Photocopier shops enjoy brisk business

BENGALURU: While small and big businesses were groaning over the slump in business the last two days after high-value notes were demonetised, it is now boom time for the humble photocopier or Xerox shops.
They were sought after on Thursday as photocopies of Aadhaar card, voter’s ID and other government identity proofs had to be submitted at banks when depositing Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 notes. Business also came in from banks who wanted copies of the form that had to be submitted by anyone who wanted to deposit cash.

C R Kavya of Sri Mookambika Services on K H Road in Shanti Nagar said there was non-stop business since morning. “I cannot say how many people came in to take photocopies as there was a steady stream of people. We also had orders from both Syndicate and HDFC banks for copies of the form,” she said.

Two staff members were working non-stop on two photocopier machines to cater to the demand, Kavya added. The shop charges Rs 1.5 per page and she said they did not hike the rates.
A shop on the tiny lane of 1st A Cross of Dinnur Main Road in R T Nagar, Tanvy Enterprises, was also in demand. “Our regular earnings work out to Rs 200 per day through xerox copies. We already got that business by 4pm today,” C Vinay, the proprietor, said.

Mahendra D was noticed rushing to a shop in JC Nagar and requesting for 10 copies of the mandatory form to be submitted in the bank. “I was told by a staff at Indian Bank nearby (Devegowda Road) to take photocopies of the forms on our own as they did not have enough forms for all. I am doing it now for 10 of us in the queue,” he said.

In the midst of many shuttered small shops along a lane, one could spot a lone photocopy shop open and crowded. Similar responses pertaining to surge in demand for photocopies were heard from staff there. One point they all maintained is that they did not charge extra.
With the coming days also expected to bring in good business, a few photocopier shops were noticed ordering blank papers.

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