The "NEXT SALE" obsession

[AngryChair]

So taking DS to the train station at 6.45am this morning and I'm saying to him "they'll be loads of spaces in the shopping centre at this time in the morning" and usually there would be - it would be practically empty (although full to burst by 11am!). Anyway we got there and it was pretty packed. I couldn't understand it as no shops are open at that time anyway! It wasn't until I got IN the shopping centre that I noticed hordes of people loaded up with tons of "NEXT SALE" bags swarming around the Next shop like ants on a jam jar. It was ridiculous. You'd think someone had been stood there offering £20 notes out to anyone who entered the shop.

Some of these people must have been there since 6ish and had little kids with them who'd obviously been dragged out of bed for the privilege.

AIBU in thinking it's all a bit sad? I mean I do like Next but the lengths people go to!!

[Pagwatch]

Next is shit
The next sale is shit sold a bit cheaper.

But, if you have a very tight income and you like their stuff....

[Seona1973]

I had a look online at my VIP slot and it was crap and has been the last few times they had a sale on. I avoid next like the plague when it is sale time.

[5GoMadOnAZ650]

I don't get all of the Next frenzy, the clothing is pretty much the same as in any other shop on the high street. The hype over a poxy sale is completely ott imo.

[HeidiKat]

The next sale is the seventh level of hell, I wouldn't go within a mile of the place as you can't even get moving inside the shop.

[pootlebug]

Next adult clothing is horrid. Why you'd want to fight through crowds to get hold of the stuff is beyond me.

[CroissantNeuf]

YANBU -I've never understood why people get up at some stupid hour to queue outside to buy bog-standard High Street clothes.

You see people wandering around town with huge bagfuls weighing them down.

Next is my 'last resort' shop if I'm looking for something for the DC and can't find it elsewhere. I can't remember the last time I ever bought something for me there.

[duckdodgers]

YANBU. I have never got this, not just about Next, although because of the middle of the night opening times this 1 is especially hyped up, but on Boxing Day when Im all cuddled up with my DCs, eating and drinking and staying in my PJs all day enjoying Christmas with them and my family.......and then you see all these mad people, usually women on TV queing for hours to get into a shop. I just dont get it.

[Marne]

I like Next for kids clothes (not so keen on the adult stuff), i find it washes well and sells well on e-bay when the girls have finished with it. I often go to the sales (and get there for 5am) and pick up loads of clothes for the dd's (so better than someone handing out £20 notes as i often save over £100), if i could afford to dress my kids in Boden then i wouldn't bother with Next but sadly i cant, i find it better quality than the supermarket crap (and sometimes its cheeper). I would like to know where else you can buy good childrens clothes?

I'm not keen on the adult clothes as so many people wear it, i'm not keen on the style and i dont want to be dressed in the same as everyone else but the quality is not to bad on some items.

[catgirl1976]

I like Next for the odd bit of workwear, but I have to say I have looked on-line when the sale has been on and never seen anything nice on there. I actually sometimes wonder if they just import some crap for the sale. Maybe I miss the boat or something, but it always seems like a jumble sale to me. Coulnd't contemplate the idea of actually going to a heaving shop and doing battle with other shoppers at 6am. Bleurgh. I love the asos sales - they seem to be on all the time and some really nice names end up heavily discounted. Have got some genuine bargains from there.

[EauRouge]

YANBU, I don't understand it either. The clothes are just the same as every other high street shop, definitely not worth getting up at 5am. I've only been in Next a couple of times in the last year and I've been completely underwhelmed both times.

Marne- I have a Primark rather than Boden income All my DDs clothes come from the local NCT sale. They are probably as chaotic as a Next sale but they start at a much more reasonable hour.

[Kayano]

When I worked in mcdonalds in my youth we opened early to take advantage of the next sale. I never got it but the busy crowds meant my day went quicker lol

[Nancy66]

Absolutely don't get it - nasty, cheap clothing worn by women that work behind the counter at Halifax.

[dexter73]

I have a friend who absolutely loves the Next sale. She gets very excited a few days before and then on the day she is there up to an hour before the shop opens so that she gets a good place in the queue.
I don't get it but she loves it and gets a real buzz from getting her bargains so who I am to call her sad. It only happens twice a year anyway.

[Marne]

Thanks Eau - we buy some 2nd hand clothes (boden, Zara ect..), my girls are a bit big to pick up bits at NCT sales now (never seems to be much over 3 years old). Dd1 is extra fussy and i did manage to get her some bits in the 'fat face' sale but can't afford to buy dd2's clothes there (even at sale prices) as she ruins everything after a few wears.

I managed to get them a few bits in the Next sale (VIP slot) but mainly for dd2 as most of its too pink and girly for dd1.

I do get a buzz out of buying things half price (it just meens i have more money to pay the bills and to eat better food), i find the next sale (in store) very stressful, way too many people, i hate quieing to get in and then again to pay but love the bargains i get. I didn't go today as i managed to get what i wanted online but will go to the winter one.

[Marne]

And whats wrong with working in Halifax? a jobs a job .

[catgirl1976]

There is a LOT wrong with Halifax adverts. I hate those "radio station" ones. They make me ill.

[FuzzpigFourFiveSix]

I don't really understand either. Their clothes are nice but generally too expensive and IMO not worth the queues for the sales.

It is really weird how some brands just get put on a pedestal, without any particular reason. And it's not just clothes - I've been wondering for ages why Angry Birds is raved about far far more than any other iPhone game. It is a great game, but so are loads of others, and they don't get much of a look in!

Is it just because the relevant companies are much better at advertising and merchandise? Or is there more to it? It's a bit like playground obsessions - once a few people latch onto it, everyone wants to be a part of that specific thing, and so it snowballs and is a self fulfilling prophecy - the more the media goes on about how everyone is obsessed with a particular thing, the more people hear about it and want it. Weird.

[AngryChair]

I think Angry Birds is rubbish! Not addictive at all, and I DO get addicted to games! It is weird how some things suddenly become really popular with no apparent reason.

[Marne]

Yep, i think its down to publicity, Boden seems to be very 'Next' at the moment with kids clothes, when we go out most children seem to be wearing it (light a status symbol), i think its down to MN . I think its hard to find decent childrens clothes on the high street which is why i end up buying in Next, the only shops we have that do childrens clothes (near me) are primark (which doesnt last 10 minutes on dd2), BHS (expencive and not great quality) and the supermarkets (ok for school uniform but rest is poor). Adams has gone and mothercare only stock small sizes. We dont have Zara or Gap .

Far more choice for adult clothes and lots of great websites, there seems to be very few good childrens clothes stores.

[dexter73]

Mind you, talking about obsessions, have you ever been to a Boden sale? My word they are violent! I went with a friend once and would never repeat the experience. Talk about the red mist coming down!

[Marne]

I have never braved a boden sale, was tempted last year but decided not too. Our Next is quit calm compared to some, i have never been pushed or shoved.

[Lisatheonewhoeatsdrytoast]

I like Next (hides in corner) i like the clothes for myself and for my DS, however i freeking hate the sale, it's all a load of kak, you'd never get me up at ruddy 6am to trail through rails of clothes that no-one bought while it was norm price because it was crap to begin with!
I looked at the VIP and the online one this morning and it was all crap!

Rant over :)

[duckdodgers]

I dont think supermarkets kids clothes are crap at all, most of my boys stuff come from Asda and Tesco, and I do like the Next stuff I have but theyve all been passed on to us, I dont think Ive ever bought them new. But then I dont dress my 3 year old to show off how much money I have or as a "status" symbol either. If parents want to do that then thats fine for them, I just dont get it thats all.

[niceguy2]

I agree, Next Sale is pants. It's racks upon racks of stuff specially bought in for the sale made to look as if its cheaper then a few genuine sale items.

You can't afford the time to try things on, you've had to wake up at stupid o'clock and then queue as far as the eye can see to pay THEM....

Add to it an absolutely chaotic environment where muppets people think they're getting a bargain and I just can't understand why ppl do it.

[PeopleCallMeTricky]

Someone bought ds a pack of t-shirts from next and the quality is much better than his usual supermarket stuff, I was really surprised as just assumed it would all be about the same.