news
In previous years, the announcement of ditching Christmas presents in favour of the January sales would have been met with much objection. “How could you possibly hold off?” “But you’ve been building up to Christmas all year.” These are just some of the responses one would expect. Add a recession and a new age of thrift and the reaction changes considerably. In the run up to Christmas a friend proposed this very idea and, after discussing it with her partner – who also in the end was content enough with the idea – they both decided to put Christmas on the long-finger and inject their efforts into the 2010 sales. Did their idea greet them with much substance? Was the wait worth not waking up to the presents sitting under the Christmas tree? According to them it was their biggest Einstein moment as a couple.

They are both enjoying the gains from the sales and even noted an obvious save in their annual post-Christmas accounts, meaning the price of the pre-sale camera nose-dived just in time for them to take advantage of in the sales. Apparently these particular ‘thrifts’ “saved hundreds”. They have since put their heads together and have decided to take advantage of the sales further by purchasing gifts for next Christmas – almost 12 months in advance. This may appear extreme to some, but apparently the most savoir-faire planners out there are doing the same. There’s no denying these people will inevitably be the big winners while the rest of us scramble through masses of shoppers before handing out large quantities of cash. This year we had the sense of an all-year-round sale as retailers tried everything in their power to get us to spend. We took advantage of some, but on the most part, we played the waiting game. It seems the January sales will never lose their sense of allure. It’s safe to say shoppers enter a slight frenzy, desperate to get their hands on the bargains. This year is different, however, and even were sales are concerned, people are more cautious now than ever.

Shopping in the sales acquires focus and precise planning. We are all guilty at some point of letting money slip through our fingers like water – even more so at the mention of a sale. The alternative is to approach this year’s sales as though they are not…well, a sale. Not a sale in the sense that you don’t have to smash open the piggy bank and spend, spend, spend. In order to save cash don’t compensate your lack of shopping time with an unplanned overcompensation in spending – you will regret it. Instead, plan ahead; look to the sales for the things you deemed unaffordable before Christmas, as now is the time to strike, (no pun intended). It is important to separate the wheat from the chaff. The best buys will be the ones that you will use again and again: the practical purchases that are cheap now and likely to last a long time. Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean it has to be snapped up for that purpose only – a sale is a sale, it doesn’t justify an item’s sense of quality.

So, the following are the best places to head for your cheap thrills and offer you the chance to boost your consumer confidence.

The Arnotts winter sale began immediately after the Christmas Turkey was carved – on St. Stephen’s day. This retail giant is offering astonishing price drops in electronics and household items: definitely worth checking out.

Clerys have slashed prices right across the board with significant reductions on a wide range of items: 50% off accessories, 50% off lingerie, 50% off linen, 30% off childrenswear and 30% off cosmetics. According to a spokesman for the department store “it will feel like Santa has come again.”

The January sales are stretching themselves nationwide. It is important to take advantage of the sales in your own vicinity and nationwide. Retailers across Ireland are signing themselves up to competition by slashing their prices to win over sales against big retailers such as Topshop and Debenhams – this includes local traders.

Shoppers are being advised to stock up on necessities; avoid purchasing anything that will end up buried in the back of a closet; practice working on compulsive shopping – we all know how easy that can happen in the sales – and buy quality fabrics that will last longer.

In a recent article for the Irish Independent, consumer guru Tina Leonard provided readers with a snapshot of the rules that apply to the sales.

• “In a sale, your consumer rights still apply.”
• “Alongside the sale price the original price should be shown.”
• “The original price should have been used 28 days before the sale.”
• “Old stock should be marked as such so you know what you are getting.”
• “The sign should give you the original price as well.”

It is important to bear these factors in mind whilst shopping in the sales. The fact that it is a sale does not override your statutory rights as a customer. The old school rules still generally apply: refund or repair. In most cases, except cases with hidden loopholes, it generally pays – literally – to have your purchase insured or guarded by a guarantee.

A snapshot of the sales

Arnotts launched their sale on the 26th of December and their online sale on the 24th of December. This retailer is offering cut prices on electronics and other household items.

Clerys began their sale on the 26th of December. They are currently offering deals such as 50% off accessories and 30% off menswear.

Heatons have slashed prices between 25/50% on ladieswear, menswear, childrenswear and homeware.

Roches launched their sale on December 27th. The majority of item prices were cut in half and other reductions include massive percentage discounts.

The sales are currently nationwide and as competetive as ever before, at least since the last recession in the ’80s.

Some of the sales are drawing to a close in the next couple of days, though some will continue for the whole month of January. The sales are no longer a place to test the waters quality and money wise; they are about purchasing practical, long lasting items that will not wear and tear. Don’t surrender to something just because it is cheap: practice quality, continue to compare prices and do the math on percentages were necessary – some “sales” can be quite misleading. Do check out the sales online, as these too can be just as rewarding as hitting the high street.

Martin Flanagan