In general, the price of non-branded tiles from India and China is in the range of Rs 40 to Rs 450 per sq. ft., depending on their designs and style, while the branded tiles cost in the range of Rs 48 to Rs 550 per sq. ft. [break]
Such a drastic narrowing down of rates between the branded and non-branded products happened particularly after traders dealing with non-branded tiles increased the prices by up to 25 percent, citing recent rise in customs valuation. Dealers trading in branded tiles from Spain, China and India, on the other hand, did not raise their prices this year.
"We did not adjust the prices of our products because our import rates and freight charges have not changed," informed Uttam Rimal, branch manager of Bajra and Bajracharya Enterprises (B & B) that deals in Spanish brands like Porcelanosa and Halcon, Indian brand Somany and Chinese brand Better Ceramic.
If dealers of branded tiles can afford to continue business without adjusting retail prices, why did the dealers of non-branded tiles raise their retail rates?
Its reason is simple: the dealers of non-branded tiles were heavily under-invoincing the rates of their import to evade VAT and other taxes. So, when the Department of Customs raised its customs valuation, they were forced to correct the price level.
This correction, meanwhile, has created a room whereby consumers can now go in for branded tiles without much impacting their furnishing cost.
That is not all. Dealers will readily provide a discount of up to 15 percent, depending on the volume of procurement, if consumers really pushes for. On top of that, they will also get a cushion of warranty, something which can really relieve consumers a great deal.
According to B & B, the price of Halcon tiles ranges from Rs 140 to Rs 250 per sq. ft. The dealer provides 7 to 10 years warranty on this range and consumers can push for some discount on its tag prices as well. Likewise, Porcelanosa tiles -- expensive ones -- cost in a range of Rs 275 to Rs 550 per sq.ft, but B&B provides life-long warranty on it.
Better Ceramic, on the other hand, costs Rs 80 per sq. ft. while Somany tiles are cheaper and are available in a range of Rs 48 to Rs 135 per sq. ft. The company provides 2 to 5 years warranty on them.
Spanish tiles are mostly preferred by high-end customers who go for quality finishing products. Indian tiles are mostly used for decorative purpose as they come in bright colours whereas Chinese tiles are mostly used to furnish open space and lobby as they come in double glaze.
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