Find out which retail chain has the best products, prices and customer service. Also learn how stores ‘trick’ you into spending more

Like supermarkets, department stores are slowly changing the way India shops. With everything from clothes and household goods to furniture and toys under one roof, they offer shoppers unmatched convenience. However, much like supermarkets, not all department stores are equal on factors such as price, product range and customer service. Our latest 10-city survey aimed to reveal which department store is India’s favourite. The survey, in which 1,917 people participated, revealed that relative newcomer Reliance Trends was the most preferred department store, with a customer score of 74%. It got four stars for service, in-store experience, price and product quality, and five stars for product range. Next came the veteran Pantaloons (71%), which was especially popular in Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Pantaloons also appears to be more popular among people between the ages of 36 and 50. Lifestyle wasn’t far behind (68%), though its three-star rating on price cost it a few points. These were followed by Westside, Central, Globus and Shoppers Stop – a tightly bunched group, scoring between 58% and 62%. However, Globus and Lifestyle were the department stores that were popular among younger customers (18-25 years). Our survey also revealed that price was the biggest draw for consumers, and product and in-store experience were also important when choosing a retailer. On the flipside, shop crowds and expensive prices were the big downers, while lack of parking and long queues were also major irritants. Housewife Kamla Devi, 42, from Delhi, says that she would recommend Reliance Trends to her friends: ‘Whenever anyone in my family needs to buy clothes, we head to Reliance Trends. The staff are attentive and helpful. If you can’t find a product, they don’t just tell you where it is, they actually get it for you. Another great thing about the staff is that they give competent advice, and can even tell you which colour suits you best! They are very polite and well informed about special offers and deals and make the shopping experience better.’TO READ FURTHER... Please Login, Register or Subscribe