Town shops quiet on ‘busiest’ day of year
Monday 20th December 2010, 2:29PM GMT.
Michaela Le Flock, left, and Melanie Le Page were in Town on Saturday for some last-minute present buying, but traders said that what should have been their busiest day of the year was anything but. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1070858)
TOWN was surprisingly quiet at the weekend for the last Saturday shopping day before Christmas.
‘Today is traditionally the busiest day of the year but it hasn’t been at all,’ said Jan Rushton, owner of The Pioneer, which set to close by Easter.
‘People are saying that there’s plenty of room to park on the piers and the High Street looks sparse, with not many carrying shopping bags.
‘We thought it might be because we are running our stock down, but everyone else [Town trader] I’ve spoken to, say they are in the same position.’
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It does not shock me that the high street was empty on Saturday. Not only does the weather put people off but we are living in difficult times. For me personally it’s a price conscious time where every gift that can be given at a bargain price to me is a bonus. Thank you E-bay! Thank you Amazon! And with a town that is virtually run by Creasy’s I run in the opposite direction from their high prices. One particular item that I was interested in for my son I did check out in Creasy’s baby and toy shop first and it was £10.00 cheaper online! And with websites such as Amazon delivering multiple items to my door with free delivery saving me braving the snow and ice all the way up the Bordage (such a rubbish place for a baby and toy shop) I know there is no contest. Perhaps if Mr Creasy would entertain a bargaining system whereby local people could provide proof of a cheaper price found online and Creasy’s would better it for my business I might just be interested. Otherwise I don’t buy this idea that items do not get delivered without hassle. I brought all of my presents online and the one item where my order went astray I was provided with two of said item for my trouble!
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You are spot on Realistic Ms the town traders have cut there own necks with there pricses i would rather pay vat online and still save cash !
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the barron,
Blimey, it’s going to take all day for me to purge my mind of the image of ‘the town traders cutting there own necks with there pricses’.
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Usually I’d totally agree Realistic Ms, however this xmas, I’ve been proven otherwise.
My son wanted a particular toy for xmas, late october, Amazon had it for £50, by end of November, when I was looking to buy it, marketplace sellers (english toyshop sellers) had upped the price to £80, one toyshop seller even attempting £120!!! So I bought it in creaseys for £60.
There were even a few things I bought over here, which were cheaper than I could find on Amazon. Generally speaking, I think the internet is cheaper than local shops but there are still bargains to be had over here.
I do completely agree that having the toyshop in the bordage is ridiculous, it went from being in a prime location on the high street in a lovely big shop (I used to be itching to go to town as a kid to spend my pocket money in there) to a pretty rubbish little shop up there!!
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I would be quite happy to do all of my shopping in town, (the savings made online are all very well, but we need to support local business), if it weren’t for the bloney pushchairs and prams all over the place! They should be banned from town, or at the very least, users should have to pass a test to drive one!
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Eh
I reckon there should be a ban on driving a pram or pushchair until you are eighteen
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I havnt bought any items in town shops for over 3 years, as I find the prices, even their so-called sales prices, or buy 1 get 1 1/2 price etc is still normally dearer than online. The last time I bought an item from a local dealer, because I had to have it then, it was nearly twice the price
of the same item at Amazon, when I pointed it out to the sales assistant, he replied that he bought all his “stuff” from either Ebay or Amazon or 7dayshop! I now only buy food, diy products locally unless something breaks and I am forced to purchase locally. Car parts, clothing, books
and electrical items are picked up when I go to the UK with the car. Sorry retailers, also many of your staff dont even know about the products you sell, dont forget, punters can and do gen up on the internet, and purchase items cheaper even after delivery charges than locally, like for like!
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I used to use Kids Kingdom on the bridge regularly. I could park straight outside and pick up the sort of items that you can pop straight into your car. When you have a baby and a three year old you need convenience and sticking a toy shop pretty much out of town always seemed crazy to me. They must have seen a dip in their business.
I do think that prices are hiked up at Christmas online however if you sit and do your research I have found that inevitably you can end up getting a good deal.
Another problem with town is the lack of toilets – a must with kids who have to go right there when they say it!
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It was quiet probably because most people were shopping elsewhere, where there is actually some variety and decent prices. I was in St Helier, a much more pleasant experience, even with GST!
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I have being buying from Amazon for years and not only are the goods cheaper but their after sales service is also excellent, with a no quibble return policy, plus one can review the product online before you buy it.
I keep well away from marketplace sellers and only buy from Amazon direct so pay no VAT or delivery charges.
I also now buy most of my clothes online at Cotton Traders, Premier Man, or Jacamo, all companies with excellent returns policies..
I am now waiting for the first company to start up online grocery shopping on the island delivered to your home at cheaper prices that in the large supermarkets, then we really are in business.
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So what we have basically is a shopping exodus,all makes sense and so does the mass exodus which is now gathering at some pace,the public have had enough its time to say La Revedere
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