'January' sales are on now - tell us how you rate 'em

asharon

The sales are a bit like Christmas telly, it was better years ago. I remember looking through the RT and circling loads of progs to record and watch. This year was slim pickings.

Sales ? I remember when it was THE time to get bargains, I waited to buy an oven, washing machine etc and the pickings are slim for real bargains.

hiccup123

Drove down to oxford street. Didn't go into next because I got the first VIP slot. Went into loads of other shops. no queues because of lack of crowds due to tube strike. Best bargains were from GAP where I bought stuff that was 50% or more off. Plus I got a VIP 20% extra off email early this morning. Bought £160 of stuff showed them the email and got a further £32 off.....so £400 of stuff for £128...well pleased.

jenniewb

Had I known the TFL website was lying to me, I wouldn't have attempted to shop the way I did today, but once I had an idea in my head...

Its almost a tradition now that my sister and I are both given money for the sales, buying presents is so hit and miss and the things we are given normally ends up in the sales which irritates all of us! In past years I'd either have loads of energy for the sales or be at work and then just shop on the day after boxing day. Its not a huge amount of money I am given but it's so rare I have any extra money for anything other then the basics and I know from working in retail that the best things go first and then there are further mark downs when people realise all the best things have gone.


However, today I had it under good authority (the Transport For London website) that the Central Line, which goes through East London, through to Westfield Stratford, Liverpool Street and the City, past Covent Garden and through the entirity of Oxford Street, Whitleys, Nottinghill and Westfield Shepherds Bush before disappearing off to Ealing.
I was told on the website that a central core of that route was working, it turned out on speaking to the others at the many bus stops, so were others. There were no tubes. I had to wait for 5 buses to pass without stopping before a select few of us were able to cram on to the next leaving many others waiting further. I should have turned back at that point but I had so much determination to get to my destination (bare in mind this is one of/the only day I am allowed to shop because I have the time and the money that day) I carried on. The journey would have taken just over an hour. It took FOUR WHOLE HOURS!

I did find a few decent bits in the shops, discounts of 30-50% which are not mind blowing but I had been planning on certain things and I think the ideal is to not be too bothered if you don't get what you want, that way anything you find is fantastic! I did manage to find a bigger sized Lush box which is possibly the first time I've ever seen one in the sales and some of the cosmetic boxes by Lancome, YSL and so on were still in the shops -though I did get there earlier then normal this year.

Amazon I wasn't very amazed with, and the bulk of the rest (John Lewis and so on) were all out of stock by about midnight on Christmas morning despite only being in sale for 12 hours by then- John Lewis weren't the only company to have a website pretty much devoid of anything vaguely popular. It is annoying and can make you want to go out shopping if you know something is discounted but it's out of stock on the website.

I was given a little extra this year which was a mixed blessing (family member passing and so on) and had wanted to get a mobile or something I could really use rather then fritter it away as I don't have one, I'd hoped for better then 10% off! A whopping 25% was as good as it got so I left that idea, I'm not paying for something I don't really really want if it's going to cost me that much! It just felt like a sale where you walked in and wondered where all the decent stock had gone as the discounts were rubbish.

It's now a waiting game until the next load of discounts which will probably be around January the 1st.

Meadows

MSE_Dan wrote: »

We've a breakdown of when the biggest retailers sales start - take a look then reply to tell us whether you rate the deals, or if they're marketing spin

Have not come across one sale yet where I have wanted to buy anything, don't want it and don't need it so no falling in to the Sale Sale Sale hype.

ilovebargains99

I think the sales are generally pretty poor this year so far. I stock up on things I use through the year in these sales, and the discounts aren't as good as usual.
I'm off to see what's in the shops today, but my sister and I have written a specific list, and we'll be sticking to it. Mainly, I'm looking for birthday gifts for my 3 year old's friends. I prefer to buy now, so I can spend a bit less, but they get nice gifts.
Lets hope it goes well!

lemontart

very happy with homebase one - not only were the two items I was hoping would reduced in the sales but the discount of 20 percent on top was fantastic saving me well over 150 pounds then got cash back too on topcashback.com

myusernamehasgone_2

lemontart wrote: »

very happy with homebase one - not only were the two items I was hoping would reduced in the sales but the discount of 20 percent on top was fantastic saving me well over 150 pounds then got cash back too on topcashback.com

I got old fashioned wooden toys yesterday at Homebase marked up at 50p but went through at 10p:j

fiscalfreckles

New Look & Dorothy Perkins have both clearly brought in stock especially for the sale. You can tell as it is photographed slightly differently (esp on NL) and there are no customer reviews. IMO this stock is cheap but usually of inferior quality; the "genuine" stock that has been reduced has not changed in value since before Christmas & availablity is patchy. BHS do this too with clothing.

I agree that there were better bargains to be had earlier, especially online with the judicious use of discount & free delivery codes etc.

rockchick113

As a lot of you on here I'm disappointed with the sales,
I was not looking for anything in particular,the only store that tempted me was M&S so my grand total spend was £18.45 for 2 lace pj tops and a lace trim thermal top.

moromir

I actually got some some really nice things in the sales, I'm very pleased.

My biggest bargain was a Laura Mercier make up set from Space NK which includes a travel size mascara, deluxe travel size foundation primer, full size cream eyeshadow stick, full size lip gloss, 3 well custom compact (reusable), full size blusher, 2 x eye shadow duos and an eyeshadow brush all for £12.50!!

Other highlights:

- Pretty purple & gold deers wrapping paper and purple sparkly tags, 25p per roll/pack - Matalan

- Glass sweet jars (will be used to hold cotton wool and makeup brushes on my vanity) - £1 Matalan

- Really pretty xmas themed side plates (pefect as I'm hosting next year) - 75p Matalan

- Boxes of crackers 30p / Boxes of cards 10p / LED xmas lights £1 - Sports Direct (all going to the village hall xmas coffee morning bring & buy stall)

- Variety of birthday cards - £1 each Paperchase

- Cath Kidston aprons - £9 John Lewis

- Pack 20 xmas cards - £2 M&S

And a treat for myself, Jack Wills GBR track pants, £32