I would hope that no one is fooled into thinking that they are getting fantastic bargains when they go to the sales, as most retailers have sales of some sort going on all through the year. So looking around the shops and online for those bargains I have come to the conclusion that all the sales are rubbish, yes there are a few deals to be had but they are on perishable goods that cannot be kept in storage and wheeled out at a later date.

Would you believe it is actually just over two years since I left Harveys so let them be a part of my experiment to find out the value of a sale. I am hoping to prove that the prices are no better now than they would be at any other time of the year and that sales never end when they are supposed to. I have picked two products one the Santiago which is a three seater leather sofa with two recliner actions which is a fantastic price of £299 and the second product is the Lima 2 door slider robe which is on offer for £299 (This robe was being sold for this price when I worked for the company!)

Santiago was: £999 sale price: £489 Now: £299
Attractive sofa in sumptuous leather and leather effect with sprung seat cushions and recliner actions for maximum comfort and relaxation.

* Recliner actions for greater relaxation
* Leather and leather effect
* Fully sprung, ultra comfy seat cushions that maintains the cushions shape

Dimensions: H 96 x W 203 x D 92 cm
Colours: Black
Delivery Time: 14 weeks (approx.)

Lima 2 door (2 Mirrored) slider robe
was: £679 sale price: £339 Now: £299
Finished in sleek, beech effect, this tall, dignified furniture is decorated with tender touches including slender, satin silver effect handles.

* Beech effect finish applied to a quality construction
* Aluminium effect handles
* Supplied shelves and hanging rails are fully adjustable and additional ones can be added

Dimensions: H 222 x W 201 x D 64 cm
Delivery Time: 7 weeks (approx.)

Over the next few weeks/months I will check on the prices of these two products and note any changes, the sale is due to finish at 8pm on the 2nd January 2008 - however if the company is still doing what it did when I worked there it will be extended and will end the Monday afterwards (7th January) in order to give the sales people a chance to panic buyers over the weekend into believing the sale will end. I don't think the sale will end until at least the end of January and then some of the extra offers only will be removed and maybe they will change the advertising posters (I will get photos of these to show the changes)

Update - 2nd Feb 2008

Santago
Delivery Time:18 weeks (approx.)

was: £999 sale price: £489 Now: £399 The price has gone up a £100 pounds and you also have to wait an extra four weeks for delivery - so would assume they have sold a fair few to push up the estimated delivery time.

Lima 2 door slider rober
Delivery Time:7 weeks (approx.)

was: £679 sale price: £339 Now: £299 The price has remained the same, and the delivery time has not increased so I would guess the price would stay around this level for a few more weeks.

Update - 6th March 2008

Santago
14 weeks (approx.)

Instore price: £499 now: £449 The "was" price of £999 seems to have vanished and we have an instore price and a selling price of £449, so an increase of £50 to the price it was being sold for a month ago but you are not waiting as long to have it delivered.

Lima 2 door slider robe
Delivery Time:8 weeks (approx.)

now: £349 Again the "was" price of £679 seems to have vanished and the current selling price is £50 higher than it was a month ago and delivery time has slightly increased.

Of course I knew these "sales" would end as we approach Easter and the stores have to price establish certain products - this is something that needs to be done in order to comply with trading standards and having a quick look at the Harveys website I would hazard a guess that the Cleo will be featuring in any offers they have over the Easter weekend!!

Update - 23rd March 2008 (EASTER)

Santago
13 weeks (approx.)

after event price: £999
sale price: £489
Now: £349 Well the good old Santago has once more dropped in price and you will notice that an "after event price" of £999 has appeared and that price was what the Santago was originally priced at back at Christmas. So not as good as it was just after Christmas but still a good price, now delivery is stated as about 13 weeks - not sure how accurate that would be but when I worked for the company they were more interested in getting the orders and worrying about how long they would take to deliver later!

Lima 2 door slider robe
Delivery Time:8 weeks (approx.)

after event price: £699
sale price: £349
Now: £299 Shock horror the Lima slider robe is once again selling at the same price as it was on Boxing Day, the price may have gone up last month but you do wonder if that was a marketing ploy so that they could role out this fantastic offer…again! Of course the price is set to go back up as the "after event price" states and that is due to happen on the 3rd June 2008. So regardless of what pushy sales people may say this wardrobe should not go back to its high price until that date.

Guess I was wrong about the Cleo being promoted during the Easter sale.

Update - 2nd May 2008

Santago
10 weeks (approx.)

after event price: £999
sale price: £489
Now: £349 Well another month and I did not really expect there to be much of a change as I mentioned last month Harveys have already mentioned that the "after even price" will be charged at the start of June. The delivery time has decreased to 10 weeks - not sure how accurate that would be, as when I worked for the company they were more interested in getting the orders and worrying about how long they would take to deliver later!

Lima 2 door slider robe
Delivery Time:8 weeks (approx.)

after event price: £699
sale price: £349
Now: £299 Shock horror the Lima slider robe is once again selling at the same price as it was on Boxing Day, the price may have gone up last month but you do wonder if that was a marketing ploy so that they could role out this fantastic offer…again! Of course the price is set to go back up as the "after event price" states and that is due to happen on the 3rd June 2008. So regardless of what pushy sales people may say this wardrobe should not go back to its high price until that date.

Of course the adverts are back on television as we are approaching the Bank Holiday weekend, it just makes me laugh when they advertise that the sale will be ended at 8pm on Monday!!

Update - 6th July 2008

Santago
11 weeks (approx.)

was price: £999
sale price: £489
Now: £349 Well start of July and guess what this three seater is still priced as £349, the delivery time has increased by a week and the after event price seems to have become a sales price.

Lima 2 door slider robe
Delivery Time:7 weeks (approx.)

was price: £699
sale price: £349
Now: £299 Shock horror the Lima slider robe is once again selling at the same price as it was on Boxing Day, I find it astonishing that after six months these two products are pretty much the same price.

Update - 7th September 2008

Santago
10 weeks (approx.)

after event price: £999
sale price: £489
Now: £399 what a shock this sale that was going to be ending back in January is still going, missed the price it was over the August Bank Holiday as you can see not a vast change in the promotion.

Lima 2 door slider robe
Delivery Time:8 weeks (approx.)

was price: £699
sale price: £349
Now: £299 Shock horror the Lima slider robe is once again selling at the same price as it was on Boxing Day, Is it any wonder why customers feel cheated when they see the banners out side the shops stating that there is extra savings to be made!