BUYING AT THE SALES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 32

BUYING AT THE SALES

You will always meet women who assert proudly that they never buy at sales, and that nothing is actually a bargain. “Marked up first and then marked down to delude silly people.” they say. If they could imagine themselves running a shop, they would realise that there must be bargains; that it is essential to sell off quickly, because there is no space for storing summer goods in the winter, and vice versa. New designs come along and scfcue of those in stock, though excellent and popular, must be discarded. Moreover, to simplify accounts in large stores, the remains of a “broken” line of goods must be sold off even at a loss. Any intelligent woman can judge the value of crepe de chine from the “feel” of it. It is ridiculous to say she has not secured a bargain when she gets a length of three yards at half-price because it is the last piece left in that shade. In the linen department you can get odd lengths of the purest linen for napkins and traycloths at less than the ordinary price of shoddy “mixture.” Flannel, nainsook and other materials for children's underclothes should be bought at sale times by mothers who are in a position to lay out the money and seize the opportunity. The buyer in charge of each department is always ; anxious to clear out odd goods, and it is worth while to ask what further reduction would be made if you took the entire length. China is another excellent purchase. ‘ You may get a delightful tea-service for 12 people at a third of its value, because one cup is missing—which matters nothing in your own house. Oddments in silverware are good value, too. One remaining case of fish-knives, one manicure set. one salad bowl with servers—such pieces are bound to be left over in a department, and it pays to clear them at a nominal price instead of having them checked and rechecked in the accounts indefinitely. Stockings are “doubtful” at sales ! unless you feet are a” unpopular size. In the ordinary sizes much reduced stockings are usually “seconds” —imperfect pairs rejected by the makers' examiners. Inexperienced eyes may detect no flaw, but there is a chance that they may rip the first time they are worn. DP.