Holiday Sales Appear to Stall: Are Big Discounts Next?

[Javaman]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45643812

After early bird discounts fueled a Black Friday buying boom, retailers are seeing sales dry up halfway through the holiday sales period, a consumer survey completed Sunday showed. The trend may force discounts as deep as 70 percent on coats and flat panel TVs as Christmas Eve approaches

Forty percent of consumers are completely done with their holiday shopping at this point, up from just 28 percent who were finished at the same time last year, according to the America’s Research Group/UBS Christmas Forecast Survey.

What’s more, only half of consumers hit the malls this last weekend, meaning those that are left are sitting on their hands awaiting bigger mark-offs, the survey showed.

“You could push them over the edge at this point with a 60 to 70 percent discount,” said Britt Beemer, CEO of ARG, who has been conducting the phone survey and marketing research for 27 years. “But most would probably use a credit card, as their budgets are depleted.”

more at link...

[marmar]

1. The predictable result of the Black Friday hype......

A big start to the start of the season, and a big bust a couple of weeks later.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. I am wondering if people can even afford to buy gifts this year...

I don't have to worry about buying gifts.. my parents will be in Asia on vacation during the holidays..and I would rather save money to buy some decent food by the end of the month. When it comes to gifts vs groceries.. I vote groceries.




Kimiko~ Yori.

[Fuddnik]

3. I wasn't going to buy anything this year.

Then I got some unexpected money last week. So, I sent 3 small gifts I ordered online, and never left the house.

[JNinWB]

4. Our family has made changes this year.

The adults will not exchange gifts at all and presents to children, nieces, nephews, etc will have a low dollar limit. Pretty much cash, only, so the children can select things they really want post-holidays.