Chinese toys are not cheap, for now

As ban cuts off supply from China, the low-cost stuff start coming at fancy prices across Delhi, Gurgaon

Chinese toys are not cheap, for now

As ban cuts off supply from China, the low-cost stuff start coming at fancy prices across Delhi, Gurgaon

The 'sasta-sundar' (cheap and beautiful) Chinese toys are cheap no more.

The ban, which came into effect in January, was imposed amid concerns from the domestic manufacturers and the quality of material used in making them.

As a result, the hugely popular products are either not available or being sold at exorbitant prices.

Ronit Kumar, a civil engineer at a real estate company in Gurgaon, said that when he went to buy a Chinese toy gun for his three-year-old kid, which he had selected a few days ago at a shop at Sadar Bazar, he had to pay Rs 685, double the amount what he had earlier bargained.

Like Kumar many parents are upset with the government's move as they feel they are forced to pay extra amount when they are counting every single penny they earn because of recession.

Traders of Chinese toys believe that the prices have shot up by 100 to 400 per cent. They attribute this upward swing to the limited supply and unaffected demand of the Chinese toys.

Paramjit Singh Pamma, vice-president of federation of Sadar Bazar Traders' Association, said: "The toys designed in the Chinese markets are much more sophisticated than the Indian toys and were available at a much cheaper rate. But effect of the ban can be seen now. The prices have gone up though there has been no decrease in the demand."

Manu Khosla, a trader of Chinese products at Rajendra Nagar in west Delhi, said, "The move was being seen as protection for domestic toy manufacturers against cheap Chinese imports. A Chinese toy, which earlier cost Rs 100, now charged Rs 300-400. The price of electronic toys, which have been completely banned, has gone up to 400 per cent."

However, the shopkeepers say that the stock of Chinese toys in the Indian market is enough to last a year. Nearly 75 per cent of toys sold globally are manufactured in China.

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