How to bag a bargain from Eastleigh market

Eastleigh, a bustling hub, entices a diverse array of local, regional, and international buyers to its vibrant marketplace.

Yet, navigating the labyrinth of malls in search of the best bargains demands savvy shopping tactics.

With over 50 malls offering a variety of goods at varying prices, equipping oneself with knowledge about the specialties and offerings of the most frequented malls becomes essential for the discerning shopper.

Shoppers no longer need to take a familiarisation tour of Eastleigh, as multiple Eastleigh shopping vlogs on YouTube explain what the various malls sell and their pricing variances.

Securing the best prices in Eastleigh requires a proactive approach from shoppers who are willing to explore the myriad malls and delve into the stalls within.

Keen observers can pinpoint establishments that consistently offer the most competitive prices, ensuring a savvy and cost-effective shopping experience.

Linda Moraa is an ardent shopper at Eastleigh and advises buyers to take time to explore the different malls and stalls before settling on one. She also advises shoppers to buy more than one item from the same stall to maximise the bargain.

On this particular day, she finds a pair of ankle boots priced at Sh2,000 and business shoes priced at Sh1,000 at a shop at Mega Shopping Mall.

She takes her time and exchanges pleasantries with the merchant before settling down on the chair provided for her to try them on.

She asks the seller whether she can sell the two products for Sh2,500, but the seller acknowledges that current inflation and the increasing dollar rate have harmed their operations.

Ms. Moraa informs her that she genuinely likes the shoes but can only offer Sh2,500 for both sets.

The seller begs her to add Sh200 to the price she is providing, to which Ms. Moraa requests that they meet halfway. She adds Sh100 to the bargain price, and the seller subtracts Sh100, so they end up agreeing on Sh2,600 and are both satisfied.

Most of the sellers in Eastleigh also prefer quiet bargaining because the price of the item will depend on the buyer’s bargaining prowess.

During high seasons like December, hard bargains do not matter because the sellers know that they will still optimise sales as buyers flock to the market for the festive period shopping.

However, months such as January, February, and early March are the best for bargain buys as the sellers clear the December stock.

Many sellers prefer that a customer wait for the one currently buying to finish before the next one can quote their price.

Alternatively, a buyer can quietly quote the price they want to buy the item out of the earshot of the customer next to them.

I had such an experience when a seller gestured for me to wait for him to finish with the one he was serving before quoting my price.

I got a bargain price of Sh800 for the same item that the customer before me bought at Sh1,200

There are people known to drive a hard bargain and those who are not naturally the bargaining type.

For the latter, doing their shopping at around 11:30 am when the sellers do not have many people buying would be best, as they are the ones convincing you to buy.

Also, identifying a seller who is not serving many customers will make it easier for you to bargain and get a better price, as they will give you time to bargain.

The basement shops in almost all the malls sell at wholesale prices for several items. For instance, innerwear, ladies tops, and jeans trousers come in a pack of six items, in different colours and sizes.

Busy Sunday shopping along Eastleigh's Yusuf Haji road (First Avenue) (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

For buyers to benefit from the wholesale price, they have to buy a pack of six. For shoes and bags, the sellers allow one to buy three pairs in different sizes and designs, respectively, for the wholesale price benefit.

Nevertheless, one does not have to be a reseller to buy wholesale. Savvy buyers are coming together to benefit from the wholesale bargain.

I made an acquaintance with 27-year-old Stacy Wangari. She has come with three of her friends to go shopping.

“The first time I went shopping in Eastleigh, I was quite disappointed by their prices. I had heard that they had quite a variety to choose from and the best prices. I came to buy three pairs of jeans but was quite disappointed. I bought only two pairs at Sh2,000. I thought this amount would afford me at least three pieces,” she says.

One of her friends let her in on the secret of getting the best prices in Eastleigh by banding together.

On this day, she and three of her friends have come to shop for jeans, fancy tops, and undergarments. The friends go to the Tansim Mall for bras. They get a pack of six, selling for Sh900, in different sizes.

They also get a pack of six skinny jeans at Sh500 each and another pack of fancy tops at Sh350 each.

The skinny jeans would have cost Sh800 or Sh1000 a piece, and Ksh500 for the fancy tops in the retail section of the mall. The bras, on the other hand, retail for Ksh200 to Ksh250 a piece outside the mall.

“I have saved Sh1,050 from all this shopping and would have saved a lot more had I bought these items from exhibitions in town or estate boutiques. I bought three bras at Sh450, which would have cost me Sh600 in retail, two tops at Sh700, which would have cost me Sh1,000, and two pairs of jeans at Sh1,000, which would have cost me Sh1,600 or Sh2000. I have also just spent Sh100 on bus fare. Eastleigh has the best bargains,I can tell you. Next time, my friends and I are coming to buy handbags and shoes,” she enthusiastically says.

In addition, Eastleigh offers the best bargains for online selling.

34-year-old Jane Githua is also a savvy buyer from Eastleigh. She is a nursing mother to a six-month-old baby and needs something to earn an income as she looks after her child.

“I needed something to do to earn an income while at home, and a friend introduced me to online marketing. I would approach exhibitions in the city centre and ask to post the items they were selling online, and when I got a buyer, I would pay for it and pick it. However, the clients complained that the items were very expensive, and to retain them, I would reduce the price a bit and this ate into my profit,” says Mrs Githua.

She happened to be looking through YouTube and came across one of the vlogs on Eastleigh bulk buying.

“I visited the market and got quite a variety of affordable shoes I could post and earn a better profit. I took two weeks to plan my finances as I approached sellers to allow me to take pictures and videos of items I wanted to sell and post online, then pay and pick them once I have secured a buyer.  I got three that agreed. I have started with open shoes that are selling between Sh300 and Sh350. I sell them between Sh650 and Sh700 and I have happy customers,” she adds.

Mrs Githua says that this is such a good deal since she does not have to pay rent to stock the shoes or have to deal with dead stock.

List of some of the most frequented malls and what they sell

Prime gate mall, Shanghai, Waamo and Mandera shopping malls- sell fabrics for Ankara and Kitenge have clothes, deras. They also stock embroidery accessories. Shanghai also sells affordable ladies dresses and tops from Ksh350.

Al-Arafat- sells lesos, Masaai shukas, affordable babies, and ladies clothing wholesale.

Moyale Shopping Mall- jeans, tops, jumpsuits, curtains and sheers

Olympic Mall- undergarments, socks, shoes. Basements have socks and inner garments on wholesale, ground floor- bags and shoes, first floor stocks shoes sold on retail.

Bangkok Mall- Ladies and Men’s Suits. Outside Bangkok Mall, all the way to Major Muriithi Street is a hawker’s paradise from 5:00pm, with all kinds of shoes, ladies clothing, handbags, perfumes, jewellery, food items and fruits, camel milk, etc at very affordable prices.

Amal Mall- affordable ladies’ clothes in the basement, men’s clothing and shoes on the upper floor

Yare Mall- High end men’s clothing

Eastleigh Business centre- Undergarments for children, men and women

Stage shopping centre alley stalls- toys, cosmetics and shoes Tansim Mall-All types of ladies’ clothes, including jeans, dresses, fancy tops, etc.

New- Albarrak- children and ladies dresses from China

Beijing Mall- affordable ladies’ clothes

Taasir Mall- Men’s clothing

Amco mall - Men’s clothing.

Day to Day mall - Home décor items, home appliances, carpets, toys, and baby clothing.