SIVAKASI WEATHER
Cracker sellers have a blast online

18-10-2014
18th October 2014

Courtesy: Deccan Herald

Cracker sellers have a blast online

“Happy Day”, “Super Star Blue”, “Break Dance”, “Fire Phoenix” and “Gold Glitter” are not horses taking part in a derby. They are the latest names of crackers which are available for online purchase ahead of Deepavali.

Online crackers stores are popular among consumers especially youngsters. Many online firecracker retailers, based in Chennai, have received huge purchase orders from various cities across the country and some of them have stopped taking further orders.

Sivakasi and Virudhunagar districts in Tamil Nadu which are India’s nerve centre of the industry produces 90 per cent of the country’s requirement every year. It exports 80 per cent of its production to other states, including neighbouring Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Since transporting crackers through postal and courier services is prohibited, online sellers uses their own vehicles to deliver the products.

“In the last couple of years, cracker producers in Tamil Nadu have come up with an unique idea by setting up online stores to avoid the troubles of setting up a physical shop, since it requires stringent norms and formalities.

The online purchase is just like any other e-commerce website,” said A Asaithambi, senior advisory committee member, Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers’ Association.

According to him, purchase of crackers through online does not involve any risk since the delivery is done by the retailers. Many online portals display high resolution pictures of all varieties of fireworks and crackers which is followed by comprehensive description along with the prices tags.

The payments are usually made through credit or debit cards as per the customer’s wish. However, through the website, people can purchase crackers that are above a fixed amount.

“Now we deliver the products only to Tamil Nadu and Bangalore. We use our own vehicles to deliver the products on time (depending upon the destinations),” said an official from Peacock Crackers, a leading online trader in the country. The company no longer accepts orders from other states since the products could not be delivered in right time at this juncture.

“We expect more than 20 per cent sales higher than last year,” the official said Everyday more than 7,000 people visit the website. Occasionally in case that the company is not able to deliver the crackers, customers are entitled for a refund and the queries are addressed within 24 hours.

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