The newspapers tell us daily about our ongoing recession, and desperate retailers are slashing prices at deep discounts to get customers back at the register. However, whenever I shop I find the stores crowded, and the huge promised discounts missing.
The week before Christmas, I bought my husband this mug, in “D”, at Anthropologie for $3.00, 50% off the regular $6.00 price. A couple of days later a friend told me the mug was now 75% off. So, after Christmas, I went back to Athropologie to pick up an “S” for me — assuming, at that price, all the “Ss” would be gone.
I found the shelves full of mugs, and the price, back up to full price. Full price. I once worked in retail, and there was one golden rule: once a product started a price descent, the remaining tumble would be swift and quick. Unsold-marked down merchandise would be shipped in cardboard boxes to some discount warehouse in the sky. Never once would a price go back up. At that wasn’t even during a recession.
Target advertised 75% off sales after Christmas. We went shopping for an alarm clock, socks, underwear and a basketball. Nothing in our cart carried a 75% discount. Ditto for ice skates I craved. Even though the sports store was empty, the bin overloaded with skates, the manager refused to budge on the price. So, I didn’t buy them.
Of course, this is unlike Macy’s. Everything is marked down, and once you’re at the register, you discover that there’s an additional 20% off your purchase.
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I think sales were so poor this season that they’re trying to make up for it. Probably advertising slashed prices on only a few things, so that those loss leaders get you back in the door.
WalMart has their all of their holiday items at 50%. Today I picked up some plain red and green placemats and napkins for under $2 each, and cookie tins for $1. But that stuff is always on sale this time of year.
because I’m oput of town I haven’t done any post Xmas shopping at all, which is probably good.
I haven’t found too many great deals either.