Are you one of those people who queues for sales at 6 am? Confess, and tell me why.

[Iamthewombat]

I’ve seen a number of threads on the subject of ‘all shops should close on Boxing Day, blah blah’ but what I want to know is this:

If you are one of those people waiting outside shops on Boxing Day at 6 am (or earlier), why do you do it? The bargains can’t be that good.

We visited friends in Liverpool today and they showed me photos in the local paper of people queuing outside Next at 5.30 am, outside Lush at 6 am etc.

Why????

The paper had interviewed some of the queuers (is that a word?). Their reasons were as follows:

Woman outside Lush: “the gift sets are 50% off so I can get £400 worth for £200!”

Sorry love, they aren’t going to last until Christmas 2020. When I assume you will attempt to re-gift them.

Women outside Next: “It’s a tradition for us and we come every year but we are trying to buy less because we are worried about the environment” (!!!!! I wonder if Next sell self-awareness?)

Genuinely, why do you do it? Is it because you are trying to recreate the Blitz spirit? Is it so that you have something to talk about?

I’d kind of understand if it’s a young person who is label-conscious and wants to snag a particular designer brand from Flannels or Harvey Nics and can only afford it in the sale but Next and bloody Lush? Come on! Neither are a motherlode of sought after quality items at drastically reduced prices, are they?

[Leflic]

*Bluepeace” why bother closing any day then ?
Clearly many people would be happy shopping Christmas Day as well

. “Don’t work in retail” is a moronic thing to say, given that other 364 days are bearable.

[Bluepeace]

@Leflic why indeed. Why's it moronic? If working Boxing Day is sooooo detrimental to family life drama llamas like you portray, don't work in retail. It's one day.

[Leflic]

Moronic because that one day requires a supremely early start on a day when there us little or no public transport in the middle of winter.
Not rocket science to see how that could also ruin the day before.

I’m from a farming family. Being up at 4am Christmas morning and Boxing Day was no different to any other day. Shift workers like my nurse as a mum also ploughed through as they did the rest of the year.
Hardly the same as a shop opening.

We are not drama llamas. It’s the people that think the closure of the high street depends on the Next sale or that family life comes second to someone rises need for a cheap jumper.on Boxing Day.

[Comefromaway]

I did it once but was at our local retail park at 8am not 4am.

Sill had unexpectedly gone into labour over 3 weeks early and given birth on Xmas eve. In order to be able to come home from hospital she needed baby basics (she worked in retail and had been due to start her maternity leave after working Xmas eve) so I bought newborn clothes in Matalan & Next and mil went to another retail pal to get equipment from Mothercare.

[Brefugee]

Haven't been in Next for years but I'm always fascinated by the queues for their sale. It's an interesting sociological study, i think.

Nothing wrong with looking for a bargain, stocking up on children's clothes etc.

But i remember (in the early 90s?late 80s?) when Next first started you could get their catalogue by post. A big hardbacked book with real fabric swatches in and some lovely trouser suits which were a lot like Armani for a fraction of the price.

[Bringonspring]

I just don’t get the attraction of lush. It seems a MN thing. Let alone the sale

[Iamthewombat]

An interesting sociological study is exactly what it is.

Yes, I too remember when Next was full of high quality, well-made clothes. The swatches in the directory showed off the excellent fabric. It was a big deal, having a piece of Next clothing. It was aspirational. It isn’t now: it is unrecognisable as the same business since they went down the fast fashion route 20 odd years ago.

[Stayingstrong24]

I agree with you about Next.
My older two children always had Next clothes (10 years ago) and they were top quality. I'd never shop anywhere else.
With my younger two now it's the last place I'd go.

As regards sales, I'd never go to those lengths of getting up early and dragging myself out on Boxing Day.
I just think it brings out the worst in people.

[schnubbins]

I still have a little black dress from Next from 1988.It doesn't fit me anymore . I wore it so much at the time and it was so beautiful on and reminds me of such fun times .I just cannot throw it away . It is of such fantastic quality and so beautifully made and absolutely proof of the quality that Next once had.

[myfifyhun]

SIL visits a designer outlet and buys high-end designer stuff which she sells and makes a tidy profit on.
I feel sorry for a friend who's husband is manager for a branch of a national chain; gets home late on Christmas Eve and out of the house crack of dawn on 26th. Its tough if you have a family. I boycott shops on Boxing Day on principle.