Fuming shoppers quit the sales after bargains sell out in just four days – and high street spending falls by 75 per cent
The post Christmas sales of 2018 have been the shortest ever leaving customers 'gutted' as high street shops run out of stock
SALES shoppers were left fuming as bargains sold out in just four days.
The post-Christmas stores rush is effectively over — in contrast to the old January sales that lasted weeks, experts said.
High street spending has plummeted 75 per cent since Boxing Day, with a one-day “Black Friday-style” blow-out on December 26 blamed.
Analysts said punters have abandoned stores now the best items are sold-out and have switched to online bargain-hunting instead.
Store spending fell from Boxing Day’s £3.7billion to just £1billion on Saturday and even less yesterday, a Centre for Retail Research study for VoucherCodes showed.
Customers were “gutted” over discounted items already gone at shops including John Lewis, Currys PC World, Topshop and Boots.
Prof Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, said: “Customers are annoyed if goods they want sell out, so just stop shopping in stores. Many will buy online instead.
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“Spending is tailing off quickly after a Black Friday-style rush. It’s not like years ago when sales lasted into January — this year, it’s all over in two or three days.”
Shopper Diane Chamberlain, of Southampton, tweeted: “Disappointing sale at Currys PC World. Six laptops in our price range out of stock.”
Other sold-out deals included a John Lewis Coach Edie 28 leather shoulder bag, reduced by £88.50 to £206.50, and the Boots Estee Lauder Repair & Renew Set, down by £25.34 to £50.66.
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