Big money saving "sales" hints and tips

anewman

Sorry this is not a grabbit, just a hint.

Companies are expecting you all to walk in tomorrow like mindless zombies with credit cards buying things for the price they were before christmas, just because it is "the sales", and they have big "sale" signs. They expect people across the country to wander around shops like lemmings, proclaiming "bargain" at everything they see, even though there's only a meagre £30 discount on a £120 item.

• Take your time over purchases, do not rush in unless you are certain of returns policies (to get your cash back and buy elsewhere cheaper if possible).
• Remember in some situations cheap is not better. For example PC world are selling a number of very poorly specced Laptops for £200 on boxing day, you are better spending an extra £100. Also be wary of the whole HD issues if you are looking into buying a TV. (To take advantage of HDTV you will need a set capable of displaying the full HDTV resolution and have a HDMI input). Beware of old stock making its way onto the shelves for prices they actually should be, highlighted in red with a sale sign compared with the RRP of what it was when it was brought out 5 years ago.
• Buy only things you have some use or purpose for.
• Many shops will reduce items further later on when they get desperate to get rid of things, so the longer you leave it, the better the bargains. When shops are desperate to get rid of items is a good time to buy gifts for next year.
• If you have a mobile phone capable of WAP, it can help you decide there and then whether to make a purchase. Use google mobile to search for the product brand and model number and read reviews and information on your mobile while in the shop stood next to the product. It can also give you an idea of the usual price and prices elsewhere.

This is not to say there are no bargains out there. Just a message of caution

alzoturtz

great post

go4it

Good info.

Sales are no longer what they used to be, shops clearing stock and potentially making a loss on it. Shops have sales all year now, they are a marketing gimmick.

Take for example Next. Some of the items in the sale are horrendous. But they have big signs and make a big song and dance about the sale - 5am openings etc.

Watch out for the whole '75% off' rubbish. The item would have been at the higher price for 20 mins at some point in last few months. Shops like HMV are notorious for this gimmick.

tazz233

Great advice.

yes there was some horrible stuff in the next sale during the summer.. i couldn't imagine anyone paying full price for some of the things! i often wonder if they bring in cheaper clothes just for the sale?

biglugs

Shops like HMV are notorious for this gimmick.

Quite possibly - but some of their offers really ARE bargains. However, HMV have been selling stuff with discounts of up to 70% off on a regular basis - don't be fooled into rushing out and buying stuff just because it's the "January Sales".

BTW - I bought a 14" portable TV/DVD player from M&S at 8:30 this morning - it was in the sale and it was a bargain!

withabix

biglugs wrote:

BTW - I bought a 14" portable TV/DVD player from M&S at 8:30 this morning - it was in the sale and it was a bargain!

BUT will we get these?

withabix

tazz233 wrote:

there was some horrible stuff in the next sale during the summer..

...just their normal stock then!!!

Next = Overpriced overhyped unbranded goods!

anewman

tazz233 wrote:

yes there was some horrible stuff in the next sale during the summer.. i couldn't imagine anyone paying full price for some of the things! i often wonder if they bring in cheaper clothes just for the sale?

I suspect there could be some element of putting the stuff that sells on the shop floor and leaving the stuff that's a "failure" in the warehouse to release on the unsuspecting public in sales and through their next clearance shops.

Shoppaholic12345

Simple advice:

If you don't need it, don't buy it.

ManAtHome

Fashion is always going to be a mix of stuff that flies off the shelves (because some "celeb" was pictured wearing it) and stuff that stays on the shelves (because no "celeb" was pictured wearing it).

Some places bring in specials just for the sale - these are unlikely to be branded though due to lead times. In general, most of the tagged stuff will be made to similar margins - if it doesn't fly off the shelves of course they have to reduce it.

Best advice is to decide what you want and how much you want to pay for it - if it doesn't hit your target price, forget it and think of something else...

surfsister

I just buy items when they are mega reduced

eg Wilkinson reduce xmas wrap/cards/bows/decos to 10p eventually
£1 shop reduces xmas stuff to 50p after Xmas so I buy then for next year


If you wait long enough stores want to get rid of stuff and then is the time to buy.

I never buy clothes/cd's etc unless they are really cheap I prefer to take my time and buy online with a discount coupon etc.

Good Luck I must admit it is fun to get a bargain!