Millions leave Christmas gift buying to Boxing Day

More than 3.5 million people plan to buy presents including clothes, beauty products and games as soon as the sales start, according to the consumer watchdog Which?.

Discounts started well before Christmas this year – with scores of marked-down goods available, even at the peak of the pre-Christmas rush.

Yesterday was predicted to be the busiest of the year, with the busiest shopping hour due today from noon.

The Which? survey found 63 per cent of people plan to go shopping for presents in the post-Christmas sales.

Among the top items they intend to buy are clothes and accessories, health and beauty products and home entertainment software such as CDs, DVDs and games.

The consumer watchdog recommended shoppers check the small print when it comes to returns and said stores are not doing enough to protect consumers from faulty goods.

Executive director of Which? Richard Lloyd said: “Squeezed budgets mean many people are planning to head to the January sales to buy late Christmas presents.

“But people should look out for returns policies in stores and online to avoid getting stuck with unwanted items. Stand your ground if you’re refused returns on goods that turn out to be faulty, as you have the right to return these, even when they’re bought in the sales.”

Yesterday, the shopping centres and high streets of Scotland were packed as shoppers picked up food, Christmas supplies and last-minute presents. Store managers said they expected the shops to remain busy today, particularly because Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday. Many said the warmer weather this year was encouraging a flurry of last-minute spending. Gordon Drummond, store director of Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh, said: “We have had a really steady stream of business over the Christmas period. Our customers have been happy to spend.

“There is a real buzz about the store today, a really positive atmosphere. People feel like they are on holiday.

“People are buying presents but they are also coming in and treating themselves. The overall feeling is really optimistic.”

Many stores opened early and shut late to take advantage of the last-minute rush.

Peter Beagley, general manager of the Braehead centre in Glasgow, said: “We’re now seeing the traditional last-minute rush to buy Christmas presents.

“As usual, shoppers will take it to the wire on Christmas Eve to get their shopping completed and make sure they get the best presents for family and friends.

“We’ve had a brilliant Christmas this year and the centre has been extremely busy.”

James Bailey, director of The Centre, in Livingston, said: “There has been a fantastic atmosphere in The Centre and we expect that tomorrow will have a similar buzz as shoppers finish off their Christmas lists.

“On Boxing Day the Next sale will start at 6am, as well as a number of other retailers lowering their prices so we are set for another busy day.

“This is always a huge draw for shoppers seeking some of the best bargains on the high street.”

Michelle MacLeod, deputy centre manager of Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh, said: “It’s been busy today. It’s been busy all week. We are really seeing the Christmas rush.”

Ryan Manson, general manager of Aberdeen’s Union Square, said: “We’ve seen a real buzz throughout the centre this week as shoppers take advantage of pre-Christmas sales and snap up items on their present lists. More than 250,000 people have been through our doors this week which is more than 11 per cent more than we had last week and 8 per cent up on the same week last year.”

A spokesman for the New West End Company, which represents 600 retailers in London, said yesterday was busier than anticipated, adding that about 70 per cent of the shoppers appeared to be men who had left their gift-buying to the 11th hour.

“We expect one million shoppers today and tomorrow through the West End stores, spending £100 million in total,” he said.

Peak time was expected to be between 3pm and 4pm yesterday as office workers clocked off early for their Christmas holidays and headed to the shops.

Gap, House of Fraser, French Connection and Debenhams were among those selling cut-price items. The store were offering discounts of up to 60 per cent, the spokesman said.

But the British Retail Consortium has warned that although sales in the shops were good for consumers, they may not be good news for businesses.

A spokeswoman said “Sales will eat into the margin. Households’ disposable income has taken quite a hit this year, hence the high levels of promotional activity and discounts we’re seeing.”