The sale of air conditioners (AC) has apparently doubled in Dhaka, as the heatwave in the capital saw people suffer the hottest days in over six decades.
An AC is almost the only option that offers some relief without disruptions to normal routine. The pressure on customers to buy an AC has increased in many electronics stores in Dhaka.
The sales operators of different brand outlets told UNB that AC sales usually increase during summer, but this year the growth in sales is already extraordinary — twice as much as the other years, which was beyond their expectations.
They said that earlier only well-to-do families would buy ACs, but now a much larger chunk of society is able to afford what was once considered a 'luxury' item.
The salesmen claim that given the intense demand, AC is no longer a 'luxury' product, but rather a 'necessity item for city-dwellers'.
Mahmud Hasan, manager of the LG Butterfly outlet in Banani, said, "The heat has just started. The way the temperature has already crossed the record is not bearable. That's why a lot of ACs are being sold. The product is sold out before it is picked up in the store. Still have a lot of orders, but can't finish them."
On the other hand, buyers complain that the heat has also affected the price of ACs. Compared to last year; the price of an AC has been jacked up by Tk 10,000 for a 1-tonne AC. Larger ACs that can service larger spaces have seen their asking price go up by Tk 32,000 - depending on the brand.
It should be noted that although local companies like Walton have ventured into the AC market, it is still dominated by foreign brands.
Therefore the AC marketing companies blamed the depreciation of local currency exchange with the US dollar as a driver of the higher prices for the imported ACs, even before the heat wave created the conditions to loosen buyers' pockets.
