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There was more bad news for London's High Street retailers today with research showing shoppers are losing the traditional British reserve, and starting to haggle and ask for discounts.
Two-thirds of 5000 shoppers in the survey said they were happy to haggle with shopkeepers and use vouchers to cut costs. The highest proportion of these bargain-hunters were in London.
The poll, by price-comparison site Moneysupermarket.com, also found that Britons negotiate an average of £50 per month off advertised prices. The findings will come as a blow to the struggling retail sector, after figures last week revealed that 12,000 independent shops and nearly 7,000 branches of major chains have closed so far this year in England and Wales.
Local Data Company, a research firm, also said that the average level of retail store vacancies has tripled from 4% a year ago to almost 12% now.
Experts are now warning that rising unemployment means consumer spending could be constrained through next year, delaying a recovery for the retail sector until 2011.
Reader views (1)
What's wrong with haggling?
This country has, and always will be, a rip-off merchant. When the prices of basic commodities come down are the savings passed on to the consumer? Not bloody likely. It's more pennies for the boys and higher wage increases. The G in Great Britain should be replaced by Greedy.
The disposable income most families have is earmarked for certain things. If they, the families, can save some of that all well and good.
We have been shopping in Aldi's for about four years and the only difference between them and the other major supermarkets is a saving of about 35-40% on the monthly food bill. There is no difference in the quality of food.
Why give your money to other people when you can benefit yourself?
As the old saying goes - you look after the pennies. . .
- Steve, Bexhill, 03/08/2009 11:54
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