shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > News > India News > Article > Stop shop and go

Stop, shop and go

Updated on: 27 July,2010 09:32 AM IST  | 
The Guide Team |

From books to clothes to everyday items, now you can pick them up on the go. we bring you a list of what you can get best where

Stop, shop and go

From books to clothes to everyday items, now you can pick them up on the go. we bring you a list of what you can get best where





A short halt of about 180 seconds at Barakhamba crossing, and you will find yourself in a virtual book market where children, shabbily dressed, appear from nowhereu00a0carrying books by Amartya Sen, Sidney Sheldon, Chetan Bhagat, Jhumpa Lahiri on their shoulders. We interacted with one such "salesman", Chhotu (name imagined, as he refused to tell his name), who prices his books according to the vehicles. The books vary from classics to novels, newspapers and magazines, and are available at best bargains. The books come in sealed packs which do not leave you with the option of scrutinising the pages at such a short halt. Sometimes, you may get a book with half the pages missing or misprinted. Also, most of these are pirated editions.

VEHICLE ACCESSORIES
At: Azadpur crossing
Best Bargain: Rs 50 for sun blockers and Rs 150 for steering covers

If you are thinking about replacing the steering cover or can't stand the heat, stop at Azadpur crossing for 360 seconds. Steering covers, sun blockers, dustersu00a0-- you can buy them all from street salesmen.u00a0 While the sun blocker doesn't come in too many varieties or colours, steering covers come in leather or rubber. Those riding two-wheelers can buy gloves to avoid sun tan. But be careful about the amount of time you spend buying as it's a very busy crossing and the rates of the items change with the duration of the signal, which means you can best bargain for a particular item when there are just 30 seconds left for the signal to go green.

MULTI-MOBILE CHARGERS
At: IIT Delhi crossroad
Best bargain: Rs 50

Now charge your cellphone, music player, camera, everything with the help of just one gadget. This multitasking charger is of great value and is available in different designs. It's made in China so there is no saying how long it will last but what matters most is that "iske saath USB cable free aata hai", says salesman Raghunandan, who has been selling items for the past five years.

DEVIL HORNS
At: Karkardooma Crossing
Best bargain: At Rs 25

Sometimes, out of the various items on sale at the crossroads, some are so attractive that you can't stop yourself from buying.
You sit inside your car and wait for the signal to go green, and suddenly a man with glowing horns peeps in and stares at you. Nowadays, the battery-operated devil's horn has become quite a rage. It's a toy that you can wear like a hairband, set it on and the lights inside the horns will glow, giving the impression that you have horns. These come in colours like purple, red and green. But check the lights once before buying.

MOSQUITO TRAPPER
At: Kingsway Camp
Best bargain: Rs 85

The badminton racket-shaped trapper is one best-seller. By swinging the racket you can trap mosquitoes in its iron net. The electric current that passes through the net kills the mosquitoes. The racket can also kill house flies. The racket comes with an in-built battery which can be charged. Its marked price is Rs 300.

CHILD JUNCTION
At: Chanakyapuri
Best bargain: Rs 100

If you are looking for gifts for children, you might hit a jackpot here. From plastic toys to air planes and choppers and even Cartoon Network's Ben 10 and his magical gadgets, you can get everything here. These battery-operated toys are of fine quality. You will beu00a0 charged Rs 100 less than the market price and an experienced buyer can bargain as well. Overall it's not at all a bad deal.

POP GOD AND POTS
At: Ghazipur crossing
Best bargain: Rs 80

With the glittering pots and idols, the vendors disappear (from the green signal) and reappear (at the red signal) out of nowhere in the congested traffic. Idols of various Hindu deities and ornamental vases are painted with any dark colour as base colour and then embellished with glitters.
These handmade, plaster of Paris (POP) items are inexpensive and the labour cost is not high, says the vendor at Ghazipur crossing, who brings his items from Samaspur village. But at the end of the day, the items are so beautiful that you will end up buying them.
What is most noticeable about those vendors is that nobody can see where and on which side of the road they keep their stock of pots and idols.

BALLOONS
At: Shakarpur Crossing, opp V3S mall
Best bargain: Elastic for Rs 10 each, plastic for Rs 25

Inflated forms of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey, Tweety, etc. along with gas balloons are sold here. Plastic balloons are costlier than the elastic ones. Those shaped like cartoon characters cost more. But check if the vendor is giving you the right one, as he might often try to sell off Tweety as Mickey. So you have to be careful.

DRESSES
At: Seelampur Crossing
Best Bargain: Rs 80 (if you really want to buy one)

'Teen le lijiye 200 mein'. As the signal turns green, 'chaliye 80 mein teeno le jaiye'. Although the embroidery work and the prints look nice from afar, take our advice and don't buy them because most of them are defected pieces, and sometimes you may get nothing except for a piece of plain cloth.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK