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So the French January Sales started today and I both worked and shopped!
However after my trip to the UK and my evening of browsing for a bargain here in Paris, I cant believe my disappointment… All the stuff thats left is either the crap that no one wants or is still too expensive!
I went Shopping in Glasgow just after Xmas, hoping to spend some of my Christmas cash, and couldnt believe how quiet the streets were and how un inviting the stores were.
Visiting only my favorite shops, I was dismayed both by the lack of variety and by the lack of good discounts: Promising promotional posters on store windows boasted 50% OFF, however those discounts remain to be seen.
There has been a bit of media coverage on such a topic, however the main topic over here in France, is the inflation of prices BEFORE discounts are added. One friend of mines complained to a well known French shoe store after buying a pair of shoes Pre-sale for 55€ and then returning to the store for the sale, noticed that the same shoes were priced at 70€ with a 20% reduction!!! Highly illegal yet I see it time and time again, even while I have worked in various highstreet retailers in the past.
What are companies playing at? The 2012/13 consumer is a bit short of cash and clearly havent spent very much on non sale items, so what makes retailers assume that knocking 5€ off a 25€ top is gonna cut it?
While I worked today, my colleagues and I prepared for a battle that never came. Working the first day of the sales, is always a challenge, however NOT today. There was no lack of customers in the store even at our earlier opening time of 8:30am, but no one was really buying and preferring to hold o to their cash either for better product or for the 2nd week of reductions…
I did my usual and went out armed with my strict list of search items to tick off a grand total of ZERO! I did buy a couple of pairs of shoes from Topshop and a pair of trousers from Marks & Spencer, however they were not cheap and I paid grudgingly simply because I liked them and they would easily fit into my wardrobe.
So guys, what do you guys think of this seasons sales? are you buying?
xoxo LLM
