Fear of catching virus dampens sale of used clothes
The increase in prices due to the overall inflation, reduced movement of people during the second wave of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and a fear of catching virus from the used clothes have badly impacted the business of second-hand clothes in the city along with changing the lifestyles of the citizens.
Second-hand clothes which were considered as the most selling items at the advent of winter season have become out of reach for the common people owing to the increasing prices of each and every commodity and their reduced purchasing power.
While the coronavirus related factors including buyers' reluctance to visit Landa Bazars as a precaution to avoid rush and not buying second-hand clothes for their children due to fear of catching virus were also hindering good sales.
Shaukat Ali, who is a vendor at a stall of second-hand clothes at Sunday Market, said the customers for used clothes have been reduced up to 50 per cent this winter as compared to the last year due to the pandemic.
Majority of the customers complain that the virus outbreak has affected their businesses and limited their purchasing power in the present price hike situation in the country.
The customers even bargain while purchasing a single sweater which cost only Rs100, he said. Israr, a vendor at ladies sweaters' stall said actually the customers are not visiting the second-hand clothes market due to the fear of Covid-19 despite strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by the Capital Development Authority. He claimed losing 60 per cent business due to pandemic.
"Our regular customers are from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and they are not visiting the market,” Israr said.
Many of the customers seem to be hesitant of buying used things considering these clothes will affect them with the virus as these clothes come from other countries which are more affected. While others buy these with an intention to first wash these with antiseptics before using.
Sayed Ghulam, who is a second-hand shoes retailer, said customers of second-hand clothes and shoes reduced to a large extent due to the sense of fear prevailing among most buyers amid coronavirus outbreak as well as less purchasing capacity due to exorbitant price.
He said every customer tries to bargain and many of them don't come back when we refuse to give concession.
Another stall holder, Malook Shah was of the view that during the last year before the first rain of winter season, a huge number of customers rushed to the market to buy clothes in bulk but now many of them face resistance at the entry point due to not wearing masks while those who visit express fear of catching virus from these clothes.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2020.