Last Minute Christmas Shoppers Often Overwhelmed By Bargains
Posted: Thursday, December 24, 2009
by Gerry Charbonneau
http://nibblednews.typepad.com
Market research findings indicate that last minute Christmas shopping was all the rage in 2008. More than one half ( 53 per cent ) of the consumers polled during that shopping season revealed that they completed their gift shopping during the month of December. Many of these respondents shopped the very last days and in some cases the last shopping hours on Christmas Eve.
This compressed experience involves more than locating your selection, cashiering your purchase at the nearest sales kiosk and having it delivered to your intended recipient. At this stressful time you have to remember not to order anyhting that you did not really intend to buy. Many times the bargains offered become too irresistible to ignore.
In-store managerial promotions combined with substantial discounts easily seduce unwary buyers into purchasing gift items they really did not want. Credit card charges in January finally alert these same naive indiviuals to the sad fact that they spent far more on gifts than their credit circumstnaces can accomodate.
There is much talk about whether this form of consumer panicked buying will deliver substantial results for marketers and businesses. Realize that the busiest food shopping day of the year is almost here. Turkeys (stuffed, unstuffed, buttered and organically fed), are now being strategically placed in many supermarket freezers,
Marachino cherries, candy canes, Christmas candies and egg nogs and cookies are also proudly displayed on store shelves. Traditional goodies and willing consumers ensure advertisers that there is money to be made in such a ripe and eager to spend market.
You will then find yourself in shopping malls surrounded by panicked shoppers who have no idea what they are searching for, children fidgety and hyped up on sugary sweets and yourself lacking sound judgment and adequate stamina and sleep to compete with the total Xmas scenario.
But, last minute Christmas shopping is almost as much a tradtion of the season as decorating your home with lights, setting up the tree in the living room and carefully hanging up your Santa stocking by the fireplace.
Although this form of accepted shopping behavior is a doable act you should be aware also that when you start your Christmas gift planning can have a positive effect on the quality, selection and price of the product.
Many folks plan their gift giving purchases the whole year through. This also takes planning and determination but it can be done. Year round bargain prices are then factored into the shopping scenario and their credit card debt is not as traumatic as it could be.
When you join the crowds and shop last minute you do not have the time or the opportunity to compare prices, quality or availability. In a crowded and stressed shopping situation a harried shopper is not aalways a wary shopper.
The overall excitment and the thrill of Christmas shopping looses its attractive aspect when consumers part with their hard earned cash before they really realize what it is they are purchasing.
The aroma of pumpkin pie, bright Christmas lights, jolly Santas and holiday music mesmerizes many shoppers .The sting of the January credit statement finally wakes them up to the reality of how much they spent shopping those last few hours on Christmas Eve.
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