Buying a laptop in India...

I decided to buy a laptop. I withdrew as much cash as I could, Agnieszka withdrew some, and on Saturday we went to get the new "toy". We had some recommendations from our friend regarding where to buy.

Before leaving home we put part of the cash in my wallet, part of it - 20k rupees in an envelope.
When we reached the area where PCs shops were and started visiting them the story didn't seem so easy any more. The computers were either above budget or below expectations...

In one of the shops the sales-girl was convincing us that "RAM is too good", "disk is too good", "screen is too good". It's not the first time I've heard this, so it must be some kind of direct translation from Hindi or Bengali to express something is "very" good. To bad the price was too good as well. But since the girl at least seemed to be involved in the sales process I was willing to go back there in case nothing beter would come our way.

2 or 3 shops were pretty big and crowded, but customer service sucked. We also visited some smaller shops - at one of them we seemed to disturb the 4 sales people, but eventually we were asked what we wnated. "Laptops" - was the answer.

The guy who seemed to be the biggest boss urged some junior guy to show us what could be offered. We are taken in front of what seemed to be the only laptop in the shop. We are waiting, the guy is also waiting while we all stand. "Can you tell us something about the configuration?" I ask after a while. "Configuration?" replies the guy. The accent revealed his English was not too good... great... Luckily I noticed a label on the laptop itself which had the data we needed. When I was looking at the label, the sales-guy excitedly pointed me the label I was already reading and articulated "configuration!" again. The PC was too weak for my needs any way. So I asked if that was the only ne they had. "No!" proudly says the biggest boss, who matrialized in the meanwhile. And he points a carton box whix stood next to the PC we've just admired. So we all wait again. I thought we would have some data revealed, the big boss must have expected we would be so impressed that we would need nothing more to buy. It was getting irritating... "Will you tell us something or we should make the decision after looking at the box?". "Of course, come" - we were asked to approach a table where some brochures were displayed. We were given a piece of paper with configuration. Again - below expectations...

Another shop, another nothing.

When I was ready to get back to the "too good" shop we noticed one more place, not by the main road, but in a small street next to it... What do we have to lose? We entered. "Laptops". "Yes". They asked some guy to come. I said what I needed, he took out a piece of paper, started writing configuartion of matching 3 laptops. He was writing patiently and slowly. We were following slowly, but less patiently... Bingo! One of the laptops - the one with the mid price - was perfectly matching all criteria - including the price. It was at the level which was the top possible spending, but still within the limit. Great, we take it! You have it on stock or we need to wait till you order. Yes, we have it, please come to the counter while I bring it. I happily took the envelope from Agnieszka, took the 20k out and added the remaining required amount from my wallet. The cash was counted 3 times by the the guy at the counter. I even admired his ability to stay focused as 3 people from different ends were trying to handle another payment, take a printout, talk and do many other things. After transaction was over I sat down and we continued waiting for the new toy to be brought.

"Sir, we have a small problem..." Oh no... I thought... "We don't have this model any more, they stopped shipping it last week". A ha! Things can't go to easily here it seems! What they had available was the similar model, which had slightly better configuration and a higher price... Damn it! "No problem" I say. "You can give me the better model for the same price - it is your mistake after all..." I'm mean I know ;-) "Sir, I can't do that. The price I gave you is already lower". "What discount can you give me?" I kept pushing. "Just a moment..." After negotiatin, the sales person comes to me and I was proudly offered 200 Rupees discount. I guess it was most they could give any way... I decided to take it. It seemed to be the best offer any way and we were tired. I paid the difference, got new receipt. Wow - a laptop bag extra for free. Cool! Wasn't planning to buy one, but when it comes for free - no reason to reject it (especially when - as turned out - it is a cool one). The funny thing is that till that moment we still haven't seen the laptop. Not even a picture of it!

We were back to our favourite task that day - waiting. In the meanwhile we were offered tea. "Yes, please". It never actually arrived, but let's not make fuss about it ;-)

Finally, the laptop arrives in a box, laptop bag in another. "Can we open it?". "Of course". Wow! It was a good choice. Nice design, nice screen, cool keyboard. Even a built-in webcam is there! I instantly know it was the right choice. We start the Windows. Since it is started for the first time it needs to be configured... I see Agnieszka wants to go, I'd also be rather moving home than setting up time zone and default currency. It's done. A hand-shake with the vendor and we are on the way home. We proudly take a taxi and go back! At certain point I even tell Agnieszka it's cool she only had to lend me 20k, not 25 as planned... She says she did give me 25k, but I do not pay too much attention. I have a new toy, I am in a taxi (not in a bus!) and I'm on my way home with Agnieszka - what else would you want from life ;-)

"No! You gave me 20k only! They were in the envelope and 5 more you were supposed to give me later! Remember" - I happily discover the trth about the finance while washing my hands. "No, there were 25k in the envelope - you put it there yourslef"....

Have you ever felt ridiculous in your life? Even if I ever did before, this time I felt like a real idiot... I was so convinced there were 20k only, that I didn't even count the cash... DAMN ME! Stupidity doesn't hurt they say... they are wrong...

Just to be sure we checked again... unfortunatelly 5 thousands was exactly the ammount missing from our wallets. And it's not even the money that I was mad about. It was about how dumb I was at the shop!

Next thing that came was the question how did it happen that the guy at the counter didn't see the difference. Well, either he was not as concentrated as it seemed, either he noticed and earned extra profit that day... Oh well... I can only get in touch with the shop and ask them. I have no proof, it is my fault - great chance to get my money back...

I call them on Monday. I'm on the phone with the guy who sold us the laptop. I explain what's happened. "Sir, this has never happened - if there is ever a surplus, we immediately give it back". "I know. My fault. Just wanted to ask" - what else could I be saying? But really soon the sales guy offers they would recalculate the money and if there is surplus, they'll notify me. I'm grateful at least for that. It is atually even more than I expected as it was all done over the phone only and it was them who offered it.

They call me on Tuesday. "Sir, you were perfectly right. Please come and colect your cash". WOW!!! This is a never-in-life kind of a story. I go, I do get the 5k back! Thank you guys! It feels great to know that there are still businesses who value honesty over quick gains!

For those of you who are considering buying laptop (or desktop) in Kolkata - this is the address of the place. I wholeheartedly recommend it! Besides of being honest, they also have good (the best) prices!

Lalani Info-Tech
Lalani complex (behind Broadway hotel)
25 Ganesh Chandra Avenue (next to Chndni Chowk metro station)
Kolkata 700-013
Tel: +91 33 2215285/6/8
e-mail: lalani [at] dishnetdsl.net