Electronics stores a hit with buyers   Customers shop at Nguyen Kim Supermarket in Ha Noi. Large, modern stores in Viet Nam have become popular among customers. - VNS File Photo HCM CITY (VNS) - A majority of consumers in Viet Nam prefer large, modern stores when they shop for high-tech electronic products, according to analysts. As a result such stores have mushroomed in recent years, they said, pointing to chains belonging to famous firms like FPT, The Gioi Di Dong, and Vien Thong A. As soon as they appeared in the market, these shops became popular since they offered advantages that traditional retail shops did not – a large and varied range of models, convenient services, and reasonable prices — they said. As of June, FPT Corporation had 116 stores in many cities and provinces, including 13 in Ha Noi and 12 in HCM City. Nguyen Bach Diep, CEO of FPT Retail, said customers now demand friendly pricing policies and post-sale services, and so his company regularly changes sales strategies to compete in the market. "Eighty per cent of the products sold at FPT shops are priced equal to or even lower than similar products on the market. "In addition, the FPT shops are ready to counsel customers and offer convenient post-sales services in addition to gifts." The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World Investment) Corporation is the largest mobile phone retail chain with nearly 200 large, modern shops nation-wide. A company spokesperson, who asked not to be named, said customers now pay much attention to customer care and promotions. "These modern stores can meet these requirements easily but traditional retail shops cannot. "Thanks to understanding customers' requirements, the company's stores have developed rapidly." Analysts said all of these retailers focus on pricing. As a result of its price advantage, last year The Gioi Di Dong sold 2.3 million Apple, Nokia, Sony, and HTC mobile phones, accounting for 20 per cent of their total market. Le Tam, director of Techone Mobile Supermarket, said people prefer to buy from authorised sellers because they can then be sure about the quality and warranty on products. "At small shops, customers cannot know about the origins of products," he said. Le Ngoc Phuong, a resident of Tan Binh District, said buying electronic products from large, famous stores means customers do not have to worry about quality. Besides, they often get preferential treatment at these stores, she said. According to data from the GfK Group, Germany's largest market research Institute, smart phones accounted for 70 per cent of mobile phones sold in Viet Nam last year, up 135 per cent from 2012. Tablet sales soared 250 per cent last year. Many foreign companies have been lured by the huge potential of the Vietnamese market, where 15 million people live in the two major cities of Ha Noi and HCM City, two-thirds of its 90 million people are aged below 30, and 30 million use the internet. - VNS