<p>The autorickshaw drivers in the City have been multitasking a lot of late. Not only have they been conducting their daily business, they have also been doing the public relations and marketing for the big brands in the City.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The auto drivers at Commercial Street have been roped in by big sari stores to do their marketing. <br /><br />“We coax the customers to visit the shops when they need an auto to go back home. We offer them a free ride in turn. We get a gas card from the shops worth Rs 55 if we convince at least one customer to visit the shop,” says Asif Mohammad, an auto driver.<br /><br />On an average, these auto drivers convince three to four customers to pay a visit. Like Asif, most auto drivers are looking to make some extra money and aim at persuading more and more people to come to these shops.<br /><br />Some of them inform that it was easy to get customers initially but now, even a free ride back home does not lure them. The shop owners are of the opinion that it is just a harmless marketing strategy and has worked wonders for them. “We started this scheme last year but we revamped it this year so as to have more visitors. We don’t pay them any money. In exchange, we give them gas coupons everyday and also fund the education of their children,” says the manager of a popular sari shop in Commercial Street. <br /><br />Aslam Khan, an autorickshaw driver in Commercial Street who has been hired by one of the stores, has devised a strategy which is quite irresistible. “I drop the customers to the shop free the first time and hand over my card as well. Next time, the customer wants to go to the shop, he or she can give me a call an hour in advance and I will pick the customer up and drop him or her free of cost.” <br /><br />The shoppers at this popular shopping hub, however, are miffed at the auto drivers for refusing to drop them at their destination if they don’t visit the store. <br /><br />“It becomes difficult to go home from here as none of the auto drivers are ready to drop us if we don’t listen to them. We have to walk to the crossing to get an auto. The City administration should take it up with these auto drivers,” reasons Rishabh Arora, an IT professional.<br /><br />The auto drivers, however, explain that they never refuse a customer as it is not compulsory to visit the store. “We request them and if they do not wish to go, we drop them to their preferred destination. The police do not know that we are working for the shops,” adds Asif. <br /><br />While it is a bane for most, it has become a boon for some. “I hired an auto to drop me back home but then the driver told me to spare some time and visit a shop. He promised me to give a free ride back home. I liked the kind of saris they were selling and went on to buy one,” notes Trisha, a research executive. <br /></p>
<p>The autorickshaw drivers in the City have been multitasking a lot of late. Not only have they been conducting their daily business, they have also been doing the public relations and marketing for the big brands in the City.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The auto drivers at Commercial Street have been roped in by big sari stores to do their marketing. <br /><br />“We coax the customers to visit the shops when they need an auto to go back home. We offer them a free ride in turn. We get a gas card from the shops worth Rs 55 if we convince at least one customer to visit the shop,” says Asif Mohammad, an auto driver.<br /><br />On an average, these auto drivers convince three to four customers to pay a visit. Like Asif, most auto drivers are looking to make some extra money and aim at persuading more and more people to come to these shops.<br /><br />Some of them inform that it was easy to get customers initially but now, even a free ride back home does not lure them. The shop owners are of the opinion that it is just a harmless marketing strategy and has worked wonders for them. “We started this scheme last year but we revamped it this year so as to have more visitors. We don’t pay them any money. In exchange, we give them gas coupons everyday and also fund the education of their children,” says the manager of a popular sari shop in Commercial Street. <br /><br />Aslam Khan, an autorickshaw driver in Commercial Street who has been hired by one of the stores, has devised a strategy which is quite irresistible. “I drop the customers to the shop free the first time and hand over my card as well. Next time, the customer wants to go to the shop, he or she can give me a call an hour in advance and I will pick the customer up and drop him or her free of cost.” <br /><br />The shoppers at this popular shopping hub, however, are miffed at the auto drivers for refusing to drop them at their destination if they don’t visit the store. <br /><br />“It becomes difficult to go home from here as none of the auto drivers are ready to drop us if we don’t listen to them. We have to walk to the crossing to get an auto. The City administration should take it up with these auto drivers,” reasons Rishabh Arora, an IT professional.<br /><br />The auto drivers, however, explain that they never refuse a customer as it is not compulsory to visit the store. “We request them and if they do not wish to go, we drop them to their preferred destination. The police do not know that we are working for the shops,” adds Asif. <br /><br />While it is a bane for most, it has become a boon for some. “I hired an auto to drop me back home but then the driver told me to spare some time and visit a shop. He promised me to give a free ride back home. I liked the kind of saris they were selling and went on to buy one,” notes Trisha, a research executive. <br /></p>
