have resulted in demand for new automobiles and mobile phonesplummeting, used mobile phones, laptops and even tablets are in huge demand in Mangaluru. With ‘work from home’ becoming the norm among professionals and online classes keeping children engaged at home, many residents of the coastal city are looking for an economic solution to secure an electronic gadget for each member of the household. Consequently, purchase of used smartphones, laptops and tablets has become commonplace in Mangaluru.
A visit to Dubai Market in Mangaluru will give one a vague idea of the spurt in demand for used gadgets. In addition to physical commercial spaces, many people have taken to purchase of used gadgets on virtual stores such as Olx, Quickr and Cashify, all of which have registered a spike in the sales of pre-owned electronic items.
Ashley Noronha of Ash Computers in Mangaluru, said that most parents were looking at laptops and tablets within a sum of Rs 10,000. “To buy these gadgets first-hand at a showroom will cost them anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000. Moreover, we also offer a six-month or even a one-year warranty for pre-owned laptops and tablets, which is comparable with what is offered with brand new ones,” Noronha said.
Citing an example, Nornha said that an advanced Intel i7 laptop, a brand-new version of which would cost Rs 80,000, could be bought for Rs 20,000, if the customer opted for a used model. “Used tablets, iPads and smartphones are available for less than Rs 10,000,” he added.
Gururaj KS of Mobile9.Com has been involved in the sale and servicing of laptops for more than a decade. Since the enforcement of the lockdown, the one trait he has noticed among customers is the spike in those approaching him to have their old laptops fixed, where before they preferred to get rid of it and purchase old ones. “Nobody seems to want desktop computers these days. The one difficulty we are facing in repairing systems is the shortage of spare parts from China,” Gururaj said.
Another owner of an electronics store said that the few people who were willing to purchase first-hand gadgets were doing so only by opting for EMI payment mode.
A parent of a student who is taking online classes said that, given the prevailing economic crisis, it was not prudent to invest in a new laptop, which was why he had purchased a used system for his son.