January sales in December?
Sales in the city. Photo: Wessel de Cock
There was no sign of any people camping overnight or round-the-block queuing for early bargains yesterday.
Boxing Day sales made the headlines in Europe’s main cities but not so much in Valletta, where the shopping mood was seen to be rather mellow.
Most of the retailers are opting to wait until the gift season is over, in January. But the few high street shops in Valletta and Sliema which kicked off their sales yesterday still saw their fair share of enthusiastic shoppers.
Charles Mifsud, general manager at Esprit, said that, for the past five years, his shops always started their sales on Boxing Day. “Our competitors are now online shops and it’s sale time on all major websites like Asos,” he said.
To shoppers who think that sales are bigger on the continent, Mr Mifsud said: “Our sales are exactly the same as in London. We have to follow the franchise guidelines.”
Esprit customers who purchased items as gifts before the sales have until the end of the year to change it at full price.
Although the Accesorize outlets in the UK have started their sales, those in Malta will not do so before January. “It all depends on what sells in your territory: it’s common sense, really,” said Theresa Bartolo Parnis, Accesorize director.
“I never understand retailers who start the sales before January. It’s shooting yourself in the foot,” she said. “We’re running a business here, not a charity.”
She pointed out that sales are at the discretion of the retailer. “Customers are sort of coming to expect it as being their right. I once had a customer who came in on the first day of sales expecting a particular dress to be on sale,” she said. The January-sales customer, according to Ms Bartolo Parnis, is usually different to the regular customer who does not normally wait for sales to purchase items.
She said that sales time was for bargains, but it depended on stock management. “In the UK, they are in a better position to give better discounts because they have more stock; it’s economies of scale, really.”
At Zara, the Spanish clothes outlet, sales start on January 2.
Malcolm Attard, general manager, said that all Zara shops across the eurozone were in the same boat. It is only this winter’s stock that will be on sale. “We do not keep stuff from previous years. On the last day of the sales, we’ll pack everything and send it abroad where it is distributed to charity,” explained Mr Attard.
Sales percentages at Zara, he said, were worked out by a computer system – the items that were not sold would be the ones having the highest discounts.
Although the January sales did not affect business during Christmas, Zara noticed a hike in people buying vouchers, “as gifts for people to spend during sales”.
Marcus Lauri, director at Sisley, would not give out the date when items at his outlet would go on sale. “It is unfair that all those people who have been purchasing from us over December suddenly find the prices of the items they bought slashed,” he said. Although his is a franchise, he feels lucky that he is not obliged to follow any guidelines from the mother company. “We value our clients and we will inform them when we will be having sales,” said Mr Lauri.
It is not just clothes that go on sale. At Agenda Bookshops, promotion started this month and will last until the end of January. Customers who have a loyalty card get double points for every book purchased, which they can then redeem against books. “We like to reward our loyal customers,” said Charles Darmanin, retail coordinator at Agenda Bookshops.
Know your rights
Odette Vella, from the consumer affairs office of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, said that sales were held by outlets voluntarily. “A shop is not obliged to hold a sale and it is the prerogative of the retailers which items to place on sale if they decide to have one,” she explained.
It is imperative that retailers stick to whatever they promise or advertise. “If the advert says it’s 50 per cent off all items, and there is no small print, then the retailers have to give that to all their customers.”
Price indication is very important too. “You cannot leave the customer to work out the new price of the item,” she said, pointing out that the new slashed price must be visible – either on the tag or in the form of a price table.
Legal rights are not affected by sales. Even though retailers might have notices saying that sale items are not exchangeable, that applies only to a change of mind. “For example, if you buy an item in a sale and the retailer makes it clear that it cannot be changed you cannot go home, decide you are not so keen on the item anymore and expect to change it,” she said.
However, if an item bought in a sale is damaged or defective, then the retailer is obliged to fix it. “If that is not possible, then the item has to be replaced and if the item is no longer available the money paid has to be given back,” she explained.
What if you bought an item as a gift for December 25? Can the gift receiver exchange it? “If that was the agreement, yes, but usually the retailer asks for the exchange to be carried out prior to the sale in order to avoid problems.” Even so, if the item is damaged, then the customer has the right to get the money back – the original cost of the item.
“It is always advisable for customers to check sale agreements prior to purchase,” said Ms Vella.
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38 Comments
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John Farrugia
Dec 28th 2012, 08:13
The better deals are not just with clothing. We wanted a Kitchen Aid and at the agent in Malta the best price is €625. Got it online shipped by courier for€ 480. It is not a matter of economies of scale - it's the margins some Exclusive Agents make.
Belinda Pace
Dec 28th 2012, 07:43
I have already done my Accesorize sale shopping and will have them in hand before the same sales even start here in Malta. So whats the logic of spending the money here when my money will go so futher somewhere else.
Joe Grech
Dec 27th 2012, 22:50
Let's all face it: there are JUST TOO MANY shops and Services killing each other off on these miniscule islands!
First the Supermarkets killed off the little retailers; now they are killing each other off!
The same goes for Development Companies - too many building lying vacant everywhere!
Is Malta really beyond the reach of financial chaos?
P Bonnici
Dec 27th 2012, 22:15
In the UK they are all year round.
Paul Borg
Dec 27th 2012, 19:09
MELLOW ? .....it was inexistant !!
A. Xuereb
Dec 27th 2012, 19:01
A branded toy bought from Catania 2 weeks ago cost 39 Euros.The same toy from a major toy store in Malta cost 67 Euros.
Marita Magro
Dec 27th 2012, 18:58
power to the internet ... sales in malta are gimikcs and prices are over rated ... online shopping is cheaper for same items ....
Martin Bezzina Wettinger
Dec 28th 2012, 05:52
That is not allays true. I just bought a harmonica from a local store that costs double on-line. A few months ago I also bought a camera from a local store with better personal service for the same price it was on the net. Of course there are other items that are much cheaper on the net.
My advice is to check both.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 27th 2012, 17:49
It is so enlightening to read comments below. At last, Maltese consumers have woken up to commercial realities, and are showing an educated outlook towards marketing schemes, such as "sales". However, there are other marketing schemes to be wary of! To be sure, it did take quite a long time. Hurray the internet!
Emmanuel Mazzitelli
Dec 27th 2012, 17:45
If sales in Malta are a gimmick than simply don't buy! Pure common sense!
gil falzon
Dec 27th 2012, 18:16
In fact I have not bought anything here apart from suits for the past 5 years. Why would I want to buy the 2002 range when I can get it online or whilst abroad. The Maltese retailer has profited from the virtual monopoly he had for years but now he has paid a dear price. We need some good businessmen here. Foreigners please set up here!
Vanessa Mifsud
Dec 28th 2012, 00:19
That's exactly what we do..
Mr Vella
Dec 27th 2012, 17:31
Local sales are complete absurdity - I've always proclaimed that locals intend to succeed financially earlier than human nature implies..
A. Mifsud
Dec 27th 2012, 17:18
Online shopping is a phenomenon getting more and more popular. I cannot blame consumers, judging from the stand of some retailers commenting in this article.
And yes sales in Malta are not to be taken seriously. Inflating prices just before xmas and reducing prices to their fair value during the sales periods is no bargain at all.
Peter Murray
Dec 27th 2012, 17:17
FAO MATTHEW TANTI Keep your unwarranted and uncultured references as to someone's input to your sweet self. Whilst on the subject of arrogance you could teach Ms Parnis the finer points of arrogance with your own erudite comments which couldn't possibly be construed as"moaning" nor delusions of a superior intellect.The 2 points I raised were not mentioned in the article - read again.
matthew tanti
Dec 27th 2012, 17:35
"Legal rights are not affected by sales".
"Price indication is very important too. “You cannot leave the customer to work out the new price of the item,” she said, pointing out that the new slashed price must be visible – either on the tag or in the form of a price table."
isn't that clear enough to someone who thinks he is a gift to us stupid maltese people?
Manuel Scicluna
Dec 27th 2012, 16:55
Sales in Malta is the real gimmick. Having a PC at home is the best investment.
matthew tanti
Dec 27th 2012, 16:03
a local firm which manufactures for export too organises a bi-annual warehouse "sale" where the same clothes keep on re-appearing every 6 months...i am sure many other people have observed this...
M Micallef
Dec 27th 2012, 15:53
I browsed the shops in Valletta this morning, hoping to get a new dress on sale, but all the shops who claimed they were on sale were selling old stock. Yes sales in Malta are a gimmick and until we get the real thing I will stick to online shopping.
Louis Craus
Dec 27th 2012, 15:23
Sales in Malta are gimmicks.
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 27th 2012, 15:18
Better at home, relax in front of the pc, and shop online! Its so easy, convenient and more fun!
Claire Busuttil
Dec 27th 2012, 14:57
isa hej, jidher li xi owners/managers, jarawhom koroh lin nies meta ikun hemm s sales....mur obsor hej!
Nies....mela hadmu raskhom
B Testa
Dec 27th 2012, 14:44
Sales in Malta are a gimmick in the face of us consumers. All items on the shelves before Christmas tend to vanish and old items are again put on the shelves. These are not sales but a joke. At least online you get what you pay for in a more reasonable price even before the Sales period. Before Christmas a renowned fashion watch item was over 50% extra in Malta even after paying for the shipping!!
Joe Scerri
Dec 27th 2012, 13:24
A particular brand of chocolates was being sold for 5 stg in UK supermarkets (around 6 Euros). Same box locally is 13 Euros. Guess from where I bought mine. This is just one of an endless list.
caroline scicluna
Dec 27th 2012, 13:22
Theresa Bartolo Parnis - your comments in the above article shows your lack of customer care. how can you classify customers during the january sales as "different". Perhaps they are your regular customers who opt to buy items at a later stage. No wonder more and more people are shopping online. More choice, delivered at your doorstep and with ample customer care plus returns policy.
matthew tanti
Dec 27th 2012, 16:05
hopefully many of her customers who she is indirectly categorising as "stupid" will either buy from accessorize when abroad, or online. that is the reply her arrogance deserves.
adrian attard
Dec 27th 2012, 12:55
sales in Malta are just a bluff!
Alex Bugeja
Dec 27th 2012, 12:05
Recently we and and friends of ours decided to go to Boogie Nights and some of us bought our costumes locally and some bought them online. The ones who bought them online were almost half price of the ones bought locally and that included shipping too, some of which happened to be similar and coming from the same manufacturer in the UK. No wonder more and more people are buying their needs online.
Franco Abela
Dec 27th 2012, 12:16
This does not apply only to costumes. Those who have children and buy online know that most toys are bought at half the price including shipping to Malta.
For example a Musical Table which here is sold for €65 I bought it from Amazon.uk for Stg25! The Tag Reading System here sells for €50, I bought it for Stg 20! etc, etc...
Peter Murray
Dec 27th 2012, 10:59
2 points the MCCAA information(!)officer inexplicably did not address:-
1.That the "sale " price indicated had primarily to reflect that this was a reduction of the "originial" or "full" price of the item and that this price was actually the price shown for at least 15 days before the "reduced" or sale price,
2.A consumer has the same rights on sale items as on fully priced,pre-sale items
Victor Vella
Dec 27th 2012, 10:47
Soon we will having money to spend. Soon our pockets will be filled to the brim with money. Go to Brussels and you come illuminated and the LP will make you a generator of wealth. Soon the workers will boom with money as labour will make a party of them!!!!
Victor Calleja
Dec 27th 2012, 11:10
Ghalija jekk innaqqsu il korruzzjoni, inehhu il helan il ministri ikunu kontabbli u mhux vulgari ikun bizzejjed. Minhuex nistenna li qieghed tistenna int.
I Bugeja
Dec 27th 2012, 13:45
Are we reading the same article?
Luke Bonnici
Dec 27th 2012, 10:42
why shop from the local high street if you can get better value for your money by shopping online? In addition, local shops do not seem to offer any Unique Selling Point which gives them a competitive advantage over their foreign and online competitors ....
Neville Roberts
Dec 27th 2012, 10:34
Typical Maltese retailers outlook on trade. Why should we lower our prices? A bargain is very hard to find in Malta. I was recently told that I should not buy off the internet where, even with postage, its cheaper than in the shops in Malta but think of the poor trader and pay more here!
Robert Zammit
Dec 27th 2012, 10:30
The Items put on 'sale' here make you cry ! They bring out all the old stock from previous years and try to sell it at 15% less than original, why should anyone buy it ? A friend saw a Jacket she bought last week for 69 € on sale yesterday selling for 65€ lol
Mr Tony Gatt
Dec 27th 2012, 09:38
Which is why so many people go to the U.K. for the sales. If you manage to get a cheap ticket you can more than make up the price by purchasing enough goodies on discount- and have a mini holiday to boot.
gil falzon
Dec 27th 2012, 16:41
Tony, try Spain. London is so overrated honestly. The sales there are really good and hotels, eating out etc are cheaper too.
Please choose the reason of your report below: