Does anyone agree the sales have been rubbish this year?

[higgle]

For as long as I can remember I have eagerly awaited the "January " sales and used a little hoard of my autumn clothes + Christmas money to buy myself a few things I couldn't afford otherwise. Toast and Brora are favourites for this exercise, but often I get bits from Boden, Whistles, Jigsaw etc. The words "half price" and "sale" seem to go together well and I don't really regard anything less than 30% as much of a bargain at this time of the season.

This year some of the sales started so early I couldn't really concentrate on what was a bargain and what wasn't as I was still doing my Christmas shopping. Now, looking back at what I've got it amounts to a few bits from M&S on their 30% off day that are OK for work, a couple of things from Joules that were hardly reduced at all. and my one real bargain, a tweed fronted jumper from Jigsaw.

Toast ? The one skirt I wanted sold out in 2 minutes and none of the other things were reduced at all. Brora? two things I wanted not reduced and the others not reduced enough to tempt me. Hush has been the final let down, last sale to start and either out of stock or zero reductions on the things I was looking at.

The only in store sale that seemed much good to me was French Connection, where I got some shirts for my DH and DS2 1/2 price.

If the idea of "January Sales" has become defunct could they please tell us, so we can revise our shopping strategies?

Completely agree, I've been really disappointed. I went to the big town near us over the holiday as DD had Christmas money to spend and everywhere was just full of tat. The only items that were cheap were things that had obviously failed to sell because they were so fugly, anything decent wasn't included in the sale. At the other end of the scale, some of the pricier brands had goodish reductions but still very steep and just more than I'm willing to pay.

Personally I've become really reluctant to spend my money on anything I don't think is worth it so perhaps I don't view the sales the same way I used to. But I also think that because most shops have sales throughout the year the January ones are no big deal any more. Plus many places turn over their stock so quickly that they're bound to be left with a lot of rubbish which then gets wheeled out at sale time.

Of course I'm now lusting over loads of things in the new ranges and wondering how soon they might be reduced :).

I've had a good sales-shop this year, but only because I had finished my Christmas shopping early so could pay attention to the sales that started before Christmas. I did well at House of Fraser and John Lewis, I think partly because they were competing quite heavily with each other this year - lots of price matching and discount days. And if you add in topcashback or quidco too, the reductions start to look better in some places.

I did well in Asos, Cos and Hoss Intropia (50% or less in all of them). The toast reductions weren't enough to tempt me. Hush was barely reduced,I agree.

My best bargain was a Sophie Hulme bag down to £155 from £315.

I got some bargains

cashmere sweater 50% off at Izzy Lane
Sonicare toothbrush 50% off at Boots
Denim Shirt 70% at shopbop
insulated jacket 30% off Backcountry
2 pairs shoes from Dune 50% off

I lie. My best bargain was from Asos: leather jacket down to £70 from £210.

Constant discounting has made me too cynical about sales to enjoy them properly. If something's 50%, my first thought is, 'Was that how it was priced to sell from the start?' and if stuff's left at the end of the season, after various pre-Xmas 30% off promotions, it makes me wonder if there's something seriously up with it.

I've done well in the sales - 2 pairs of Levi's from Asos with 50% off, Whistles jumper from £85 to £30, Links of London necklace from £175 to £40, Boden jumper from £69 to £20 and a tweed biker jacket with pleather sleeves from £60 to £30.

I've also bought quite a bit in the sales: from TopShop, Dune, and Zara (although not greatly reduced).

Not done too badly. Two blouses £17 each from £60ish at Boden and a dress £39 from £79. I scored a lot of Mint Velvet stuff on the second round of reductions - two pairs trousers £35 from £79 and a jumper £29 from £69. Also got some great Boden stuff for the kids at 50-70% off.

Now shutting my wallet (she says hopefully)

I did well in the sales, not clothes but perfume.

Next paradise gift set 50% off
Ralph by Ralph Lauren 50% off at boots.
Madame by JP Gaulthier 50% off at HoF
Tommy girl 50% off at HoF

And body shop were selling all the Christmas stuff of at 70% off.

The dc did well in the sales ds1 (16) brought some lovely stuff in hollister and bank clothing. The dd's did well from far face joules and pj's from Boden. But no major bargains to be had.

I got a couple of Monsoon dresses at one third/one half off which filled an actual hole in my wardrobe, a very cheap pair of slippers from M&S and a pair of Office brogues at 25% off before Christmas. Not a lot, but I didn't really have any time to hit the big shops.

I'm probably getting old and set in my ways! This year I'll try the new tactic of buying less stuff earlier in the season, so I can be sure of getting the things I like best. Some things, like winter coats and boots always end up with good reductions, but others seem to sell out, or even worse get withdrawn at sale prices that are still too high.

I've done pretty well - especially in the pre-sales. Got my Phillip Lim bag with c. 45% off and my Balenciaga with 30% off (and they are rarely discounted). I've bought a couple of dresses for less than 50% (Hobbs and Me&Em), Comptoir boots half price, Isabel Marant wedge trainers at 40% off, a James Perse dress at 80% off, Liberty silk scarf 50% off and Freya and Elle McP bras for a tenner each!

Though my greatest bargain was an ebay one...

this sheepskin gilet for £100, as new.

Wore it today around the house and it will pay for itself as I don't need to turn the heating on!

Did well today in French Connection, too. Bought two dresses, a skirt and jacket. All at least half price.