Sunday Landa Bazaar Price Guide – Committee Chowk (what to pay for secondhand clothes & electronics
Committee Chowk. Sunday. Landa bazaar. You know? People call it chor bazaar. Don’t say that to shopkeeper face. they get angry. I seen it.
Anyway.
I drive passengers there. Friday bhi hota hai. Sunday bhi. subah 8 baje best. 12 bajay baad? bhair. your feet hurt. people pushing. no air. just dust and shouting.
where exactly? Pindi Hotel ke pas. Shabistan Cinema. Phir Dhok Elahi Bakhsh tak. Sherpao Colony bhi. 4000 stalls they say. I don’t count.
parking? bhool jao. park near metro station. walk. otherwise you spend 1 hour finding parking. I do this everyday. trust.
so clothes.
mostly from australia. japan. UK. US. donated. or “donated”. don’t ask. just buy.
BUT (big but) government ne tax lagaya used clothes pe. 2025 mein. 200 rupee per kg. so winter stuff? coat? sweater? jacket? price up. 500 to 1500 zyada. what used to cost 300 now 500-800. adjust.
jeans. imported. levis maybe. zara. pay 300 to 500. shopkeeper says 800? walk. no. seriously. you find another stall.
shirt. h&m type. 200 to 350. more than 400? no.
winter sweater. acrylic ya wool. 400-800. good ones can go 1000. but expensive yaar.
jacket. fleece or puffer. 800-1500. tax ne badha diya. so be ready.
women kurti. 250-500. you find nice. but check for stains. shopkeeper hide.
children clothes. 100-250 per piece. buy 5-10 piece? cheaper. bundle.
shoes. sneakers. nike adidas copy? some original used. 500-1500. check sole. worn out? less price.
women shoes. sandals. 300-800.
hold item. look for holes. stains. missing buttons. I saw lady bought bag. got home. torn on side. shopkeeper folded it weird to hide. so.
bargain? start 40-50% below. they say 800. you say 300. they act hurt. you say “yeh to phata hai” point defects. works.
electronics. tricky.
some work. some don’t. some vendor give guarantee (3-6 month). most? “jo dekh rahe ho wahi hai”
I talked to vendor. azmat abbasi. 20 years here. he says refurbished not stolen. maybe.
prices.
iron. 800-1200. test before. plug in. heat.
fan. 500-1500. ceiling ya pedestal. some need repair.
laptop. 20000-35000. used. core i3 i5 old models. take friend who knows tech. or you get fooled.
mobile basic. 1500-5000. keypad wala. not smart.
smartphone used. 5000-15000. check IMEI. ensure not blocked.
children bicycle. 500-2000. good condition rare.
kitchen appliance. blender, heater. 1000-3000.
LED TV 32 inch. 8000-15000. check display for lines.
test everything. if vendor says “charger hai” plug yourself. check battery health on phone.
laptop? screen. keyboard. USB. charging. all.
fan? plug in. see it spins.
some vendor offer guarantee. ask. if they say “3 month” pay closer to asking. if “no guarantee” offer 50% of asking.
other stuff.
yaar market has everything. kitchenware. pots pans. 50-500.
bed sheets curtains. used some new. 200-1000.
home decor. lamps frames fake flowers. 100-800.
books. novels textbooks children. 50-300.
toys. stuffed animals cars action figures. 50-500.
bicycles adult. 1000-5000.
tools. hammer screwdriver. 100-500.
bags backpack. 300-1000.
passenger bought bicycle 1200. needed new tires. 400 more. total 1600. still cheaper than new.
another bought pots set 300. used 2 years. still good.
the “60% stolen” rumor.
locals say. vendors deny.
truth? middle. some stolen. some donated. some “fell off truck”. some just old.
my advice? don’t ask. cheap and works? buy. too new and price too low? think twice. bad karma.
but for poor people? this market lifeline. fan for summer. heater for winter. bicycle for child school. that real value.
bargaining. how to not lose money.
step 1: dress simple. no expensive watch. shopkeeper sees money price up.
step 2: look around first. don’t buy from first stall. see 3-4 stalls same item.
step 3: ask casual. “bhai kitne ka?” not desperate.
step 4: act surprised. “itna? nahi bhai”
step 5: quote 40-50% below. they say 800. you 300. they act hurt.
step 6: walk away. say “mehnga hai” start walking. 7 out of 10 times they call you back. “aja bhai apna rate bata”
step 7: settle at 50-60% of asking.
example.
you: “bhai yeh jeans?”
shop: “1000 imported”
you: “1000? 300”
shop: “300? 800 final”
you: “500 last”
shop: “chal be le ja”
done.
what NOT to buy.
underwear. socks. hygiene. just no.
used mattress. bed bugs. dust.
car tires. old rubber. dangerous.
baby car seat. safety unknown. cracks hidden.
helmet. used no protection.
unsealed electronics. “as is” no guarantee.
cosmetics. perfume. expired. skin problems.
some things worth new money. don’t be too cheap.
passenger stories.
story 1
two brothers college. needed jackets winter. went 9am sunday.
shopkeeper said 1500 each. 4500 total.
older brother: “2000 total”
shop: “3000”
brother: “2500”
shop: “2800”
brother: “2500 ya nahi”
shop: “le le pagal hai tu”
paid 2500. each jacket 830. new would be 3000-4000.
lesson start low walk away works.
story 2
two women friends. one bargains one doesn’t. same shirts. bargain woman paid 350. other 650. same shop same day.
non bargainer angry. “mohsin bhai loot liya”
I said “bargain karti nahi kya kar sakte”
lesson speak or pay.
story 3
passenger bought laptop 25000. vendor said core i5 8gb good.
no test. got home. windows 7. 4gb ram. core i3. keys missing.
went back next sunday. shop gone. different stall.
no refund.
lesson test everything before paying. take someone who knows.
tips for first timers.
go early 8-9am. less crowd. vendors fresh.
inspect everything. seams zippers soles screens.
take cash small bills. 100 500 1000. no change for 5000. no card.
use local words. “bhai” “kitne ka” “mehnga hai” “sasta karo” works.
watch others. see what they pay.
walk away freely. 4000 stalls.
check for hidden damage. turn clothes inside out. plug in fans irons.
don’t rush. plan 1-2 hours.
for foreigners reading this.
market chaotic. no english signs. no fixed prices. no AC. loud.
bring local friend. prices 2-3x higher if you look foreign.
learn words: kitne ka hai? mehnga hai. sasta karo. nahi chahiye.
bargain harder. start at 30-40% of asking.
cash only. ATMs crowded.
safety: wallet front pocket. phone secure.
what to buy: vintage jeans jackets handbags. electronics risky.
what to skip: expensive. fake luxury. anything electrical without testing.
honest? some tourists love. some hate. adventure? go. clean mall? centaurus.
other sunday bazaars.
nawaz sharif park – smaller. family. less electronics.
hyderi chowk – mix food clothes. quieter.
atwar bazar – tools sports bike parts. for mechanics.
but committee chowk main. 4000 stalls.
what I think (driver)
landa bazaar not for everyone.
rich? go mall.
smart patient? find gems. clothes 300. phone 2000.
but you work. walk. inspect. bargain. walk away. come back.
passengers ask “mohsin bhai sasta milta hai?”
I say “bhai. sasta milta hai. lekin mehnat lagti hai”
so don’t go tired. don’t go hurry. go free morning. take water. patience. small cash.
bookmark this. so you know what pay.
bookmark it.
also read (other guides)
car ac relay fix 250 pkr passenger saved me
islamabad road closures 7 shortcuts
cheap car parts saddar 7 shops
30 passenger problems where I sent them
secret party flats e11 f11 f10
rs100 wifi hotspots f10 freelancers
— Mohsin
*i-14 islamabad*
ps – found better price? vendor cheated? whatsapp me. I update. we drivers passengers help each other.
pps – foreigners: rs100 small money. for student here? lunch two days. bargain hard but not cruel. shopkeepers also need eat.
