Why I’m avoiding the January sales

Is there really such thing as a bargain? Huge post-Christmas demand for ‘sales’ (i.e. ‘just shopping’) = rick pickings for savvy retailers. Add to that the **** most retailers put out in their sales – take Next, why anyone would shop there at the best times is beyond me, but why anyone would want to shop there for stuff they had on the hangers more than 10 years ago I simply cannot imagine.

I suspect there are a few bargains to be had – but they probably are few and far between. Everything else is just reduced from an overhyped original price.

I know what you mean, I couldn’t believe that people were queuing from 2.30am to get into the Next sale – they must be insane! Not only was it freezing, are the offers inside really that worthwhile? If I get anything in the sale, it’s usually by accident when I go into a shop right at the end of the sale and they have a few items left. I can’t be bothered to push and shove and scramble for tat!

Hmmm… only agreement so far. Perhaps if everyone feels this way then the sales next year will be completely empty. That might just tempt me back out!

I suspect retailers love sales, otherwise why would they have them? Thousands of ready shoppers who have all lost sense of reality, ripe for being conditioned by salespeople and display signs into believing they’re grabbing a bargain.

And a great opportunity of getting rid of huge amounts of old stock that cannot be returned.

Brilliant. For the retailer.

Retailers love sales because – skilfully run – they boost income, empty older stocks and advertise the Brand name.

For the individual a sale can net you an item at say 50% of it’s previous price.

The snag is the Internet has shown that the 50% ‘bargain’ can be obtained elsewhere just as easily at other times.

Reminds me of years ago when the vast majority had no idea of the difference between Retail and Wholesale prices – I used to buy the vast majority of non food items at wholesale (then usually 33% below retail) and pocket the difference. I have a feeling that High Street stores will slowly disappear if on-line mailing improves as it is doing.

1) Most on-line retailers are still having to advertise at the same level as ‘bricks & mortar’ retailers. This means that their overhead costs are not substanially below those of high street retailers – therefore the major cost advantage for e-tailers is lack of staff and costs associated with high street retailing (rent, rates etc.) while having to charge carriage costs. this means that there will never be a huge difference in internet v high street costs unless one or other is prepared to accept lower margins. In addition you have to programme in the dis/advantage of instant access to goods in shops contra the internet – especially as in this winter with very adverse weather conditions.

2) RRP – most retailers use them. THEY MEAN NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you think you are saving 50, 60 70 or even 80% against an RRP think again – they are an artificial invention. Only ever judge your saving against a previous price. Oh, and the very worst perpertrators of artificial higher prices are…………………….. yes, the BIG Supermarkets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When i was 19 i got a job in a Jewellers and two days a year we’d have a two-thirds-off-everything sale and it was absolute chaos. Ques of people over 50 strong queing down the street, some waiting so long it boosted the nearby sandwich shops trade as thats where the end of the que was. The stuff was still expensive, 13 years ago now in times of low gold price, but people just lost their marbles. It was incredible. I actually had flu over the previous weekend but drugged up to my eyeballs just to go into work for the commission alone.