I KNOW we all struggle to find that extra nice Christmas gift for a special relative or friend, and when we fail, fall back on the shop gift voucher; but may I appeal to you to think carefully and send a personal cheque instead.
Any thoughts you may have of going into the high street shops in the New Year and availing yourself of just what you want in either sales stock or off the peg full price are sadly misplaced. The shop's been picked clean and you are left with the gleanings.
You can have any item of clothing or lingerie you desire as long as it's a size 8, 10 or 12, and fashionable colours are always the first to go! This means that although the average woman's dress size in this country is size 16, the shops don't satisfactorily cater for them, while obviously over-catering for our smaller sisters – and the same rule applies to shoes, which again are only freely available in sizes 7, 8 and 9!
Last year a friend gave me a more-than-generous high street shop gift voucher and I was on the doorstep when they opened after Christmas. The shop looked so sad; with all the glittery party wear heavily reduced, hanging forlornly on the rails. I really wanted a warm cardigan or jacket for the winter and the supply was plentiful, but not in my size.
I asked a member of staff when new stock would be coming in and she advised me to leave it for a day or two, and then the returns would be in and there would be much more choice. I returned to the car park, paid my parking fee and did as she'd suggested, returning a few days later. If anything, it was worse.
If shops want to hang on to this very lucrative side of their business, they have to up their game and ensure that it's not being used as a means to mop up what's left of last season's stock.
To the gift-givers I say: What's wrong with a good old-fashioned cheque wherein we can cash it and go anywhere to buy exactly what we want?
JOY JAMES
Colwick Park Close
Colwick Village