大象传媒

Of course I'm going to have a look round! Besides, it's exercise ;o)

Yes, I have already purchased some items on-line on Christmas Day.

I cannot believe that people have actually spent the night waiting for the shops to open for the sales......what a greedy, nasty world we live in that Christmas Day should be treated with such contempt.

Nope, skint due to being out of work. Anyway, there isn't anything that I want or need right now, so it doesn't matter that I'm skint!

However, it is telling how many advertisements are trumpeting 'buy before the VAT increase' or even offering to cover it for customers. The actual price increase is small, but the psychological effect is massive... showing what an enormous misjudgement it is on the part of the government. Anyone would think that they didn't want the economy to grow!

Not this year. I suspect there will be some even bigger sales when the VAT increase starts to bite.

If we weren't so fixated on buying as opposed to working and making, we might be in a better position.

6. At 11:21am on 26 Dec 2010, The Leveller wrote:
If we weren't so fixated on buying as opposed to working and making, we might be in a better position.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In theory, 'buying' is necessary. The problem arises because the 'working and making' is carried out in the Far East!

I'd like to be able to go and do my patriotic duty by buying things in the sales, but I have been prevented from doing so by the loony left labour unions going on strike and affecting the Underground. Well done for trying to sabotage our economic recovery, you should be tried for treason!

What is this obsession with buying? Of course there are things that we need but we buy on a want basis and there lies the problem.

No. The obsession with buying 'stuff' just for the momentary gratification is pretty obscene frankly.

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.
I'd rather boil my private parts in acid!

I'm prepared to pay full price for things, in order to avoid the hurly burly scrums of mankind in one of its least pleasant seasonal pastimes.

Absolutely not.My cash is staying under my bed ready for the next big finance suprise to come in the new year.Its time to start putting money by and keeping it at hand because the real fun is about to begin with the economy.

There will be plenty of spending cash around later in the year when all those millions of people who don't yet know it are going to get made redundant, so why wait for the bad times. Spend, spend, spend like there's no tomorrow. Because there probably is no tomorrow.

I would love to go to the sales, but thanks to Bob Crow, there are no Northern Rail services today, tomorrow or Tuesday in my area.

Thanks a bunch.

Not my personal choice of what to do on Boxing Day but please can people be less judgemental of those who wish to. There are many less well off who can benefit from the sales and others who get very little chance to shop in their normal working week. However, I do judge the underground drivers who are paid well but still have seized this opportunity to not only disrupt what should be a happy day but also to further punish the shops that have had such a tough year. I'm long past trying to appreciate their 'cause' because there isn't one. And MANY THANKS to those people who are working today and do it in full community spirit, especially emergency workers.

In one word NOPE!!!, why?, enduring weeks of xmas retail torture to do what now exactly?, see all the items you bought earlier weren't worth (as you secretly knew) what you bought them for prior to xmas?, ...yer bloody brillant idea!, sorry no!, rather go and stick a freshly sharpened pencil in my head first!, still just waiting now for some half baked lunatic to tell me 'ah well you'll get something before the 20% VAT hike!', oh just go away!, this is for commercialism's best friend the suitably gullible.

My money is staying with me

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Theres nothing i need so i wont be going, its best to avoid temptation. The sales are not a nice experience anyway and they always put the rubbish things on sale anyway! christmas is not the time for shoppping.

Seems a strange ritual every year. We've just had Christmas Day where most people 'get stuff', but they still want to go out (in the freezing cold this year!) and line up for hours and hours and hours to get 'more stuff'? Mostly clothes? Is it the labels? If they wear 'x', people comment/fawn over them, admire them, envy them?, think they're loaded?, gives them more self-confidence? Is it just the 'buzz of the bargain'?I'm really curious... an age thing? Boredom?

I'm really trying not to judge - whatever rocks your boat - and you should spend your hard-earned money how you like; and if buying bargains in the sales makes you feel good - great! These spending rituals also keep companies in business/provide jobs, keep the economy moving, 20% VAT etc...but I do wonder.. 'needs' vs 'wants' I suppose. Those lines would seem to indicate that the media machine has done a superb job convincing a lot of people that their 'wants' are actually 'needs'. The way of the world I suppose.

On a personal level I sometimes see this and feel I'm missing out. I earn a decent salary (拢50K+), and it's taken me years of hard work to get to this salary level. I'm certainly not rich but I feel content and very lucky - certainly in today's climate. I do worry though. I might lose my job, things could change, so I try not to live beyond my means and I try to save what I can - 'just in case'. I'm comfortable and thankful and we have a very happy life. However, looking at these people in the lines.. have I got it wrong? I honestly think (sometimes), god they must be so well off to go on these spending sprees...and just after christmas... how great that they can do what they love ....and (seemingly) not worry about it. I'm saving up for an overcoat I saw
in a (quite) expensive shop (for me) - 拢285. I suppose I could get it now - but it would cut into my 'squirrel away just-in-case money'. I'll get the coat in a few months - so I WILL get the coat, eventually! - what does a few weeks matter? - it might even come down in price!; I both NEED and WANT one. I want loads of other things as well - an Aston Martin DB9 for example, but alas it's beyond my means. Maybe one day.

The people in the lines frighten me in a way. I worry for them. 'Don't spend all your money..!!! You never know...!' I presume most will have mortgages, interest rates WILL go up, this won't last forever - BE CAREFUL..barmy I know. They've probably saved all year for this..who knows? However, evidence from some of my friend's stories concerning their own credit card spending would seem to indicate otherwise in many instances.

Who knows? I probably worry too much... but looking at these people waiting (desperately?) in line for 'stuff'...well I do wonder. I feel strangely sorry for them. I don't know why though.

Absolutely not. Anything I need in the way of clothes etc are bought in local charity shops, quality that lasts.

I am the original 'Second Hand Rose' the less well off and the sick will benfit from my spending.

Can't think of anything I want to buy, so I'll be giving the sales a miss.

Will you buy in the sales?
Retailers are hoping sales in the days before a VAT increase will make up for the damage bad weather caused to trade.
Are you going to join the shopping frenzy?

Of course I am, But not in Rip-Off-Britian!

"Will you buy in the Sales"? is the HYS question.

Will mostly be saving for the gas, electric bills (+ 5% vat) and potential Council Tax increases to come.

As for VAT increase? Unless you're buying a new car and have the money to do it - pre 20% VAT savings in the sales for consumers - means nothing?

However, there is an upside to 20% VAT on basics like petrol, diesel, phone bills, food inflation, MOTs and everything other basic that attracts VAT throughout the VAT chain ... let me think ....

.... No, can't think of a single advantage of 20% VAT apart from increased inflation and the potential of higher interest rates that Conservatives use to contain inflation ... perhaps other HYS members can find the benefit of 20% VAT that hits everyone - the poorest, the redundant and the recently unemployed?

After a quick count I found I have enough of everything to satisfy me for years.

Why would I visit the sales?

Nothing. Being on the dole means no money for essentials, never mind extras. Still, I'm sure the Chinese will be eternally grateful for your support during this spending frenzy.

No - feels like a bad principle, there's nothing we need anyway.

Nothing - I'm broke and jobless, thanks to an inept boss, an inept government and a selfish, arrogant upper tier of society who would rather keep their money in the bank than see everyone fed, clothed, housed and employed. Vive la revolution!

Absolutely not Its my vision of hell.. standing in a queue buying something you dont really need just because there's a few quid off the sticker price. instead I shall take the Dog for a walk much more enjoyable and good exercise too..

No I won't. If i needed anything I would have bought it before, or will wait until I have the money to buy it later.

To all those people rushing out to buy bargains... do you need that stuff, or are you simply getting things because they're cheap???

I do wonder whether we've learned anything from the financial crisis -
Retailers looking to get back to spending at 2007/8 levels,
The Government wanting banks to lend more
Observers saying its bad that mortgage lending is getting lower...

People, getting back to the heady days of 2007/8 is an irresponsible objective. The only way we can spend at these levels is by falling back on the means of the time.... And spending money we didn't have and living on credit is precisely why we're in the mess we're in now.

I for one have learnt my lesson. More saving, reduce my debt (or even get rid of it) and only spend what I can afford (right now) is the way forward. For those just racking up more borrowing... you deserve everything you get in the long run.

I'm going to havea look around tomorrow in town. I'll like at the boxset DVDs to see if there's anything I want and in the sales. I'll look at some books on the same pricipal. I half expect to come back empty handed. Either way, I'm not fussed. It's just something to do for tomorrow before i turn up at my sister's party.

My husband and I work hard for our money. Between overtime and a nice surprise in the form of gift certificates from family for Christmas this year, we're both treating ourselves. I don't often get the chance to do so, as so much of our income goes straight back out the door to cover the essentials of rent/food/utilities/transportation/taxes.

However I will say I refuse to spend my precious time off battling traffic and crowds to bag a bargain. We're habitual online shoppers. The prices are often much better, it's delivered to your door and the rest of you day can be spent enjoying a breather before it's back to the salt mines.

Off to the sales to see if I can buy a voodoo doll representing Mr Clegg, so I can put a hex on his political career. Don't laugh. I bought one last year for Gordon Brown.

I will wait until the rush is over. Also, there are few buses today and I am still partially snoewd in ! Aren't shop-workers entitled to a proper Christmas break ?

Why should anyone in their right mind spend hours q'ing on the motorways, q'ing to find a place to park, and then q'ing at the tills just for the tat the shops buy in just for the boxing day sales

Nothing, there are only 364 shopping days left till Christmas, and I will wait for the Christmas sales!

A couple of litres of milk would be handy, but I doubt if that is on special offer. Besides, I have all I need, and even all I want, not necessarily the same thing - a loving wife, a fine family and a little cash left at the end of each month.

The only shopping I ever do on Boxing Day is for a newspaper. I may look around the sales later in the week but I'm not aware that there is anything I particularly need at the moment - only Christmas wrapping paper and the little cards which are sometimes going cheap (the last lot lasted three years). Besides a bargain is only a bargain if it really is something you require otherwise it's just extra expense.

I believe that there will be a shopping frenzy in these few days before the VAT increase, especially for big-ticket items.
Shoppers are likely to spend "record amounts".
Did you spend time on Christmas day doing online shopping?
No.
Are you going to buy expensive items before the VAT increase?
No.
Do you plan to reduce your spending once the VAT goes up?
I have already reduced and reduced and reduced...
Santander Insurance UK expects 拢9B in sales, average @ 拢650 each in the few weeks before the VAT rise on 4 January 2011.
Colin Greenhill, Insurance Director, Santander UK: 鈥渃onsumers should ensure their home insurance provides the right level of cover for the value of all these additional items.鈥�
Good advice, but how's that for commercialization of frenzy experience?
Buy, buy, buy, but insure, insure, insure...and there goes the savings that you might otherwise have made.

Gorge consume until your sick after all the Tories are back in, all the rubbish these idiots buy will be on EBay in six months, if you really want a bargain wait till later in the year when we have 3 million plus unemployed mass repossessed houses etc, then you can name YOUR price, YOU will pay.

NOTHING. But I respect the right of those who prefer to spend their money and time this way.

Ive always thought why buy at the sales -the big name stores are just clearing stock they couldnt sell during the previous period since the last sale. If you want a bargain shop online, visit Mcarthur glen outlets or pop into TK Maxx usually cheaper or year and no mad srum of wound up people grabbing madly at things - unless you enjoy rushing around just grabbing things to stop others getting them because they say half price on the ticket.

24. At 1:14pm on 26 Dec 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:

"Will you buy in the Sales"? is the HYS question.

Will mostly be saving for the gas, electric bills (+ 5% vat) and potential Council Tax increases to come.

As for VAT increase? Unless you're buying a new car and have the money to do it - pre 20% VAT savings in the sales for consumers - means nothing?

However, there is an upside to 20% VAT on basics like petrol, diesel, phone bills, food inflation, MOTs and everything other basic that attracts VAT throughout the VAT chain ... let me think ....

.... No, can't think of a single advantage of 20% VAT apart from increased inflation and the potential of higher interest rates that Conservatives use to contain inflation ... perhaps other HYS members can find the benefit of 20% VAT that hits everyone - the poorest, the redundant and the recently unemployed?

Moan moan, whine whine. I bet your glass is always half empty isn't it?

Here is some good news for you to choke on:

1) Council tax is not going up this year. Announced in last years budget
2) The biggest single increase in income tax personal allowances in history sees the amount that can be earned before income tax rise from 拢6,475 to 拢7,475 in April 2011, taking 880,000 people out of the income tax system at a stroke. Also announced in last years budget
3) TV licence fee has been frozen for six years

Merry Christmas!

Buy at the sales?? You must be joking !! Have seen the garbage they're selling nowadays? By The Lord Harry !...just who do you think I am, some kind of screwball?? I wouldn't touch them if they were going for free. The wife bought a pair of red pantaloons last week, Shivver Me Bleedin' Timbers !!..they were flapping on the washing lines for all our neighbours to gawp at, and now I'm the butt of their jokes at the local, despite my protestations that:.."it was the woif, ain'eh??" So there you have it, don't buy at the sales, for crying out loud !!

Retailers are hoping sales in the days before a VAT increase will make up for the damage bad weather caused to trade. Are you going to join the shopping frenzy?

Why on earth would anyone in their right mind, deliberately goes to the shops to get ripped off? Anyway the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% is minuscule - but hey ho, millions will start gibbering in their soup....we're missing out by not buying right NOW! Charity shops are worth a visit - that way it's win, win. I get a bargain & the relevant charity benefits...anyway most shops resemble a swarm of locusts. The human race likes to believe itself to be intelligent......yeah right!

STAY OUT OF DEBT!!!!!

Ask yourself, do I need it or do I want it? Then ask yourself, how many hours do I have to work (after tax) to pay for it?

If you get rid of unnecessary 'stuff' in your home and stop bringing more 'stuff' into it, and most of all have no debt...you find you don't want to buy anything. You are now in control and no matter what is going to happen in the future, you are free. You don't owe your soul to the company store (as the song goes). Think!!

Probably, after the rush has subsided. Sometimes the best bargains are when the sales are due to finish.

Oh well, bless them, let them have their fun. Not for me though - I don't regard ANY shopping as fun.

Probably not. Am I the only one who seems to think that sales are a time for shops to get rid of rubbish. ost stores buy in extra lines just for sales to make us think we are getting a bargain for our cash. Now that's a con.

One thing that i'll never buy again in sales is mens shoes! A 'sale pair' that i bought from the 'whiter than white' respected high street retailer, fell apart and needed rebuilding. A good fit though.. but not a normal stock item ,in spite of the convincing label. I would now only buy a genuine ,branded and normally stocked item in a sale, if it was cheap enough.

I bought a loaf of bread.

No.

Reluctant response to post 43 @ 3:21pm on 26 Dec - 'Red Robbo'.

Well, looking at your 'vociferous' HYS history, 'Red Robbo', toward so many other HYS posters - on many, and varied subjects - it appears my post has been afforded the luxury, and the added delight to the list of your venom - and even your hope I may 'choke'?

Never mind, 'Red Robbo' - we all need to vent and express - but perhaps you might consider looking at your own HYS history - and your unpleasant 'attacks' on SO many HYS posters.

Furthermore, you obviously have some intellect - what a pity you attack others - yet contribute so little to the debates yourself?

Will you buy in the sales? No, there is nothing I need and cannot be bothered.

No,because the people need to take back control.If the UK doesnt spend then there will be a crisis and we but more so this pathetic government will have to stop and take stock.It will be painful but its got to come sooner than later or the whole financial system will crash.It will mean no more banks,no more stock market.no more savings accounts and most of all no more cash.The system needs to be re booted with different rules with the PEOPLE in charge.

No I did not/will not be buying in the sales...it was enough to do christmas shopping and that act put me off going near the shops for a while. It's a dreadful experience, which I reserve for when I HAVE to do it...and even then I go armed with a good idea of what I want and go in and out the shops as quickly as possible.

I find it all incredibly sad really - although I work most Xmas's because of what I choose to do for a living - I still think that Xmas should start on Xmas Eve and everything should stay closed until the 27th of December - Xmas should be about families and friends getting together and not about shopping/commercialism - what real difference would it make if the shops etc stayed closed for one more day?

Maybe this is the time to buy before the VAT rises finish shopping as we knew it, because there may be few shops left. But of course the burden of saving the British economy is a heavy burden for most of us after Christmas. And as for on-line buying, well not for me with all this id fraud on the loose. I mean, how do we know David Cameron is really David Cameron? He looks sus[iciously like someone I saw in a sci-fi, and he certainly is not of this world. Maybe alien life forms are running the country and taking instructions from an unseen authority. And that all the cuts are to reduce us to a state of servitude fot their Big Society nightmare.

Instead of wasting my time (and money) queuing up at the sales for items that are hardly worth buying. I spent a relaxing day having a pub meal in Corfe Castle and a ride on the Swanage Steam Railway in full sun with my family. Besides, the shops probable still wont be able to shift some of their unwanted goods even if they offered 100% off.

"
55. At 4:46pm on 26 Dec 2010, stevegrant wrote:

No,because the people need to take back control.If the UK doesnt spend then there will be a crisis and we but more so this pathetic government will have to stop and take stock
"

Way to go comrade. Never occurred to you that reckless Government spending by the last, well actually every Labour Government, caused the problem in the first place. And no, it's not all down to the failure of the FSA but is 100% down to Gordon Brown and Co.

VAT increase used as a sales tactic!!! What next!!!
20% VAT, 40% income tax, 12% NI , excise duty etc etc welcome to hell!!!!
seems like 70% tax to me no matter who you are!!!
Leave the UK to the new comers and go live somewhere else!!!!

You must be bloody joking, most places are inaccessible & I'm not risking my life walking on the uncleared paths to get off of my estate. Plus I'm skint & am saving what little I do have to pay for sensible things such as gas for heating my home.

Certainly not. It's all cheap rubbish made in China.
Let's stop exporting all our jobs there.

I got a couple of things I was after anyway, but as usual there is a lot of specially brought in junk masquerading as bargains.

Oh - and please please please, it's not Boxing Day until the 27th!! You can't have a bank holiday on a Sunday, it's the next (ordinary) working day that is Boxing Day.

If retailers are reducing prices at up to 70% then it's pretty obvious that the prices were too high before.

I've already bought some clothes online, but I won't be trekking round the shops. It's too much like hard work.

I'm also thinking about buying an iPhone and Mac Airbook, but I won't be rushing into anything. I have to see if I've got any money left first.

HYS - "Will you buy in the sales?":

Nope! - there's nothing I REALLY need - especially not 'Gadgets' in this time of recession. People should THINK TWICE in these 'Hard times' - we have a LONG way to go before the Recession ends.
You can't EAT gadgets...

18. At 12:23pm on 26 Dec 2010, Sickofpoliticians wrote:
Saddo,

Look how charming the left are to anyone who disagrees with their point of view

why should workers be exploited just so you can get a bargain,

I can't get a bargain, because the "workers" who are on a pretty decent wage for doing very little are holding the city to ransom, how about making the rest of the Underground like Docklands - driverless?

why are you not at work,

I spend the rest of the year at work, why should I work on what's a bank holiday? I can afford not to.

its the usual overpaid salaried few who benefit from sales at this time of year,

It's the time of year when, commonly, everything's on sale. This may have escaped your notice.

those who actually work for a living will be flat broke by the 26th of December after struggling to buy garbage presents to keep their families happy on xmas day.

I actually work for a living, why not use your brain before posting this nonsense! Whose fault it is if people are spending money on garbage presents????!!?? oh! it's mine, obviously, not the fault of the people who are doing it! This is how the left think, this is why they must never be let in power again!

The kids were given some money for christmas so I guess we will head out. For me, I was given an M&S voucher, I just looked at the sale site on the web and have to say what a load of rubbish. I wont be buying from their sale at all.. a far cry from 20 years ago when I got a 拢90 wool coat for 拢25. Classical design and worn for years. Now there is only ultra modern stuff and certainly no coats. Its a voucher that will probably stay in the drawer until the giftee forgets what they told me to get with it(a new coat in the sales) because I am certainly not buying any of that lot. Maybe in store the sale selection will be different..? well anyway, one can hope. I just dread the trip and the wasted hours I have to spend trying to bother! I have children, the sales are not a place for children, I avoid like the plague, besides, there is nothing I need or really want, other than job security and for the government to stop moving benefit goal posts around, and neither of those can be bought in the sales.

64. At 5:31pm on 26 Dec 2010, Jyra wrote:
I got a couple of things I was after anyway, but as usual there is a lot of specially brought in junk masquerading as bargains.

Oh - and please please please, it's not Boxing Day until the 27th!! You can't have a bank holiday on a Sunday, it's the next (ordinary) working day that is Boxing Day.

-----------
I've been trying to explain that one too, to no avail, I'm afraid. The capitalists have deemed it so, and there will be no dissent!

i'll try to purchase for the great british public a decent compassionate goverment.maybe i need santa,alas too late..

Seems a bit perverse this culture .. must we consume without reason?

Anyone who buys something because of an increase of 2.5% in vat must be mad. If you have saved your money before Xmas to buy in the sales, good on you.

The only expensive item I bought before the sales and therefore before increase in VAT was a new mobile phone.I may visit the sales next week but don't plan to buy anything unless it's something we need.
Having said that, about 2 years ago when my husband and I had been stuck at home for a few days, come Boxing Day we went to one of the local DIY places for a look round. There I found an 8 ft. Christmas tree originally priced at 拢79.99, reduced to 拢39.99. On checking, I found a further reduction and bought the tree for 拢17.99. I had been looking for an 8 ft. tree to replace the one I was about to throw out [it was years old and looked very tatty]. This one is a real beauty and I hope it will give me sterling service for years to come.

I've been ripped off enough times from previous sales. So, I'm keeping my hand firmly on my wallet, even if it means I and my family have to go without.

No, I'm working for them!

You cant really blame folks if they are after a bargain in the sales but why get more things that you already have? Then we have the imoral VAT increase on Jan 4 along with all the other faceless capitalist price hikes we seem to be so expert in 'Great Britain' to look forward to.

Oh but its the 'free market' ho ho ho!

77. At 7:42pm on 26 Dec 2010, Norman Brooke wrote:
You cant really blame folks if they are after a bargain in the sales but why get more things that you already have? Then we have the imoral VAT increase on Jan 4 along with all the other faceless capitalist price hikes we seem to be so expert in 'Great Britain' to look forward to.

Oh but its the 'free market' ho ho ho!

-------------

Yes, and don't forget that VAT is a very regressive tax, hitting the poor and the low paid hardest.

It's sad that some not very bright people think they are getting a bargain. The big shops marked it up months ago so they can fool you in to thinking it's a 'bargain' in the same way that they will say 'NO VAT INCREASE' because they have already added it on - months ago. Equally, the shops will crow that they have had 'a record sale season' but it's fools gold because you cannot make money out of selling things below cost price. The whole thing is a game but stupid punters think they have a bargain and stupid retailers think they have taken lots of money. At the end of the day no one has gained anything. And so the sad merry-go-round goes on.

No will not be buying in the sales. I am to lose my job so money has to be saved. Not sure if and when I will get another job.I only ever buy something if I need it.

I'm not buying anything else that I don't have to until the recession is over and VAT has come down! I pay far too much in tax as it is, and I'm damned if I'm going to let this corrupt government have any more of my money to squander on the UK's rapidly breeding subversives!

I am not interested currently in buying anything in the sales.

And trying to cope with a heaving mass of people who are becoming more and more irritated with each other isn't really my idea of fun.

Ooooohh another well thought out HYS topic:

Well let me see, well maybe I will, maybe I won't....is that pointless enough?

You cannot afford to buy anything if you are poor so there should be no sales otherwise you are excluding poor people.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

53. At 4:30pm on 26 Dec 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:

Reluctant response to post 43 @ 3:21pm on 26 Dec - 'Red Robbo'.

Well, looking at your 'vociferous' HYS history, 'Red Robbo', toward so many other HYS posters - on many, and varied subjects - it appears my post has been afforded the luxury, and the added delight to the list of your venom - and even your hope I may 'choke'?

Never mind, 'Red Robbo' - we all need to vent and express - but perhaps you might consider looking at your own HYS history - and your unpleasant 'attacks' on SO many HYS posters.

Furthermore, you obviously have some intellect - what a pity you attack others - yet contribute so little to the debates yourself?

If you think that was an "attack" then you must be a very sensitive soul. I was just pointing out to you some of the positive things that were happening next year to counter your own very negative post. You see, unlike you, I tend to look on the brighter side of life.

And a Happy New Year!

I stay at home recycling and re-using when the lemmings rush into stores that sell the leftovers they have left on their shelves.
Cheap tat will always be cheap tat and it can be seen worn by the masses on every high street.
That "bargain" TV set was probably something you wanted rather than needed.
I'm in the process of recycling my kitchen at a total cost of 拢490 inc all 4 new (sorry) ex demo appliances rather than paying the 拢7000+ that one of the DIY sheds wanted in their "sale"
Now let me think - what shall I do with that 拢6K+ saving?

It's depressing that such a large proportion of the population are still falling for this annual con trick. Most of the 'bargains' are bought in specially for the 'sales' and the poor dumb suckers fall for it.

When the economy finally collapses, which it surely will, there will be some real sales - they'll be giving away anything you can't eat. Food and medicines will be the new currency. What price a 42" plasma screen tv when you're starving?

No

Only if I cannot avoid it.

No, I will not be buying in the sales. I have what I need. There are things that I want but these are luxuries not necessities. The VAT increase is tiny; take pencil and paper and work it out. Of more importance to me is the talk of interest rate rises in the near future. So, no sales for me and a few more quid off the morgage.

People should stay at home in this weather.Buy from the internet sites.There are to many rip offs.What is available is old stock and items that are hard to sell.

Nope got better things to do! like spending time with loved ones and having fun!!
suffered enough of the shops b4 xmas!

MR . TRUCULENT SAYS

Do not be fooled buy some of these sales . From 4th of jANUARY the vat increases from 17.5% to 20% . The shops have had a bad run upto Christmas. and need the money. So they say beat the VAT increases, by shopping now. The only savings will be 2 and one half % .They will be desperete for the money. Make sure the item on sale has gone down by more than 2.5% or you would have been CONNED .......

I certainly won't be visiting the sales!

One major clothing retailer has already started their sale, and the day before it started, I visited their local branch and identified something I would seek out in their "sale". The day the sale started, the FULL RACK of the item I had spotted had miraculously disappeared and been replaced by something of no appeal! What I had spotted was nowhere to be found. No doubt, the rack of decent stuff will be wheeled out once the sale has finished, and the full price will be charged again.

This finally convinced me that "the sales" are a huge con trick. The only things that you'll find at a real bargain price are "out-of-date" or "flavour-of-the-moment" goods like Christmas cards or wrapping paper, which the poor retailers would have to store for another ten or eleven months if they don't shift them quickly.

Fot an extra 拢25 on each thousand - we are talking confetti. With the shortage of cash and the current financial disaster looming, it is more likely that prices will reduce by significantly more than 2.5% - Am I going shopping in the near future? By mid February the bargains will be way more interesting!

Probably not: while 70% off goes some way to brings most goods into line with what they are actually worth, I do not have any money.

"
96. At 00:24am on 27 Dec 2010, Bradfordbelle wrote:

Fot an extra 拢25 on each thousand - we are talking confetti. With the shortage of cash and the current financial disaster looming, it is more likely that prices will reduce by significantly more than 2.5% - Am I going shopping in the near future? By mid February the bargains will be way more interesting!
"

The same as every year. By then it will be the post Valentine Day sale.

Will you buy in the sales?



No, I am not into the impulse buying of things even if they are on 'sale', although I did hear a comment for someone joking that this was the best recession ever because things were so cheap....he must have been a millionaire!

I need clothes.