Vic: Crowds up but bargains disappointing in post Xmas sales

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Vic: Crowds up but bargains disappointing in post Xmas sales

By Catherine McAloon

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 AAP - Crowds were busy but bargains disappointing, according to shopperswho fought their way through Melbourne retail outlets in the hope of snagging a post-Christmasspecial today.

Retailer groups put crowds at the largest in several years, with hundreds of thousandsof shoppers expected through Bourke Street Mall retail outlets.

Brian Donegan of the Australian Retailers Association said retailers had been delightedwith the start to the Boxing Day sale with more people making an earlier start than previousyears.

Traffic was logjammed trying to get to one of the city's major shopping centres, Chadstone,this morning.

However Melbourne shopper Des O'Shea said he had been disappointed with this year'sselection of discounted goods and the level of savings.

"It's as crowded as usual, but not as good value as previous years," Mr O'Shea said.

Heather McPherson of Cranbourne said she had picked up some good bargains, with Christmascards and gift wrap selling at half the normal price, but felt many goods were not reduced.

"Your everyday, standard, classical things are never marked down."

Christmas cards and trimmings, ladies shoes, DVDs and homewares were the biggest sellers,according to Myer spokeswoman Michele Hamdorf.

Ms Hamdorf said shoppers had started lining up at 7.30am and the store was recordingtheir largest number of Boxing Day shoppers in several years.

Mr Donegan said the next few weeks would be very important for the health of the retail industry.

"There will be many hundreds of millions of dollars spent over the next three weeksor so," Mr Donegan said.

"Given it's a $160 billion a year industry in Australia, if retail is doing well weare all doing well."

AAP clm/jlw/mg/de

KEYWORD: XMAS TRADE VIC