Les soldes
January is the official “sales” time in Lausanne. Used to be that only in this month and July could sales take place. The rest of the year, you just paid the “controlled” price, pretty much the same in every store.
I kind of liked the old system, in the sense that you didn’t have to shop around and you never felt “ripped off” because the item was cheaper in another store. Of course, we would only buy our clothes, house, kitchen and sports’ stuff in January or July when the bargains were incredible.
Shops no longer sell under the same restrictions (though there are laws that control prices), but the January sales still continue. We just bought a Columbia ski jacket for Daughter for 49 CHF (regular price: 329 CHF).
In France and England, the governments set the date of sales’ openings and people cue up for long periods to buy that special item at half price. (Think Mr. Bean sketch at Harrod’s, London.)
“Soldes” is the French word for “sale”. But since we are in a global market, huge banners hang in store-front windows declaring “SALE”, in English.
Friends, look up “sale” in a French dictionary. It actually means "filthy".
I kind of liked the old system, in the sense that you didn’t have to shop around and you never felt “ripped off” because the item was cheaper in another store. Of course, we would only buy our clothes, house, kitchen and sports’ stuff in January or July when the bargains were incredible.
Shops no longer sell under the same restrictions (though there are laws that control prices), but the January sales still continue. We just bought a Columbia ski jacket for Daughter for 49 CHF (regular price: 329 CHF).
In France and England, the governments set the date of sales’ openings and people cue up for long periods to buy that special item at half price. (Think Mr. Bean sketch at Harrod’s, London.)
“Soldes” is the French word for “sale”. But since we are in a global market, huge banners hang in store-front windows declaring “SALE”, in English.
Friends, look up “sale” in a French dictionary. It actually means "filthy".
January 26th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
So I guess it is a “filthy” time in Lausanne, right now. I guess Lausanne really does needs our prayers, more than ever before.
Good deal on that jacket, Columbia makes great jackets.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Europe is weird.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I remember (a long time ago) using the Taxi Cab system in Cozumel, Mexico. As a tourist destination the government regulated the Cab industry. There was a standard price ($2) anywhere you wanted to go on the island. The great thing about this, of course, was that you always knew the fare. There was also no competition among the cab drivers. They just lined up as if in a queue and you went to the head of the line each time.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Do they have Wal-Mart in Switzerland?
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Ahhh, special offers! That’s the term we use a lot here is England, and they are with us all the time. No regulations and not too many queues (and nobody believes what they saw on Mr Bean a good while ago!). Am not familiar with the system of sales you are referring to in the UK? We just enjoy the special offers too much!
What I really appreciate is not having to pay any sales tax!!
Take care…
January 31st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
What happened to 200 words or less “every other day”?