Group buys offer strength in numbers, but are they still a win-win?

AT THE height of Covid-19, group buys were an affordable way for stay-home Singaporeans to get char kway teow, fresh fruit or ready-to-eat pasta delivered to their doors – or at least to their neighbours’. Even before the pandemic, canny homeowners were reaping the benefits of collective buying. But now that Covid constraints are gone, are group buys still a bargain?

Opening doors to home group buys

Group buys have long been relevant for homeowners. In 2015, home appliance retailer Gain City opened its Sungei Kadut megastore to the first such group. Twice or thrice a month, 100 to 200 customers at a time are invited to such events, where they get exclusive prices and vouchers with a minimum spend of S$2,000.

First-time homeowners aged 25 to 40 are “highly price-sensitive” and prefer to inspect big-ticket items in person before buying them, explained marketing director Candy Cao.