A vendor repairing a watch at his shop. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Doha: Daily business of cobblers and watch repair vendors in Doha has been hit as customers choose not to have their watches and shoes get repaired.
The fast growing ‘use and throw’ practice has made people keep away from cobblers and watch repair vendors.
Several cobblers and watch repair vendors, The Peninsula spoke to, said that since footwear and watches are available at very low prices in the market, many choose to buy a new one instead of repairing.
“We get very few customers, some days no one will come. The prices of watches are very less now, there are some even sold for around QR 30, so many people throw the broken one and buy a new watch. They feel it’s better to buy a new one than spending money for a battery,” said Prabodh a watch repair vendor in Doha for more than eight years.
“Some days get business only for QR 20. The situation was different about five years ago. We were able to earn an average of QR 80 to QR 100 daily. People who come to us to repair a watch are not those who use high end brands. They use average priced watches, but these days such customers have got used to use and throw practice,” he narrated his experience.
Sunil, another watch vendor on the Old Airport street said, “Customers hardly come for major repairs, some come for a strap adjustment or battery change."
"They choose to buy a new watch if is a big repair is required. They decide to buy a new one for around QR 200 than paying QR 50 to repair a two years old watch.”
Cobblers in Doha also share a similar experience and they say that some customers don’t show up to collect their repaired shoes.
“Very few customers come these days compared to the days I started this job in Doha. Now there are so many shoe brands for less prices. Some are duplicates of renowned brands so people find it better to buy one for a few riyals, wear for six months, throw them and get new one."
"We charge only QR 2 for a repair like to fix sole of the shoe, a highest amount we take for pair of shoes is QR 20. Yet customers find it’s not worth fixing,” said Wasim, who is a cobbler in Doha for more than 20 years.”
“There are some customers, who bring their shoes to repair and never come back to collect back. They use us like a place to dump their unwanted footwears,” he added.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce charges an annual licensing fee of QR 500 from the street vendors for the trolley. Street vendors are obliged to maintain cleanliness and tidiness of their trolleys and surrounding place, avoid obstructing space meant for traffic and pedestrians.
“Inspectors come every week and check if the trolley is kept clean, if it’s not tidy they warn us. The place looks untidy when many shoes are kept in bags here, so I tell customers to collect their shoes within three days or will throw,” said Omar a cobbler on the Old Airport Street.
