Whoooo how to start. Okay.
So being one who isn’t very familiar with Nairobi, I wanted to acquire a few electronics from said location.
I remembered OLX that marvelous trade platform. So it’s jiji now. Okay. #rebranding.
Mind you I’m not timid. I know to avoid personal ads or wake up somewhere drugged, naked and robbed. Nairobi is legendary in the villages. My old neighbor stores his wallet in his underwear whenever he travels. I have seen it.
So I apply a reasonable amount of caution and delve in.
I chat up afew sellers on the products. I even got a 17" TV for 5k! Brand new.
Come D-Day I am at country bus with my 10 Gs from cabbages like the common village folk I am. I proceed to dial up the sellers.
Shock on my life.
Every shop I turn up at, the script is exactly the same.
Intro: “Ad? Ad Gani? Jiji? Nionyeshe.”
Either goes to
“Pole bro stock iliisha”
OR my favorite
" Hii ad sio mimi nilipost wacha nipigie mwenyewe niulize."
At which point they would make a phone call (or fake one…) And the feedback would be as in case number 1 or they would up the price.
By evening I was so frustrated. I went back to Ukambani never to return
Hii upuzi iliisha when nywele makamasi guys edged out shiny eyes in the TVs business. Hao walalo know one negative feedback can ruin your business especially in these social media era.
Sikuhizi ata madem huenda kujinunulia tvs, unlike before luthuli mlikuwa mnaenda mbogi ya mtu tano kununua TV msiibiwe
Ive bought alot of electronics from jiji/olx… A 43 inch Lg tv, fridge, home theatre…
Not everyone is a con as u claim. What i always do is take like 10 or more contacts, mmoja ama wawili isipoingiana, there will be several who will have what u just need, stop limiting to only one ad/contact and flip through several pages
A confession from a walalo. Ulisemaa the best time to buy from them is Ramadan. Hapo watakupa best price bila kukugonga. Hizi time zingine ni shiny eye pia