Whatever happened to great After-Christmas sales?

[DodgerGirl]

It used to be that once Christmas was over the retailers would begin to prepare for After-Christmas sales but lately i've noticed that After-Christmas sales have changed in the years past. Take for instance if you go to Kohl's they have Christmas decor on clearance but all other items like toys and clothing are regular price. And if you go to Amazon you'll find deals on electronics like TVs and Rokus but rarely toys and video games are on sale. And CVS hasn't put it's Christmas candy on clearance and they want $30% off of Christmas candy and when you go to Sees Candies they never clearance their Christmas candy and instead they recycle it and release it for Valentine's Day. And Target rarely has After-Christmas sales and when I would shop Target they had deals like buy one get one free music CDs and movies but if you go to Target today all you'll see is on After-Christmas sales is Christmas trees ornaments holiday decor and when you look at their toy section they have supposedly a toy clearance but none of the toys are on clearance and toys like Marvel action figures and Lego sets are regular price and you would think the stores would be smart to put toys on sale after Christmas because a lot of people who have relatives give gift cards to grandchildren nephews and nieces so they can choose what toys they wanted after Christmas that Santa forgot to bring. But if you look at Macy's the only thing they sell a lot during After-Christmas sales is clothing and food like chocolates and I think Macy's went downhill during After-Christmas sales. And the same thing with QVC because when I had seen them on Frindly TV they had nothing but clothing for After-Christmas sales and it tells me that this is the future of after-Christmas sales

 

[Nayan]

Because the sales start earlier in October and by the time Black Friday and Christmas rolls around there's not much left. A few weeks before Christmas you see huge discounts on decor and stuff but there's no incentive to put anything else on clearance because most people had already done their shopping.

Stores are also ordering less due to supply chain issues and tariffs, so the amount of merch available is less. My Walmart had nothing, and I do mean nothing, left not even candy or decor the day after. Now it's all Valentines.

 

[FreeTime]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/where-have-all-the-good-shopping-deals-gone.3938368/

Refer to the replies you received last year.

 

[KPeterso]

Same reason you are told after every holiday (Easter, Valentines Day, Halloween) when you ask some version of this question. Stores are honing their ordering and there is just not a lot leftover to sell on clearance.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Stores keep tighter inventory now.
Christmas clearance sales start earlier now. Lowe's was 75% off before Christmas.
Early numbers look like shoppers bought more than expected this season.
The availability of shopping discount boards and social media pages with sales items turned Christmas shopping into a year round thing now.

I saw Valentine's Day items out at multiple stores 2 weeks before Christmas due to low inventory this year.

 

[RangerPooh]

Stores seem to carry less inventory now than in years past. Depending on the holiday, sales may also begin earlier and be spread out over a longer timeline. As a result, by the time the holiday actually arrives, stock can be very limited. This can also push shoppers to buy earlier out of fear that there won’t be anything left when the day comes. I mean, Valentine's Day items were stocked Dec. 26th, and it's almost two months away.

 

[FreeTime]

Our valentine was stocked on the 23rd. We saw Easter at Homegoods already.

 

[focusondisney]

And the same thing with QVC because when I had seen them on Frindly TV they had nothing but clothing for After-Christmas sales and it tells me that this is the future of after-Christmas sales

QVC starts selling Christmas items for “Christmas in July”, usually a weekend around the 25th. Then they do Christmas items one weekend a month until November 1st. After November 1st, they’re selling Christmas items all day, every day. By thanksgiving, holiday trees, decor & items are already sold out. Once sold out, nothing gets restocked. They don’t have time to get more items manufactured. They start doing clearance sales for other holiday merchandise Thanksgiving weekend. Christmas is totally gone on December 26th. There’s pretty much nothing left for them to sell for an after Christmas sale.

 

[msmayor]

With 'Black Friday' sales now starting up to a month before Thanksgiving, there's no longer a need to have those deep discounts after Christmas. You've already gotten the best pricing they are willing to give, weeks before.

 

[tvguy]

Stores keep tighter inventory now.
Christmas clearance sales start earlier now. Lowe's was 75% off before Christmas.
Early numbers look like shoppers bought more than expected this season.
The availability of shopping discount boards and social media pages with sales items turned Christmas shopping into a year round thing now.

I saw Valentine's Day items out at multiple stores 2 weeks before Christmas due to low inventory this year.

Inventories are certainly tighter. And a lot of the holiday merchandise was ordered a year ago to insure they got the inventory they wanted. And that means when they sell out, there is no way to order more.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm so disappointed. There used to be a major Bath and Body Works sale that started December 26th, and I'd stock up on all kinds of shower gel. This year, virtually nothing-and what there was wasn't on as big a sale. Target and Walmart had huge "day after Christmas" sales and it was a day almost as big in our family as Christmas shopping. Are the Hallmark Christmas Ornaments still on sale for 50% off the day after Christmas at least?

 

[scard192]

I'm so disappointed. There used to be a major Bath and Body Works sale that started December 26th, and I'd stock up on all kinds of shower gel. This year, virtually nothing-and what there was wasn't on as big a sale.

I ordered 6 items for store pick up at Bath and Body works semi annual sale that totaled $24+ tax. Body wash and body spray.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm so disappointed. There used to be a major Bath and Body Works sale that started December 26th, and I'd stock up on all kinds of shower gel. This year, virtually nothing-and what there was wasn't on as big a sale. Target and Walmart had huge "day after Christmas" sales and it was a day almost as big in our family as Christmas shopping. Are the Hallmark Christmas Ornaments still on sale for 50% off the day after Christmas at least?

I mentioned this on another thread, but I got a crap-ton of foaming hand soap, $2.99 each. It arrived today! I get it, some for me (of course!), but also my DD22 has an apartment with 2 roommates, and DS19 shares a suite with 9 other guys (2 bathrooms and a kitchenette). I'm happy to donate hand soap to both kids! They weren't desperate for it, but the scents are pleasant, and most of what I got isn't seasonal. And soap isn't going to go bad.

 

[hardcorestitch]

It used to be that once Christmas was over the retailers would begin to prepare for After-Christmas sales but lately i've noticed that After-Christmas sales have changed in the years past. Take for instance if you go to Kohl's they have Christmas decor on clearance but all other items like toys and clothing are regular price. And if you go to Amazon you'll find deals on electronics like TVs and Rokus but rarely toys and video games are on sale. And CVS hasn't put it's Christmas candy on clearance and they want $30% off of Christmas candy and when you go to Sees Candies they never clearance their Christmas candy and instead they recycle it and release it for Valentine's Day. And Target rarely has After-Christmas sales and when I would shop Target they had deals like buy one get one free music CDs and movies but if you go to Target today all you'll see is on After-Christmas sales is Christmas trees ornaments holiday decor and when you look at their toy section they have supposedly a toy clearance but none of the toys are on clearance and toys like Marvel action figures and Lego sets are regular price and you would think the stores would be smart to put toys on sale after Christmas because a lot of people who have relatives give gift cards to grandchildren nephews and nieces so they can choose what toys they wanted after Christmas that Santa forgot to bring. But if you look at Macy's the only thing they sell a lot during After-Christmas sales is clothing and food like chocolates and I think Macy's went downhill during After-Christmas sales. And the same thing with QVC because when I had seen them on Frindly TV they had nothing but clothing for After-Christmas sales and it tells me that this is the future of after-Christmas sales

Some retailers just cut straight to Valentine’s Day stuff too…

 

[Anthony1971]

Stores had big sales on toys etc after Christmas before Gift Cards became a huge gift item and many large retailers actually discount gift cards before Christmas. Simply it would not make good business sense to have a big sale with all the potential full price sales from gift cards. Years ago it was hard to get people to spend real money after Christmas…..
As far as Seasonal items Target for years has had this on sale Black Friday with 50% off plus some other incentive like X off 50. Walmart had a huge amount of seasonal at 75% off, Hobby lobby had a lot at 80% off others were 50-60% off. Yes candy is less. Target does have seasonal Lego sets 50% off now.
This year November was a HUGE month for retail sales as everything was on sale seemingly better than years past. Target as an example had sent many 10 off 50 or 25 off 100 off toys 10 off 40 clothes plus a stackable 15% off all including all that was on sale.
With that December was a lesser month by small margins than years past for most simply because so many had big sales in November but not in December.
Retail is hard to follow as when patterns of sales become normal one a few change the pattern and many follow. Best to watch the sales and be prepared to buy what you are looking for before and sometimes after the traditional big sale dates.

 

[dcfromva]

DH and I were doing some Christmas Shopping on Nov 7th. On a whim, I bought a set of Plaid Christmas design (400 Thread Count Performance Christmas Holiday Sheet Set - Threshold™).

The sheets were great. They seem softer after every wash. They did not need to be ironed after washing. I wanted to get another set after Christmas if they had a sale. Anyway, the lowest price I saw was in November. The "clearance" price after Christmas was higher than the price just prior to Christmas. (They briefly showed a 15% discount for the plaid design and then out of stock). I guess it was a pretty popular design.

 

[DodgerGirl]

Like Simba's Mom my aunt is a GIANT fan of Bath And Body Works and when their Semi-Annual Sale began my aunt went to every single Bath And Body Works store in her malls and she couldn't find anything and she was after the candles and the room sprays and the body lotions and before she went my aunt called every Bath And Body Works store in her town and they told her the sale didn't even start until the next day and by the time she went to Bath And Body Works they were completely sold out and I mean really SOLD OUT and what it seems like Bath And Body Works did for their Semi-Annual Sale this year was put out the stock on sale then people called to reserve what they wanted. But my mom got a trial of Target's Circle and she has found great deals on groceries and it seems that Target had a lot of After-Christmas sales. But Kohl's had a great After-Christmas sale and they had a lot of Christmas decor on clearance and stocking stuffers too

 

[LoveDaisy]

my aunt called every Bath And Body Works store in her town and they told her the sale didn't even start until the next day and by the time she went to Bath And Body Works they were completely sold out.

How many bath and body works stores are in her town? I have 8 in my state plus an outlet store and she has several in one town?

 

[QueenIsabella]

Like Simba's Mom my aunt is a GIANT fan of Bath And Body Works and when their Semi-Annual Sale began my aunt went to every single Bath And Body Works store in her malls and she couldn't find anything and she was after the candles and the room sprays and the body lotions and before she went my aunt called every Bath And Body Works store in her town and they told her the sale didn't even start until the next day and by the time she went to Bath And Body Works they were completely sold out and I mean really SOLD OUT and what it seems like Bath And Body Works did for their Semi-Annual Sale this year was put out the stock on sale then people called to reserve what they wanted. But my mom got a trial of Target's Circle and she has found great deals on groceries and it seems that Target had a lot of After-Christmas sales. But Kohl's had a great After-Christmas sale and they had a lot of Christmas decor on clearance and stocking stuffers too

Next time, she should try their website. You can order to pick up at a store. You can try different locations--our city only has one B&BW, at a nearby mall. So, it checks inventory at that specific store. I ended up getting delivery (and paying the $6.99 fee), only because the local store had much less selection. The website would be much easier than calling (or, worse driving!) around to multiple locations.

 

[scard192]

Next time, she should try their website. You can order to pick up at a store. You can try different locations--our city only has one B&BW, at a nearby mall. So, it checks inventory at that specific store. I ended up getting delivery (and paying the $6.99 fee), only because the local store had much less selection. The website would be much easier than calling (or, worse driving!) around to multiple locations.

that is what I did/do. There is a store not far from my home where I walk a few times a week in the winter and check off in store pick up for that location.