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Refurbished Goods When it comes to Refurbished goods, there is a general notion that these are ‘Second-Hand’ items. To put things in perspective, such goods are partially used but are returned to the seller with minimal wear and tear to be repaired and restored and sold as certified refurbished products. Most of the time, such products are returned based on minor flaws involving functionality, packaging or aesthetics of the product. The manufacturer’s role is critical in the process as they are responsible for correcting the flaw, rechecking for functionality and other quality parameters to transform the product to as good as new. The demand for refurbished products is growing due to participation from online retailers like Amazon and Flipkart. Avenues to buy Refurbished Goods Refurbished products offer a great option for customers who seek branded products at an affordable price. Instead of buying second-hand products, customers can opt for refurbished products that come with product warranty and in near-mint condition. In India, the refurbishing business is growing at a robust pace with more demand coming from the tier-2 and tier-3 towns. Cities with a floating population consisting of students and young professionals are the ones majorly going in for refurbished products considering the inexpensive pricing. Now, let’s briefly look at websites that offer refurbished goods: Amazon India: The site carries a large range of refurbished or ‘Renewed’ (as they call it) products including factory seconds and all types of electronics. All products come with an assured warranty. 2Gud.com: This is an independent platform owned by Flipkart. It offers good deals on refurbished phones, smartphones, laptops, smartwatches and streaming devices. eBay: The site has been closely associated with refurbished products for long and offers a diverse variety of goods under one roof. Products come with a Buyer Protection Policy to ensure good quality. All concerns reported are looked into by eBay. Quikr: They mainly cater to pre-owned and unboxed products but carry the refurbished tag. Products sold on the site go through rigorous quality checks to ensure the proper working condition and come with a replacement guarantee. ShopClues: The site was a major player in online retailing but now sells pre-owned, unboxed and refurbished electronic products. The major downside on site is a lack of a diverse product catalogue to entice a customer. Benefits of Refurbished Products Price Factor: One of the best features is definitely the price. There are occasions when some products are offered at a 50% discount, which makes them irresistible. Assured Testing: Before being put in the market, these are tested by the seller by involving the manufacturer for faulty parts and performance before it is sold to the customer in usable condition. Availability of older models: Some of us who are averse to new models and upgrades can find older refurbished models that fulfil our requirements. Most brands tend to discontinue old models or limit their supply. Eco-Friendly: One can indirectly do their bit for the environment by prolonging the life of a gadget, which otherwise would be disassembled and dumped into landfills. RIsk factors associated with Refurbished Products Reduced Warranty: When buying refurbished models, there is a reduced period of warranty compared to buying a fresh unit. Lifespan not Defined: We can be assured of a new Smartphone lasting a year or two. But, refurbished products do not come with a defined lifespan. Parts & Accessories: A new product has brand new parts and accessories, but no assurance on the authenticity exists for refurbished products. Flipkart versus Amazon in the Refurbished Space The process of refurbishing is not a new phenomenon, as it was fairly common among offline retailers, especially with electronic goods. Now, major players in online retail have become active in the refurbished product space. Flipkart's 2gud.com The site was launched in 2018 with focus on Smartphones, tablets and electronic accessories. Presently, their product catalogue includes apparel and footwear. Prices vary from 50-80% of the original price depending on the level of certification and offer a purchase warranty of 3-12 months with the option to return. Flipkart refurbishes the product through trusted partners and third-party vendors. The companies seek to exploit the demand by putting in place systems and processes to improve transparency and quality. Amazon’s Renewed Products The site started with refurbished products in 2017 and offered products under 20 different categories. The products are sold through third-party suppliers, and the company insists on good-quality and performance, which is an outcome of an elaborate refurbishing process validated by Amazon. All products come with a 6-months seller’s warranty and are in-line with Amazon’s return policies. The downside on the site is a comparatively higher price range on refurbished goods. How Can Online Retail Sites be trusted with Refurbished Products Company Reputation: Major online shopping sites are putting their reputation at stake by selling refurbished goods. Sites are compelled to sell only high-quality goods through mechanisms that monitor & reject low quality or sub-standard products. Return Policies: All products on these sites are backed by an easy return policy, making it easy for customers to try refurbished products in the first place. Warranty on Products: Refurbished products come with a product warranty that promises a minimum working period. All products come with this warranty. Final Thoughts Although refurbished products make high-end brands affordable, there isn't any guarantee on the long-term viability of the product and sites tend to affirm this. That said, we are living in an aspirational India that is price sensitive yet brand conscious, and refurbished products open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Buying Furniture Online The e-commerce industry has grown on an unprecedented scale in the past decade. What started with the idea of selling books via the internet has gradually taken over the offline buying and selling process. With e-commerce giants like Amazon offering its customers all that they might need, a change in consumer behaviour has been witnessed, and the majority of the people now prefer shopping online. Realising this untapped market of selling furniture online, many start-ups have started with their online platform that caters to furniture buyers who are looking for online solutions. The diversity of consumers in India is enormous, and the needs of the buyers vary to a great extent. Some are looking for a decorative piece of furniture while many just want a generic one that serves their purpose. One of the significant challenges that remain in this segment is the lack of ‘touch & feel’ experience of the furniture while buying. Some customers are very particular about the touch and feel of their furniture, and they require a demonstration before making a purchase. Companies are constantly focused on creating an experience centre for furniture buyers that will likely get them to purchase it online. The offline vs online dilemma One of the best things about buying furniture online is that you don’t have to waste your time by physically visiting multiple stores to find out the best product and the best deal. You just have to use your smartphone or laptop and navigate to the online furniture website. You can see and compare various types of furniture and pick one as per your liking by comparing the prices across multiple websites. Those customers who are very particular about the touch and feel of the furniture are more accustomed to buying it offline as it provides them with a chance to experience the product. This is one of the major drawbacks of buying furniture online, but that doesn't imply that you can't have a fair knowledge about the furniture you are going to buy. The items listed on the online platform have a very descriptive product description along with high-resolution images that allow you to zoom in and feel the product. Some even come with videos! Pros of buying furniture online Some of the most prominent benefits of buying furniture online are mentioned below. Product diversity The best part about buying furniture online is that it offers a broad range of furniture to choose from and brings more diversity in design and making. The offline stores usually have a very limited collection and that too, with limited stocks. The offline stores have restricted space to hold large inventory. Comparability When buying furniture online, you can easily check the prices of the same product on multiple websites and buy the one that fits your budget. You can also compare the features of the product you are buying and pick a suitable one for your home. It also gives you a fair idea of the product price so that you get the best offer when buying. Discount offers The online furniture stores don’t need to pay rent for physical accommodation regularly. This lowers their overall expenses, and the benefits are often transferred to the consumers in the form of heft discount and other offers. They can easily afford to sell the furniture at a comparatively lower price. Allows easy return Customers are at times hesitant about buying furniture online as they fear it might not be the perfect size of quality. This problem is addressed using the easy return policy that the online furniture sellers offer. You can get a replacement if you aren’t satisfied. Cons of buying furniture offline Misleading descriptions One of the major cons of buying furniture online is that you can’t have a touch and feel the experience and you have to rely on the product description and images. These images and descriptions at times might be misleading, but you can easily avoid this by purchasing from a trusted online brand. Delivery charges & Return cost Shipping charges might seem like an unnecessary addition to the product price when buying furniture online. Some companies have the policy to allow free shipping only when your order amount is above a given threshold. At times, the customer might need to bear the cost of return when they are not satisfied with the product delivered. Where to buy? In the contemporary scenario, customers are overwhelmed with multiple choices that they have. Knowing where to buy your furniture online is the key to making a prudent purchase decision. There are multiple well-known brands in the online furniture space, such as Pepperfry, Furlenco, Urban Ladder, Amazon, etc. When purchasing from these well-known brands, you will not have to worry about any misleading descriptions or return policy. In addition to this, you will be offered the most affordable prices when making a purchase using these platforms. You can be sure to reap all the benefits of buying furniture online!

Owning a car is an expensive affair. Most car owners think of making some modifications to it. However, be cautious. Before you decide to modify your vehicle into something that you desire, it is essential to go over the rules related to car modifications in India. In January 2019, the Supreme court of India ruled that we must not alter the motor vehicles in a way that makes the specifications of the car different from the specifications made by the manufacturer. Section 52, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, definitely is a speedometer for your dream car. In simple words, you should not be playing with the structural features or the original design of the car, if you want your vehicle to be legal. But, is even a single modification not allowed? No, car modifications are not all illegal in India. Here, we present a list of permissible and illegal car modifications in India. Keep these in mind to avoid roadblocks in creating your dream car. Permissible Car Modifications in India: Lights: Headlights and tail-lights can be modified or upgraded. You can change or install LED bulbs or auxiliary lamps. It is not considered illegal by the government as long as you are not fiddling with the OEM wires. Tyres: Tyres of a car are allowed to be modified. These range from base variant to the top model variant as the car manufacturers usually offer different tyre specifications. You can replace steel wheels with alloy wheels of the same rim size with the original parts. Colour: The colour of the car can only be changed with the permission of Regional Transport Office (RTO). Engine Fuel: You can fit a CNG kit if it is a petrol or diesel engine. However, that should be endorsed by the Regional Transport Office on the RC copy. Engine: Only with prior permission from the RTO, you can modify the engine. Adjournments: For a high-quality ride, a car is allowed to have a few inches’ difference from the stock suspension. Seats: You can change the Seat covers from fabric to leather or a different material. However, the covers should not be blocking the side airways. Music System: The music system is an integral part of any car. It can be installed without much fuss. The only thing that you should bear in mind while installing a music system is to avoid cutting any wires. The best way to do it is to run new wiring separate from the Car’s OEM wiring. Windows: Coloured windows are legal with certain conditions. It would be best if you did not make them too dark or tint the wrong windows. The front and rear windows should let through a minimum of 70% of light. Side windows must ensure 50% clarity. This rule is the most disregarded one in the country as people do not follow the conditions. Minor Upgrades: Minor Modifications like rain guards, door protectors, and decals can be added to the car without any legal problem. You can apply small stickers on the car body as well. Illegal Car Modifications in India: Fancy Horns: Factory fitted horns come with a decibel limit, which is under the prescribed limit. Elaborate horns like sirens and pressure horns are illegal and punishable with hefty fines. Extra Lights: Car bulbs must adhere to the prescribed colour theme. Unusually bright lamps may blind cars on the opposite side of the road. It is also illegal to have lamps mounted to the roof of a car. Lamps cannot be more than 1.5 metres from the ground. Loud Exhausts: Just like horns, there is a predefined decibel rating for exhausts. An after-market exhaust with louder noise levels can get your vehicle seized. Also, these exhausts are more likely to fail the PUC test due to higher emissions. Designer Number Plates: Fancy number plates can also get you in trouble. New cars should have IND embossed safety plates. Letters should have a legible font and should meet all the guidelines set by the government. Engine Upgrade: Putting a more powerful engine or a new one is illegal. It is also a concern for vehicle safety. There are some other car modifications which are illegal. Before making any changes to your vehicle, go through the relevant acts passed by the government. Conclusion: The rules and laws have come into effect after thorough research to bring in more safety and to maintain the standard quality for all vehicle. Moreover, these unwanted modifications do not do any good for the resale value of the car. So, hit the road with the law-abiding vehicle of your dream.

Jewellery is often considered as one of the goods which cannot be purchased off the net. However, jewellery is an essential accessory for many and therefore necessitates online purchase many a times given the ease of convenience associated with online shopping. It is often said that the best-suited piece of jewellery always compliments its owner. But, in the everyday routine of today’s life, it is getting tough to roam through the city lanes. Gone are the days when there was hopping from one shop to another looking for the perfect piece for the upcoming occasion. And, hence, in this digital age, even the jewels have found a way to be delivered at your doorstep. The Optimum Digital Jewellery Store So, for all the jewellery fans out there, here are some of the tips that can come handy while buying jewellery online for an upcoming occasion or preparing for the festive season: Look for purity certification: A smart and safer way to purchase jewellery is checking for the hallmark certification. This includes checking a BIS mark, year of making, purity code, and the jeweller’s mark as well. All these collectively define that you are paying money for a quality checked piece. Return and refund policy: One of the main benefits of the digital market is that the product is delivered to your doorstep and in case you are not satisfied with it, there is always an option to return it. However, this added advantage needs to be checked for the seller from whom you are about to make a purchase. Quality, quantity, and price: For the precious metals in the market, the price against quantity varies every day. And, given the fact that no jewellery is 100% pure of its components, make sure to check on the quality of the same. Where to Buy Jewellery Online? Now that you are aware of the tips to keep in mind when buying jewellery online, we knew that you would like to know about renowned sellers of the digital jewellery stores as well. So, here’s a list of the most assured ones: Amazon: The eCommerce giant has not left any stone unturned when it comes to selling online. But, that’s not about it. There are numerous reasons why it has earned such a reputation and above all, trust from its customers, even when it comes to buying jewellery online. Assurance of authenticity and purity: Not only is all kinds of jewellery available here, but each of them comes with a certificate that assures of the quality from laboratories like BIS, IGI, and GIA. A safer shipment: Quality delivery has always been taken care of by Amazon. Furthermore, when it comes to jewellery and its shipment, high-level safety measures are taken to make sure the certified product is well-checked and packed in a tamper-proof package and delivered securely. Straight-forward return and refund policy: Most of the jewellery items purchased from Amazon have a 30-days return policy. Additionally, there is also an option of lifetime exchange and buyback. All under one roof: The eCommerce giant assures to accommodate more than 100 brands in the line of jewellery with over 4 lac styles available at one link. The collection is filled with artificial as well the ones made from gold, diamonds, and other valuables. Flipkart: The well-known eCommerce giant based in India has earned the trust and loyalty of its customers over the years. Being one of the largest online stores in the country, it caters to all the needs of its customers and assures them top-notch quality. And, the same has been proven for the online jewellery segment as well. So, here are a few reasons why buying jewellery from Flipkart is beneficial: Collection of genuine products: Having ties with known quality sellers of jewellery, Flipkart has brought together a collection of quality assured products. Lifetime buyback from the jewellery brand: The buyback of the product is not assured by Flipkart but is provided by certain jewellery brands. Warranty and certification: The jewellery available with the eCommerce seller have a guarantee of their quality with appropriate certification. Return and refund policy: Though the process of refund and return is simple and quick, yet the policies differ with different sellers and categories of jewellery items. Secured delivery: Understanding the value of the trust of customers, Flipkart makes sure that products are packed right and delivered on time with secured channels. The Final Word A piece of jewellery tells a lot about one’s personality and enhances beauty without speaking an actual word. Hence, for a piece that is so effective and essential, appropriate choices should always be considered when buying them. So, the next time when you are searching for your perfect design on the web, check for safety measures and make an astonishing purchase and choice.

Travel is one amazing activity that gives us tons of experiences and memories. While some travelers will make a spontaneous plan, the rest will wait until it is cheapest to book flight tickets. Yes, most travelers are budget-oriented and hence, will opt for budget ticket prices that can save them a lot of money. For this, they can wait days, weeks, and even months until the right amount arrives. But, what if we tell you how to find the cheapest flights throughout the year? Yes, it is possible and you can do that by following these simple tricks: 1. Find cheapest flight tickets in incognito mode: Cookies! No, not to eat but these along with your server details get stored each time you check the price for a flight ticket. When you visit more than twice in as many days, magically the prices will spike up. This is because the system can understand that you are interested in this specific flight fare and hence a markup will be added to increasing the costing. The only way you can avoid this by using the private browsing/ incognito mode. By doing this, no cookies and details are stored. So in short, the prices won't go up quickly. Here's how you can find the cheapest flights on incognito mode on various browsers: Google Chrome and Safari - Ctrl + Shift + N Mozilla explorer and Internet Explorer - Ctrl + Shift + P If you're running an older version of these platforms, simply find "Incognito mode" on Settings/Tools. 2. Use different flight fare comparison websites: While tons of websites claim to be the cheapest flight booking site, we will mention 3 specific options that will help you find correct fares: Google Flights often is known to provide the best flight prices. Yes, you might not find the cheapest fare here though as the amount is mentioned without any offer. Sky scanner has been hailed as one of the best websites to book the cheapest flight tickets. Here, you can find different combinations (non-stop, 1 stop, 2 stops, 3 stops), etc. This helps you in getting the best combination and cheapest cost too. As you can see, flights are shown in the best combinations to find the cheapest flights and also the fastest flights (these are costly). The best part is that you can mix and match various airlines to reduce the cost as well. Visit the specific airline's own website. Yes, this is a trick many seasoned travellers end up using as you can find lower fares too. Also, claims can get sorted pretty quickly when you book directly through the airline. 3. Unlock special offers on Goibibo, MMT, Yatra, etc: Today, if one is wondering how to book cheapest flights, all they have to do is check travel portals like Goibibo, Make my trip, Yatra, Agoda, Clear-trip and many more. Depending on the season or their special offers, one can find highly discounted and cheapest domestic/international flight ticket fares. You can download these apps and then check fares on each platform. Always watch out for special deals that keep cropping up. Using such deals you can save a lot of money. Please note the following aspects: The offer will be for a special period. Bookings must be done in a specific period and the travel too must be done in a period specified by them. You can get discounts based on credit and debit cards that you own. Even if you don't own, you can take help from family/colleagues/friends to make the booking that will save you money. Please check service charges too and check the final amount of your ticket before booking. Do not go on the face value of the promotional amount. 4. Air Miles is a lifetime bonus for travellers: If you love travelling and intend to visit a new place 1-2 times every year, it's best to be part of an "Air Miles Program". In this program, each time you book a flight from the same airline, you will either get points or miles added to your account. Once you have enough points, you can use it to reduce your cost for a new flight or maybe get it for free. Here are some of the brands that provide the Air Miles program: Air India - Flying Returns Singapore Airlines - Kris Flyer Vistara Airlines - Club Vistara British Airways - British Airways executive club If you have an airline that you frequently fly with, do try and find out if they have a frequent flyer program that you can register for. Not just airlines, you can also earn air miles through your debit and credit cards. Yes, multiple banks provide amazing schemes for frequent travellers. Here are some of the best examples: Citi Premiermiles Credit Card Air India SBI Signature Credit Card Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card SBI Card ELITE Standard Chartered Emirates World Credit Card HDFC Regalia Credit Card MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Credit Card Almost every card will give you air miles, travel vouchers, and various discounts. So, you can sort your finances and also fund your travel dreams with just one card. Isn't that so cool?

How to Find Made in India Tag on Flipkart, Amazon, and Snapdeal With the uprise in nationalism, people have now decided to go for local products. ‘Go Local’ has become the new motto of the country. This motto has been very effective and aims to support and promote local businesses and their operations. Local Businesses and E-Commerce Sometimes, people find it challenging to shop for local products due to weak distribution channels and the unavailability of products in several physical outlets. This brings E-Commerce into the picture. With the help of e-commerce, local businessmen have got a platform where they can sell their products to the masses and improve their distribution channels. Companies like Flipkart have started to source indigenous products from local businesses to support the ‘Make in India’ movement launched by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi. With this shift in sourcing decisions, the prices have come down, and the benefits have been passed to the final consumers of those products. The e-commerce giants: Flipkart and Amazon have now launched private labels that are indigenously manufactured. These private labels have a major contribution to the revenue stream for these companies. Checking the Origin Country of the Products Flipkart If you like a particular product on Flipkart, you can check if the product is made in India or not. The name of both the manufacturer and the supplier is mentioned with the description of the product. You can click on the name of the manufacturer or the supplier to know the complete address of that particular company. With that information, you get to know the country where it has been manufactured. The ‘Made in India’ tag would be present on the product in case it has been manufactured locally. Alternatively, you can also contact the supplier on the number given by Flipkart and get all your questions answered. Amazon Amazon gives you the option to use the search option to find products from local manufacturers and suppliers. You can press CTRL and F in the case of Windows and Command and F in the case of iOS and then type in the name of the local manufacturer you want to buy the products from. All the products from that manufacturer would be displayed on your screen. The tags could sometimes be difficult to find on Amazon, but you can always have a look at the address of the supplier and the manufacturer. You can also contact them in case you need more details about the product. The description of the product would contain a “Make in India” tag in case the product is manufactured locally. Snapdeal Snapdeal is quite popular when it comes to providing a platform for local businesses. It has brought about 5000 local manufacturers and sellers onboard. The product details can be checked to see if the product has been made in India. Products which are locally manufactured will have “Made in India” written on their packaging or on the product itself. Also, the description of the product will tell you about the country where it is manufactured. The “Made in India” tag is available on all products which are locally manufactured and supplied through the various e-commerce websites. The product details can also be checked on these websites if you want to know about the manufacturer and the location of the company. Vocal for Local E-Commerce giants like Flipkart and Amazon have launched several personal brands that are Indian and produce goods that are made in India. These decisions have been taken by the companies due to a rise in the demand for locally manufactured products. Also, buying local products help small local business owners to expand their operations and increase their revenues and profits. Amazon gives a channel to all of these local vendors and suppliers to expand their customer base. Everybody can become a reseller on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal. With the COVID-19 pandemic on the rise, the local artisans, manufacturers, etc. have found it difficult to maintain their level of revenues and product sales. E-Commerce has been playing a role now like never before. It is trying its best to support local manufacturers by giving them a platform that reaches masses. Also, these companies are promoting local manufacturers by providing them assistance with their logistics, packaging supply chain, etc. This has now become our responsibility to support the local manufacturers and help them in growing their businesses. Conclusion The local manufacturers sell a lot of products online. The local nature of the product can be verified by the ‘Made in India’ tag, which is on the product or its packaging. Online websites are quite transparent that way. They provide details of all the manufacturers, suppliers, etc. on their website. Also, if you like a particular product, you can opt in to choose your supplier from the list of suppliers. You can make sure that you choose an Indian one.

One of the many impacts of the pandemic has been the increased importance of internet-based meetings. With no way for employees and stakeholders to hold meetings face to face, getting the opinions together over a net meeting is the next best alternative available. While platforms like WhatsApp and Google Duo have been providing video calling options, it has been available to limited users only. Skype, on the other hand, has provided up to 50 attendees on calls for some time now. However, in the post-outbreak scenario, platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Jio Meet have risen as popular virtual conference options for enterprise-grade usage. Chief Technical Officers across the corporate sphere are adjudging the benefits of these platforms while deciding which one to use. We tried to identify a few parameters on which video meeting platforms can be compared and a prudent decision can be made to zero in on the best option. Cost Zoom has several meeting plans to suit the need as per the number of attendees. Its free plan provides a 40 minutes limit on group meetings, in which up to 100 people can join in. Its paid plan includes a $14.99 per month per host. While the number of attendees remains 100, the meeting time limit increases considerably to 24 hours. It also provides additional benefits like user management, admin controls, cloud recording, Skype for Business interoperability, etc. For $19.99 per month per host, a business and an enterprise package are available. The business package allows 300 participants along with benefits like company branding, custom emails, etc. apart from other add-on options. The enterprise package for the same price accommodates 500 participants while the Enterprise Plus package can include 1000 participants. You get a dedicated Customer Success Manager and unlimited cloud storage on these plans. Google Meet, or G Suite Essentials as it is also known, has three packages. The free package provides a 1-hour meeting span to up to 100 participants. The $10 a month package provides 300 hours of meeting time to up to 150 participants while the G Suite Enterprise Essentials accommodate 250 participants for the same meeting time. Under all these packages, a user can join in from the external browser, and adjustable layouts and screen share options are available. The Enterprise package also plans to provide live streaming in-domain and intelligent noise cancellation. It currently saves meeting recordings to Google Drive. Jio Meet is offering its services free of cost. It offers various features like browser support, meeting with outsiders, legacy video devices interoperability, etc. Security Apart from being more expensive, safety concerns have been raised regarding the use of Zoom as well. Experts have pointed out serious security concerns surrounding its use and encryption policies. Prominent among them is the possibility of unwanted intrusion into Zoom meetings. Besides, there are doubts about the extent to which Zoom can use personal data. Like Zoom, Google also provides 256-bit encryption on its calls. However, it was the lack of end-to-end encryption in Zoom’s case that created a ruckus recently. To its advantage, Google Meet is not a standalone product as Google has a wide array of services and a rich pedigree in it. This puts Google Meet in the global Google IT infrastructure pedestal which regularly maintains cutting edge security features. In addition to password protection and encryption, Jio Meet allows the host an option to disable unwanted access. Nevertheless, users will end up sharing personal and non-personal data by using Jio Meet as well. It, however, disclosed that all personal data will be retained for a limited period only and thereafter deleted. Perhaps, with Jio Meet users can hope that their data at least stays in India. That brings us to the origin of these platforms. Origin Zoom CEO Eric Yuan claimed that the company is a California-based company that is listed in the NASDAQ. Yuan himself is of Chinese origin and has settled in the USA since 1997. Zoom is a multi-national company with operations and employees in the USA as well as China. It has clarified that its China operation is run through the American parent company. This practice is no different from that of its competitors and similar companies. Google, on the other hand, is American born and bred with headquarters in California. Jio Meet is a part of Reliance Industries’ Jio, which is owned by Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani. For Indian users, Jio Meet may seem closer to their hearts, amidst an overwhelming consciousness about national self-dependency and ‘Make in India’ clarion calls. Conclusion In terms of cost, Jio Meet is quite lucrative with its free usage. On the other hand, the free versions of Zoom and Google Meet are functional enough for small businesses. In terms of security issues, Zoom has been all over the news. While Google’s safety measures are proven, the company has a track record of monetizing out of user information. It is still early days for judging the robustness of Jio Meet’s security measures. It is still a challenger in terms of videoconferencing in India, as Zoom has a sizable grasp over the market already. But, Reliance has revealed plans of a $253 million investment in Jio platforms, so Jio Meet seems to be up to the challenge.

In India, having car insurance is mandatory for driving the vehicle on the road. Many owners opt for insurance to avoid legal implications without giving proper thought to it. When it comes to buying car insurance or renewing the old one, low premium costing insurance is the first choice for many of us. That results in covering all the legal aspects of the motor vehicle insurance laws but, yields no benefit in case of any mishap. Insurance experts always suggest doing proper research and considering your risk factors, before opting for any car or vehicle insurance. There are several factors to consider, while determining which policy to buy, including premium to be paid, service offered, deductibles, and add-ons. Let’s dive deep and look into various important aspects of a car insurance plan. There are two broad categories of vehicle insurance - third-party car insurance and comprehensive car insurance. Third-Party Car Insurance It is the basic car insurance policy that provides no benefit to the insurance holder, in case of an accident. A third-party car insurance policy, as the name suggests, covers mishap to others in scenarios where the insurance holder meets with an accident. Since the insurance covers only the third-party, the premium is relatively low. In the case of car insurance, the policy buyer is the first-party, insurance issuer firm is the second-party and the one who met with the accident with the policyholder as the third-party. The third-party liability coverage is of two types: 1. Bodily injury liability: It covers the injuries that occurred to the third-party. The coverage includes the cost of the medical bill, monetary loss, and pain and suffering that was caused due to the accident. 2. Property damage liability: It covers the expenses for the repairing of the property that is damaged during the mishap. It includes the amount paid by the first-party to replace landscaping and other structure at the venue of the accident. Legal Significance of Third-Party Insurance: As per the Indian Motor Vehicle Insurance Act, any vehicle owner, before going behind the wheel, must have minimal coverage for bodily injury and property damage. How can you Claim the Third-Party Insurance? As soon as the mishap occurs, you should first inform the policy insurer about the incident, by calling on their customer care number. The firm will then arrange to tow the vehicle to its network of garages. Generally, insurance companies will requisition the following documents at the time of filing claim: A claim form duly signed by the insured. Driving license copy. Police FIR copy. RC copy of the vehicle. Company stamp (in case of company registered, the vehicle’s original documents). Copy of policy document. Comprehensive Car Insurance It provides comprehensive coverage to both the parties, i.e., the other party involved and the policyholder, in case of an accident. As the policy provides a greater level of protection, therefore, they cost more. Premium and Insured Value (IV): The sum that the vehicle owner needs to pay to buy or renew an insurance policy is called a premium. Insurance advisors always suggest opting for a policy that covers the risk profile of the buyer while being affordable at the same time. For example, if you drive your vehicles for long hours, you should include wear and tear claims. Or, if you drive in cities only, you should avoid roadside assistance as you will find a service garage every few kilometers. The insured value or insured declared value (IDV) is the amount that the policy owner will be paid while making an insurance claim. In general, if the premium of your insurance coverage is low, the insured value will also be low. Add-On Features: With several online players coming into the car insurance market, a vehicle owner gets a lot of options to choose from. Some of those features include: Roadside Assistance: This feature allows you to avail of emergency assistance services if your vehicle breakdowns, meets an accident, has a flat tyre, etc., in any remote location. Some insurance providers also assist in case of key theft or loss. Engine Protect: Since the engine of the vehicle is one of the most pivotal parts of it, the policy covers the damage that occurred to your engine from an accident. Zero Depreciation: With every passing year, the valuation of your vehicle is reduced because of the wear and tear of the parts. Under Zero Depreciation, all such deductions are eliminated, and complete coverage is provided. Co-Passenger: It is obvious that now and then you will be traveling with someone like your family or friends. This add-on would protect your co-passengers as well if, they got injured in an accident while being in the vehicle. Garage Cash: With this add-on, you will be given a daily allowance for the number of days your car is kept in the garage for repairs. Consumable Items: Under this add-on policy, the expenses on items like nuts, bolts, screws, etc., are covered in case of accidental damage. Deductions: Whenever you make a claim for insurance in case of any mishap, most of the amount is paid by the insurance provider. Still, you will have to bear some of the expenses. Deductions mean the non-coverage amount or the amount that you have to pay. The lower the deductions, the less amount you have to pay in case of any mishap. However, deductions are inversely proportional to the premium amount, i.e., higher the deductions lower is the premium. No Claim Bonus (NCB): Insurance providers provide some discounts in the premium amount in the case of non-filing of claims in a year’s duration. This discount is known as No Claim Bonus or NCB. Insurance advisors always suggest opting for insurance policies that offer NCB, before opting for any coverage. Conclusion: To sum up it all, it is necessary to understand various nooks and corners of car insurance before making any call, as there is no one-stop solution for every problem.

Most people believe that it is mandatory to buy insurance for new cars from the car dealer. However, this is not true. It is definitely a hassle-free option, as you don’t have to research the various options available and compare them. The car dealer may also include add-ons in the policy, which may include free services, car covers, etc. But there’s a catch. Since the auto dealer arranges everything on your behalf, the premium might shoot up a bit. People tend to agree to this, as it saves their time and effort, but if you take out a little time to compare various auto insurance policies available, you will definitely find a better deal. Not only that, but you can also choose the add-ons that you really require. This lowers your premium amount, as you get to decide the add-ons of your policy. In this article, we will have a brief look at the pros and cons of buying insurance from the dealer and compare it with insurance bought from outside. Pros and Cons of Buying Insurance from Car Dealer Buying an insurance policy from the Car Dealer has its pros and cons. Even though the process is streamlined and hassle-free, it is a good idea to consider the positives and negatives of buying it from the car dealer. Pros The process of buying insurance is very convenient. Every detail has already been taken care of by the dealer. You might as well be offered a bundling discount, as you would be buying the car as well as the insurance from the same dealer. Whenever the need arises, the auto dealer also initiates the claim settlement process. The car dealer would always be available to explain to you the details regarding coverage, claims, and any other queries. Cons The cost of premiums can go higher than insurance bought from outside, sometimes as high as 40%. This rise in the amount of premium is due to the commission that the insurance company pays to the dealer. The dealer provides certain add-ons to your policy, which might not be relevant to you. These add-ons take the premium even higher. The dealer does not usually give you the option of choosing the add-ons for your policy. Any insurance bought from an insurer directly will be flexible with the add-ons, which means you can also opt-out of the add-ons if you want. Buying an Auto Insurance Directly from an Insurer People have access to the Internet at their fingertips. You can take a bit of time out to check various policies available, and then choose the right one according to your needs. Comparative studies have shown that you can save nearly 40% of your spending if you compare the best deals available, rather than buying the insurance that the auto dealer sells you. This is primarily because of the money saved from commissions, paperwork, and other fees, whose benefits can be passed on to the customers. Pros of Buying Insurance from Outside There is a scope for policy comparison: There are a plethora of websites that can give you a detailed comparison between the options available. You can find a policy with your needs in mind. This option isn’t available when you buy insurance that the car dealer offers. Added flexibility: The auto dealers have tie-ups with one or two insurance companies, which means you get little flexibility in choosing your insurer. Most people have their preferred insurance companies, and buying the insurance from the dealer would mean they would have to settle with a choice which they wouldn’t have preferred. But, it can be eliminated when you opt for an outside insurer after researching. Change in cover as per the customer’s choice: The insurance available with the car dealers often has fixed covers. The plan might as well come with a lot of add-on features that you might not need. This means you will have to shell out a higher premium. All of these can be saved when you buy car insurance directly from the insurer. Specific add-ons: You can change the add-ons as per your need. This allows you greater customization of your policy. Cons of Buying Insurance from Outside You will have to check various policies before deciding on one which offers the best deal. This will take considerable time, which might not be convenient for all. You might miss out on the bundled discounts which the dealers usually provide when you buy the car and the insurance together. The claims process would be more complicated, as you would have to initiate a process yourself. Understanding each and every detail of the insurance alone can be a task. This will be avoided if you buy the insurance directly from the dealer, as he would help in understanding the intricate details of the insurance policy. Cost analysis There are a plethora of companies offering policies at different price points. Comparing the options before choosing the best would help you land the best deal. After choosing the best policy, it would be essential for you to decide your preferred add-ons. There are some essential add-ons that you can consider adding to your policy: Zero or Nil Depreciation: It gives complete coverage without factoring in the depreciation of parts including fiber, glass, and rubber. Engine Protection Cover: This provides coverage to the engine against water ingression damages. Roadside Assistance Cover: This provides roadside assistance in cases of emergencies, such as roadside repairs, emergency refueling, towing services, etc. Conclusion There would be a lot of threats to your car, such as theft, accidents, and others. Insurance helps you face the financial consequences of these incidents. Make an informed decision before buying the insurance, and you are good to go in whichever option you opt for.

Of all the broadband connection providers in India, Xstream Fiber and Jio Broadband stand out as the most value for money offerings. The two telecom providers have been enticing customers with uninterrupted connectivity and lucrative plans to stay ahead in the race. Both have been doing a great job in fulfilling the needs of users. There is a lot to consider when it comes to picking a service provider of the two. In this article, we have considered cheapest unlimited plan of Airstel Xstream (799) with comparable plan of Jio (699) Installation charges Airtel's Xstream Fiber subscribers will not have to pay any installation charges if they elect to pay 3 months fee in one go. Which is 799 x 3 = 2397 On the other hand, JioFiber's subscribers will have to bear INR 1,500 as the security deposit (refundable) and INR 1,000 as the installation charge (non-refundable). Speed Airtel's Xstream offers a speed of upto 100 mbps under its 799 plan. Jio offers the same speed under its 699 plan. Comparison of the extra benefits offered by Xstream Fiber and Jio Broadband Airtel Xsttream offers the following four benefits: a. Free acess to Airtel Xstream app through which you can watch more than 400 plus live TV channels and movies and web series. The app is a worth competititor or Prime Videos and Netflix. b. Free acess to Wynk Music app.The app is a worth competititor or Gaana and Saavan. c. Free fasttag. d. Free acess to Shaw Academy app which is an upskilling app. Jio Fiber offers one month of free service to all new users. Reliability Both Xtream Fiber and JioFiber are highly reliable internet service providers. A noteworthy point is that Jio's fiber-optic line installation comes down to the local street cabinet. The company benefits its users with ‘Fiber to the Home’ internet connectivity service. It allows users to enjoy the top-notch broadband connection and eliminates the possibility of speed loss during transmission from the pole to the user's home. Final takeaway Both Xtream Fiber and Jio broadband give fierce competition to each other in terms of price, network speed, benefits, and plans. The two are different from each other in their unique ways. Jio's broadband is an ideal option for the ones with extensive usage of speedy internet at optimal price and isn't looking for too many additional benefits. If you prefer cost-effective broadband, then JioFiber will fit your requirements better. It is recommended to go for a basic at first, irrespective of the service provider you choose. Once satisfied, you can switch to their advanced plans.

Gold - An Invaluable Asset! Gold is considered as an important investment option by Indian families. It can be conveniently purchased in the form of jewellery, bullion, coins etc. Gold Loan facility Financial uncertainties can knock your door whenever. In India, money lenders & creditors offer loans on gold in times of urgency. Apart from this, banks provide credit in terms of loan on Gold, too. This loan is generally secured in nature, and is given against a security. In case of secured loans, the banks give you the money required in exchange for a mortgaged asset. These loans come with low-interest rates. Also, your asset ownership is protected as you are mortgaging the asset instead of selling it off. Availing Gold Loan A gold loan is a secured loan. You can avail a loan amount up to 80% of the market value of the amount of gold you are mortgaging. Taking a loan against your gold is a very easy method to fund your financial needs. Applying for a gold loan requires minimal documentation. After the submission of the application and the gold, the amount is easily disbursed and can be used to finance your needs. The Interest Rate Of A Gold Loan Just like any loan, a gold loan also comes with an interest rate. This interest rate is levied on regular payments towards the loan. Gold loan interest rates range from 9% to 13%, depending on the lender you choose to borrow from. Why Should You Take A Gold Loan? Gold loan is the best way to go about in case you need quick funds. There are no hidden charges involved if you avail a gold loan. Gold loans have relatively fewer interest rates as compared to personal loans, etc. Gold loans come with flexible repayment options. The gold which you give as security is kept safely by your bank without any additional charges. These loans come with low pre-closure charges. Benefits of Taking a Gold Loan Gold loans give you quick cash when you are in need. A gold loan comes with various benefits like: a. Making use of the unused gold as a financing option. You can mortgage gold and fund immediate requirements like funding education, buying a car, etc. b. Easy and fast loan processing You can get a loan against gold in a few simple steps. These loans are backed by an expensive asset. The banks prefer loans against gold as they can quickly sell off the gold in case of any default from the borrowers’ end. c. Low-Interest Rates Gold loans come with a lower interest rate when compared with personal loans. d. Fewer checks on credit history The gold furnished as collateral by borrower has a higher value than the loan disbursed. Typically customers gets 85% of the value of the gold as loan amount. Therefore, banks typically conduct lesser credit checks. Disadvantages of taking a gold loan a. The gold will be valued at a lower price in case of jewellery as compared to gold coins and bars If you decide to mortgage your gold jewellery, it will not have the same valuation as gold coins or bars. This happens because of the presence of other metals which are brought to use in molding the gold into various shapes to make a piece of jewellery. b. The cost of stones is reduced in case you mortgage gold jewellery You might have bought that gold at a much higher price due to various precious stones embedded in it but while taking a loan, only the value of the gold will be taken which reduces the value of the jewellery piece. c. In case of default, you lose all your gold Your loan might be a fraction of the value of the gold mortgaged, but in case you fail to make any repayments, you will lose out all of the gold mortgaged, however if the bank's recovery through sale exceeds principal + interest, the excess amount is transferred to the borrower.