Disappointment in holiday shopping

[Princesca]

I don't know about you guys, but I have had a really rough time shopping this year. Not only does there not seem to be the discounts we found last year but inventory levels seem to be really low. Half the stuff I need to find seems to be out of stock and I'm not even shopping for hot toys or anything. Part of the fun for me in christmas shopping is finding good deals and they just don't seem to be there like they were. Even free shipping has more conditions on it than years past. Meh.

 

[disneyofcourse]

I agree, like some stuff I ordered online 30 + days ago and its still out of stock! The shipping arrival dates keep on getting pushed more and more towards Christmas.

Even target didn't seem to get much Christmas decor out and it seems like they aren't refilling shelves once stuff is gone.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't know about you guys, but I have had a really rough time shopping this year. Not only does there not seem to be the discounts we found last year but inventory levels seem to be really low. Half the stuff I need to find seems to be out of stock and I'm not even shopping for hot toys or anything. Part of the fun for me in christmas shopping is finding good deals and they just don't seem to be there like they were. Even free shipping has more conditions on it than years past. Meh.

I've found plenty of deals online and in the stores. Lots of friends and family discounts, emailed printable coupons and other coupons in my snail mail. I've gotten free gift cards for using my Amex, Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Target had a printable coupon for a $10 GC when you spend $50.

The deals are there. You just have to dig for them.

 

[luvmy3]

I've found plenty of deals online and in the stores. Lots of friends and family discounts, emailed printable coupons and other coupons in my snail mail. I've gotten free gift cards for using my Amex, Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Target had a printable coupon for a $10 GC when you spend $50.

The deals are there. You just have to dig for them.

I have found great deals on everything I have purchased so far using discount codes, freebie coupons and GC promos.

 

[undertheradar]

It looks as if many retailers have reduced the amount of inventory they are stocking. We noticed this during Easter and Halloween this year. Better to stock less, sell it for higher dollars then to get stuck withit and heavily discount after the holiday.

 

[jme829]

I have found great deals on everything I have purchased so far using discount codes, freebie coupons and GC promos.

Yep..me too. Almost everything I bought so far I have been able to get great deals on.

My kids will pretty much get everything on their list, for the prices that I wanted.


One example....dd12 wants a Kodak Playfull video camera normally $129 and a Soda Stream $90+....Walmart.com had the camera on sale a few weeks ago for $69 and I got a the Soda Stream at Kohls on sale for $90, extra 10% sale which got it to $80 and the a friend who works there got me another 30% off so I ended paying $60 for it including tax!

So while dd wanted both and was expecting neither, she will get them both and I paid for both of them what just one would have cost.

Thats just one of the great deals I have got so far.

I have to actually go do some research at Macy's. I bought dd18 a coach wristlet for $48 yesterday and then when I got home found a 25% off friends and family coupon. It says not good for ONLINE coach purchases, but I assume that to mean that I can get it at the store. I need to call there later to see if I can get the discount. I have no problem returning and rebuying the item if that's what it takes. 12 bucks is 12 bucks!

 

[QVCshopper]

I think you had to start early this year. The discounts were there on iPad ($435) and Nintendo 3DS ($135) devices if you started in Oct. Now the deals seem to be far and few between, but I'm not looking as much because I'm mostly done. I also picked up an iPod Touch 8GB on Black Friday for $130 or so, and $30 iTunes gifts cards with $10 back. Those are all really decent deals that are probably better than years past... Mostly purchased at Target.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I am not enjoying it as much this year either. I couldn't start early since nobody told me what they wanted and am also finding things are either out of stock or out of my budget.

I've finally finished my 2 nephews whose name I drew but haven't even started on my own kids since they haven't told me anything they want.

I still have to do my own parents, my husband, my 2 kids, BIL and family, SIL and her husband and get the last gift for SMIL and FIL.

All but my husband and kids have to be shipped to them. Next year I have got to start earlier to find the deals.

 

[jacksmom]

I have found some good deals at both Target and Kohls!Also at Ross on Thur I found lots of stuff for dh very reasonably priced (Nike and Columbia). Now, my shopping is mostly done!

 

[southern_redhead]

I kind of agree. I found many more "deals" last year, but last year was just a different kind of year for me. This year, we cut back so that we are only buying a few "they really want this" vs tons of "isn't that cute and it's on sale." Also, this year, the kids wanted Kindle Fires.....no sales there. The only consistent way I saved money this year was to shop Amazon almost exclusively. I could almost always find the items a few dollars cheaper, then, the no tax/free shipping would put me that much further under a store price with sales tax. Add to that, I've used swagbucks to knock five or ten off here and there.......it's helped.

I did manage a fairly decent sale at JCPenny on Black Friday. I bought $165 worth of pajamas for the kids and only paid $57 total