Christmas Day was barely over before hundreds of thousands of shoppers began snapping up bargains.

The 'new year' sales started on Boxing Day for a record number of big-name stores.

Richard Perks, director of retail research at analysts Mintel, said "it will be a strong sales period and there will be lots of stock to clear, particularly in clothing."

Have you hit the shops already? Did you get any bargains? Send us your sales stories.

Your comments:

This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

I was in shopping Nirvana Frances Beech, Bristol, UK

I've just bought myself a beautiful, glove-soft leather coat from Marks and Spencer, reduced from �275 to �99. I had some gift vouchers already so landed up paying only �60. I was in shopping Nirvana because I am a larger lady and rarely find such bargains in the larger ranges. Nothing I could have received as a Xmas present would have been half as good. Who says you don't get good bargains these days? Oh, by the way, I didn't get up early, queue or put myself out in any way whatsoever. I walked into the store and there it was, calling to me with its siren voice!!!
Frances Beech, Bristol, UK

Nothing gets the adrenaline going like those big red SALE signs! But why don't the shops open 24 hours? Don't they know we need more shopping time? Don't the sales assistants want overtime? Message to the stores - if you want to shift stock, keep the doors open!
Lisa, London

I had to be in London yesterday for business and decided to take some time for shopping (a first). I lasted exactly 20 minutes in Oxford Circus - all those crazy people - buying things that they don't need...
Jo, Leeds

Is there any time in the year when there isn't a sale? Craig, UK

Which sale is it? Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn, pre-season, end of season, Easter, Christmas, Boxing Day, Blue Cross Day, Mid Season, Stock Taking, Closing Down, Opening up, Stock clearance. Is there any time in the year when there isn't a sale?
Craig, UK

It drives me mad! The shopping frenzy is worse than it was before Xmas. I'm trying to walk to work in the morning and home in the afternoon but all these mindless shoppers wandering around looking for bargains really get in the way. Go home and take a break! It will be Easter before you get more time off!
Anon, UK

If it's all such a waste of time then why are all you complainers still going to the sales? I am sure I am not the only one who personally enjoys going on a spending spree, treating myself to clothes that I wouldn't normally buy throughout the year at 'full price'.
Megan, UK

If you don't like it, don't go, but don't judge other people if that's what they want to do! Oh, and a great big thank you to all sales assistants for their patience at this stressful time. I know because I've done it myself - you deserve a medal!
Della Gander, UK

You should only go if there is something specific that you want Jez, UK

Gone are the days when you could get a �1000 coat for �100 or a �500 TV for �25. Now sales are just for dumping unwanted/unsold stock at cost price. You should only go if there is something specific that you want.
Jez, UK

All its all been over-hyped. I went to the Trafford Centre at the weekend and it was just like a normal day, not very busy at all! All hype.
Zoe, England

Hey, who in their right mind camps outside shops for sales? Honestly, is it really worth such sad behaviour? I don't believe anyone truly gets a real deal, unless it comes off the back of a lorry....laughing
Richard Sweetman, Winsford England

Our local radio station is paying an ad for a 'half price sale'....for car exhausts. Says it all..
Mark, Glasgow

Complete waste of time Sharon, Scotland

I've been shopping for our baby due in 5 weeks - all normal stock is at normal prices..!! The only things that I found in the sale were summer clothes from last summer. Luckily I wasn't looking for things to be reduced and had budgeted to spend full price on everything. Complete waste of time
Sharon, Scotland

I can't understand the mentality of people who will queue from the early hours of Boxing Day in the hope of a bargain (which often isn't there). Why don't these people get a life and enjoy Christmas day like everyone else.
Alan , Scotland

Get on t'internet!
Daniel Thomas, St Helens, England

Flocking to the sales, like sheep. OK, so we are being overcharged for most of the year and charged a more realistic price in the sales. True. But there is one undeniable fact in all of this. We as a consumer group fall for the ploy and end up spending more than we would otherwise spent - even if it is on our credit cards. So for the retailers there clearly is a point to the sales.
Brian, Wales

I'm on the receiving end of the sales mayhem - I work in retail. As if you don't work hard enough over Christmas, a few days later, they're all back, double the volume of customers, half the stock (most of which we haven't got round to re-pricing - sales assistants celebrate Christmas too!).

We put up with the relentless rudeness of customers, who assume that because you're young, (and somewhat disorientated by the sales frenzy - nothing can prepare you for it) therefore you must be stupid - we're not all brain dead, some of us are trying to go back to university in January with some of our overdrafts paid off! So, if you're sales shopping over the next few weeks, less of the patronising comments if you please - we're only trying to stop sponging off the state.
Gail Bishop, Surrey, UK

I have just purchased a widescreen TV originally priced at �339 for �139. I am absolutely delighted, and I went out with the intention of buying a TV. I have purchased a far better brand and higher spec TV than I could have hoped for. I think you do have to be careful in the sales in general and think twice about what your buying and say to yourself "Do you really need it, and would I usually buy it."

I question if some things in the sales are genuine bargains, because I think the shops bring in special stock sales that would not usually be sold at other times of the year. I think if you want a genuine bargain you have to be one of the first in the sales and there is no point going to the sales a week later and expecting to get a bargain.
Giles, Brackley, UK.

Utterly unbelievable that so many silly people still don't realise they're being conned Craig, Birmingham, England

Utterly unbelievable that so many silly people still don't realise they're being conned - firstly by the fact that all-year-round prices are criminally over-priced, and secondly that the so-called "sales" are nothing of the sort - just the stores' reduction to "normal" prices to clear unwanted unsold stock ready for the next binge - Easter (plus sales..!!) In today's commercial rip-off world you don't get something for nothing, no matter WHAT the posters might say!!
Craig, Birmingham, England

The best bargain is the price you are happy to pay and the lowest price they are happy to accept. As for the mad sales scramble...Get a life!
Harry, Fuengirola, Spain

The drastic markdowns can't all be loss-leaders so I conclude the mark-up during the rest of the year is too high. Several people have said things are still cheaper on the net, but on the net you can't see before you buy, taking it back when its wrong or delivered broken is a hassle, and you are usually restricted to using credit cards. I'd still prefer to go to a proper shop (when there's less shoppers around and you stand some chance of getting decent service).
Phil, UK

Why don't retailers stop ripping us off and just charge reasonable prices for goods? You wouldn't need to stress people out with sales if you cut your exorbitant prices all year round. Give the customers what they want!
Matthew Moran, UK

I was amazed to see the price labels indication that this huge saving was being made. the fact is that these items were never anywhere near the prices that they were marked at e.g. ?100 to ?50!
Rosetta Eligon, Bristol

I have already been twice since the sales started! The sales seem to get worse and worse every single year! I was so hard to find anything at all, and some shops didn't put the items most needed on sales. However, items such as gift sets which would normally be given at Christmas are at bargain prices! I got a whole set of makeup for �13 reduced form �20. I think the key to getting bargains is shopping around.
JM, UK

It still amazes me how some gullible people are driven into a frenzy by these so-called sales. All to save a few quid. But what does it cost them in terms of high blood pressure and stress? What is more important: your health or something that you don't really need for 'half price'? Stop being so cheap and greedy and enjoy the holidays with your friends and family.
Taz, UK

Don't waste your time - most stuff in the shops is still available cheaper on the net.
Roy Croucher, England

I must be the maddest of all - I queued from 2am this morning and got stacks of great bargains! It was well worth it.
Ed Warton, UK

Most people [in Australia] go to the sales to get out of the heat, and into the air-conditioned shops, where it is so cool. I don't think that the sales are anything like they are in England, with so many thousands of people. At least we can move around, and we do not start queuing at 3am, but I know that when I was living in England, I did just that. Happy New Year
Beryl Allen, Australia

Don't, just don't. You don't need to, the sales assistants don't need to. So just DON'T.
Robin, Switzerland

Waste of time today, not everywhere was open. Very few 'true' bargains to be found. Still easier to find bargains online. Saturday should be better but I can't stand the crowds!
Kevin, UK

I gave up very quickly when I realised that i) I couldn't get near anything ii) even if I could the queues for the tills were enormous and iii) despite the sales a lot of things were still cheaper on the web! So I came home and did some internet sale shopping, much more relaxing!!!
Jo, UK

At least a few of the items are priced at their actual value for once Graham, UK

At least a few of the items are priced at their actual value for once, instead of the over inflated prices we are happy to pay for the rest of the year!
Graham, UK

We stayed in and played games with the children and went out for walks. Rather that then wasting time and money on things that we usually don't really need. I bet over 50% of what people will buy they will wish they hadn't after a few days.
Gary , UK

I braved the Trafford Centre in Manchester this morning, not quite as early as some. I didn't get there until 10.30am but it was madness. I went to Oxford Street at about 11am this morning to buy a present for my cousin's birthday and I was amazed at the queues! I go to London quite regularly and it has never been as busy as this.

I just don't understand why people waste their Christmas by queuing from ridiculous times such as 2am just to get a couple of lower-priced items.

Not everything will be gone by the first 10 seconds of sales you know! 50% of the people have just bought bargains for the sake of it and by the new year they will wish that they hadn't bought them.
Niall Cave, UK

Should be banned! This is the first year that my husband has not had to work, because his boss is enlightened enough to realise that most Boxing Day shoppers are not shoppers at all - they are just too dull to stay at home and make their own amusements. Get a life, you sad people, and let shop staff have a life too!!!
Deborah Davy, England

It's best to fly to New York for the Thanksgiving sales - you'll save enough to pay for the flights and accommodation, especially with the dollar so weak. There are no real bargains to be had in the UK anymore!
Paul, England

Forget sales. Everything is much cheaper on the web, in fact, FORGET SHOPS!
Rodric, UK

We had a nice relaxing day today - the way it should be - Christmas is too commercial now and we have lost sight of what it is all about at this time of year. Think of the poor workers who would rather be at home with their families instead of selling cheap rubbish to silly people.
James, UK

What a waste of time and money. I would only wait in line for something if I was hungry and there was food to buy like we did during the war.
Mary, Canada

It's 0745am here in Canada and the Boxing Day Sales are a crazy event. You think it's bad in the UK - try shopping here - many goods like clothes etc are HALF the UK price to start with!
Iain (on holiday in Canada), England

Happiness can never come from something you own, no matter how 'cheaply' you acquired it. I spent Boxing Day playing with my children.
David Innes, UK

What a waste of time! I've just been to two of the shopping centres near me in east London and the only big stores open were Woolworths and Allsports. Managed to go home with nothing but a KFC.

I'll just have to go tomorrow before work!
Kev, UK

I went to the sales today in the hope of bagging some bargains - what a con! Sarah, UK

Well, I went to the sales today in the hope of bagging some bargains - what a con!!! Went into a carpet store clearly advertising up to 50% off thousands of carpets. I asked which ones they had 50% off and was told there was in fact only two!
Sarah, UK

We live in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. We are fortunate that this province has legislated Christmas and Boxing Days to be provincial holidays, and as such stores shall be closed, with the exception of the odd chemists shop, and certain food stores which are less than a certain square footage area. This gives families a nice break and time to spend together.

Tomorrow however will be hectic!!
Martyn Bowler, Canada

Nicole Farhi at 50% discount! I just very much needed to.
Tse Choo, UK