Since even real estate groups have started tasting success through online platforms (for example, TDI tied up with Snapdeal to sell 2-3 bedroom apartments), maybe we shouldn’t be surprised about age-old two-wheeler brands being sold online. We are talking about Hero MotoCorp, decades old in the business of two-wheelers.
Apparently, they have sold around 100,000 two-wheelers – bikes and scooters- on Snapdeal. Considering each would be priced at an average of Rs 50,000, the total sales would amount to around Rs 500 crore. It’s the first time a domestic two-wheeler maker has launched sales of their units online. That too, at a time when offline sales everywhere are facing a downslide, this cannot be in the overall landscape of ecommerce popularity in India.
Tony Navin, senior vice-president (electronics and home) at Snapdeal said, “We partnered with Hero Motocorp in December, 2014 to launch their motorcycles online. The response from our customers has been fantastic. I believe this hybrid model, where Snapdeal becomes the ecommerce platform for the wide dealership network will give a fillip to the two wheeler sales in India.”
When established retail giants like Reliance and Future group can foray into ecommerce with their own ventures, it’s no surprise that even Hero MotoCorp is now considering launching their own online venture to capitalize on the response they have been getting so far. “This is the first time we experimented with the online platform and the response has been phenomenal. We are developing our own online channel and experimenting with setting up a virtual showroom soon,” said a spokesperson.
In the case of Hero MotoCorp, online customers are given access to the entire selection of motorcycles and scooters with the variants and colours. They also get added advantage of free insurance.
By now we are used to hearing about anything and everything being sold online. But how etailers are constantly changing their tactics to push sales is always interesting. Yes, discounts are being pushed aside.
Snapdeal is not offering any discount on the Hero two-wheelers. But Snapdeal is charging only Rs 3000 as booking amount, and not the entire or even a higher percentage of the full amount. Coupled with attractive EMI options, is it any wonder that customers are flocking to buy these two-wheelers online?
After dwindling with her family business, into travel and hospitality, for more than 3 years, Pooja Vishant found her true love in writing. Happy-go-lucky and cheerful, she loves pink; so pink is the way to go if you want to get into her good books. The Associate Editor keeps track of even a leaf that has moved in the ecommerce world!
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