Boxing Day sales aren’t on my radar these days.
Gone are the trips to the city for bargains only found in the main department stores that lined Bourke Street.
That became a thing of the past when they started migrating to the suburbs. Opening branches in the large shopping centres that were springing up far from the CBD.
Sadly the ‘bargains’ didn’t seem to follow them.
Sales seemed to appear regularly but nothing like those in the old days.
For a while now I’ve been saying we need new pillows- our rubber/latex/memory foam ones (call them what you like) had gone a bit flat, yes I know pillows are flat, perhaps what I mean is they weren’t comfortable anymore. .
So off I went shopping.
Not on Boxing Day but on New Year’s Eve when it was a little bit quieter. Not in the city but just 6km down the road.
It’s a fair while since I bought pillows so stepped away very quickly from the shelves in horror- sticker shock – have they risen in price ?
Too bloody right they have!
And the number of brands getting in on the act selling them has increased as well.
So after taking a little longer than I thought I would – price comparison does my head in these days – I’m up to the till – paid – and off home – where I needed a sit down with a cuppa to recover.
I’d bought myself a slightly different one than The Golfer’s – which after I’d put in a case and then on the bed realised was a mistake. It sat too high. Shades of Goldilocks and The Three Bears as I lay there testing The Golfer’s and deciding his would have been a better choice for me as well!
Knowing some items can be returned and others not (sale or otherwise) I decided to chance my luck a few days later and try for a refund.
*‘Oh not sure about that…health regulations….
‘Just placed on the bed
*‘Oh dear, on the bed….
‘Yes, but in a pillow case. Not slept on. If it’s a problem I’ll take it home (and to myself – just swallow the $100 loss. Better than the $200 full retail though)
*‘I’ll see what I can do….
Credit refund back on card and I return to the bedding dept – slightly different signage.
Still says ‘Sale price’ though so pick up the one I came for and return to till
Different cashier – that’ll be $99 please
Pardon – I paid $35 for one in the sale the other day and the signage says sale finishes on the 6th and it’s only the 3rd today
But that sale (up to 31st) was for Everyone’’ – this sale (from 1st to 6th) is ‘Members Only’
Are you a member??
No….
Well the retail price for the pillow is $99
Members sale price is $29.99 which is less than you paid the other day
All I need is your name and phone number for you to buy at the lower price
It’s a very comfortable pillow – sits evenly alongside The Golfer’s – and should last a while 😊
Still Waters 
Big sigh. They get you coming and going don’t they?
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To sort out the sales these days you need a smart five year old with a calculator and a lawyer.
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I laughed all the way through this, i have been through the same thing, it is so hard to buy a pillow, you don’t know if it is ok til laying on your bed. glad they took the return. and that you got a better price.
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It’s a mind field these days.
Aldi have pillows this week. I didn’t buy any as everyone likes their own.
I need to buy new ones for our bed. But I fear I will encounter the same issues you have.
Plus I really really really love my pillow lol
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Frustrating shopping for you Cathy. I really am not a shopper and was surprised when we went from almost a month of Black Friday sales to Boxing Day sales before Christmas day! Enjoy your purchase x
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Good job. Perseverance!
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try buying a mattress – it’s eyewatering that new types – however I’m very happy with “branded” one to a point where I didn’t want to change down to a K/Single but my double still leaves me enough room….
yesterday I went into a popup clothing store that was offering sales. A dress, I rather liked was back on the rack, $200! Reduced from $400…. even at 400 it was still not top dress IMHO
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I bought three pairs of pillows last year trying to get my sleeping position correct to not aggravate my arthritis. The second pair were from Aldi, so not expensive. Too flat. The last pair are just right, bought from Myer at a good sale price reduction.
It didn’t cost anything, but I joined the clothing company Rodd and Gunn membership scheme to get a $30 discount on my recently bought jacket.
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Hari Om
I just buy the polyester cheapies from supermarkets and replace every five years or so… YAM xx
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Sorry but I had to laugh. You don’t get to test run pillows before purchase and yet they are so important to posture and a good nights sleep and all the rest of the related and extended health issues that gives rise to. And so darned expensive what?
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If it’s not one thing then it’s another. It seems as if every establishment wants one’s email address and/or phone number for some kind of perk that in the end isn’t worth the pennies off. I should not get started but I feel your pain.
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Good grief. What a palaver to buy a new pillow. At least it’s satisfactory.
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ah, the good old member price! plus 500 emails a year.
I hope the pillow is luxurious and just right
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Harris Scarfe or Spotlight? Although I imagine you would be a member of Spotlight. HS are shocking with their so called sales.
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