The truth about discounted fashion items:

(Baonghean.vn) -In these times of economic uncertainty, with everyone saving money, shopping has significantly decreased. Fashion shops are therefore less bustling. Shop owners are restless because their inventory remains overflowing. They have launched many attractive promotional campaigns (!).

In Vinh City, along Le Hong Phong street, out of about 15 fashion shops, 10 display banners advertising discounts of 30-50% on all items. Some banners even read "75% off to liquidate the store" or "60% off to transfer ownership of the store".

Shops put up promotional banners to attract customers.

After choosing a satisfactory outfit for 830,000 VND, I asked the shop owner about the discount percentage, only to be told, "This item isn't on sale." I chose a cheaper outfit, but still received no discount. Disappointed, I asked why the banner outside said "on sale," and the shop owner pointed to the discounted items. I was shocked; they looked old and worn, as if they had been in storage for a long time. Some shirts had missing buttons, and the pants were wrinkled and baggy. Even the items that were still fashionable weren't discounted much, or even remained the same price.

There are counterfeit "Jara" branded shirts that actually cost only 450,000 VND, but the price tag shows 700,000 VND, then a 20% discount brings the final price to 560,000 VND, meaning it's 110,000 VND more expensive after the discount. Some shops on Dang Thai Than Street (Vinh City) even import market goods, attach new labels, and set exorbitant prices, then offer deep discounts to exploit the desire for cheap goods among customers who are unfamiliar with the quality and price range of these items.

After two weeks, or even a month, the shops displaying promotional banners advertising liquidation or business restructuring (as mentioned above) still showed no signs of activity. When I asked why I didn't see any "shop liquidation" or "shop transfer," the sales staff replied that they hadn't sold all their stock yet, or that they had initially intended to liquidate but for some reason the owner changed her mind....(?!)

I tried shopping at several fashion shops on Dang Thai Than and Dinh Cong Trang streets, but none of them actually had the promotions advertised on the eye-catching banners hanging outside.

A friend of mine is a huge fan of promotional deals, but when I suggested we "try them out," he didn't."Are there any left?" she asked, shaking her head in exasperation. "It's a scam, you know. It's just a waste of money. I wouldn't go even if it cost me gold."

Unintentionally, these kinds of "promotional" tactics have eroded customer trust!

Thanh Nga