January Sales 2012, UK High Street Stores and Online Best Discounts List

By: Nadeem_Walayat

The post Christmas 2011 sales have now morphed into the January 2012 sales with most stores continuing sales discounts as distressed retailers seek to get rid of 2011 stock with further discounts offered to entice customers through their doors over the coming new year days.

Shoppers can expect the majority of the deepest discounting on clothing at upto 75% off, with the least amount of discounting on electrical goods typically 10% to 33% off. Though do be aware that in reality a 33% price cut usually translates into paying the SAME price as at an earlier date during 2011 (see guide at end of this article).

Whilst the focus remains primarily on consumer goods, however, online shoppers are being offered deep discounts and inclusive perks by travel agents for early bookings for the summer holidays.

High Street and Online Sales In Progress Upto 75% Off - Updated 1st January 2012

Prioritise your shopping at stores offering the greatest discount on the widest product range. Print this list and take it with you or view it on your smartphone.

• Asda - Upto 50% off, limited products.
• Argos - Upto 50% off, Approx 30% of products.
• ASOS - Over 10,000 products - Upto 50% off, typically 33%
• Austin Reed - Approx 40% of products, Upto 60% off, Typical 33%
• Banana Republic - limited products typically 33% off
• Debenhams - Over 10,000 products, Upto 70% off, though typically 50%.
• BHS - Approx 60% of products, Upto 50% off, typical 33%, less for electrical's, more for furniture
• Clarks - Upto 50% off on limited number of products
• Coast - Upto 50% off, limited products
• Comet - Upto 50% off on approx 50% of products.
• Dorothy Perkins - Upto 60% off on 3,500 products
• Early Learning Centres - Upto 50% off, limited stock.
• French Connection - Upto 60% off on Approx 1/3rd of products.
• GAP - Upto 60% off, typical 40% off on approx 40% of products.
• Habitat - Upto 70% off
• Halfords - Most products - Upto 50% off
• Harrods - Online only - Upto 50% off - limited products.
• Homebase - 20% off £50 event (EX20) ends 3rd Jan, plus upto 60% off
• House of Fraser - Approx 9,000 products on Sale - Upto 50% off
• H&M - limited products, Upto 70% off, typical 50%
• IKEA - Upto 50% off
• John Lewis - Online Only - 30% off on 5195 products, 50% off on 6671 products, 70% off on 416 products.
• Laura Ashley - Limited products, Upto 50% off
• Magnet - 60% off cabinets
• Marks and Spencer - Approx 4,500 products on Sale - Upto 50% off
• Matalan - Upto 50% off, on Approx 15% of products.
• Monsoon - Approx 2,500 products on Sale - Upto 50% off, typically 33%.
• New Look - Upto 70% off on approx 75% of products.
• NEXT - Approx 4,500 Products on Sale - Upto 60% off
• Oasis - Upto 70% off, typical 25% on approx 50% of products
• PC World / Curry's - Upto 50% off, typical 20% on most products
• Sports Direct - Approx 50% of products, Upto 80% off, Typical is 50%
• The Entertainer Toy Shop - Limited products, Upto 60% off
• TK Maxx - Most products, Upto 80% off
• Tesco - Upto 33% off, limited products.
• TopShop - Upto 50% off, Limited products.
• Toys R Us - Limited products - approx 10%, Typical 50% off
• WH Smith - Upto 80% off books, limited products
• Zara - Upto 50% off, typical 33% off, on most products excluding new collection.

Sales Shopping Guide

• Guard against being sucked into sales buying frenzy madness, remember most of the products are still selling at a sizeable profit margin for the retailers and can be bought for similar prices online.
• Make a list of items that you really need to prevent impulse buying of junk.
• Compare prices on your internet smartphone before buying to make sure that you actually are getting a bargain.
• The biggest reductions come towards the end of the sales season, i.e. 2011 stock can go from 33% off to 50% off to 70% off to 80% off over the two weeks following Christmas.
• Don't be fooled by the "WAS" price, usually retailers raise the price just prior to the sales so it looks as though there has been a deep price cut when in reality there may be no price cut. My general rule is that a real price cut is at least 50% which means buying at a 33% discount may mean your actually going to be paying the same or even higher price than at an earlier date during 2011, again check online to confirm the real market price before buying.
• Limited Stock Sales - Be wary of limited stock sales the aim of which is to get you through retailer doors with a few loss leaders that are of limited stock (sell out quickly), which means the bulk of products will be fully priced.
• Use a cash back credit card such as Capital One Circle to earn cash back.
• Look for discount vouchers in newspapers.
• Set yourself a budget and don't go over it.
• Christmas decorations - The real deals with as much as 90% off are on Christmas decorations which you can store for next year.
• Don't get into debt, there is no point saving 25% in the sales then paying 25% and beyond interest on purchases during 2012!
• AVOID PAY DAY LOANS AT ALL COSTS! - Don't even think about it! These are nothing more than legalised loan sharks.

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By Nadeem Walayat

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk

Copyright © 2005-2011 Marketoracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd). All rights reserved.

Nadeem Walayat has over 25 years experience of trading derivatives, portfolio management and analysing the financial markets, including one of few who both anticipated and Beat the 1987 Crash. Nadeem's forward looking analysis focuses on UK inflation, economy, interest rates and housing market. He is the author of three ebook's - The Inflation Mega-Trend; The Interest Rate Mega-Trend and The Stocks Stealth Bull Market Update 2011 that can be downloaded for Free.

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