Written on July 3, 2007 at 1:54 pm by Jennie

Les Soldes

Filed under French Culture {10 comments}

The semi-annual sales are taking place right now in France. The government allows stores to have sales twice a year, once in January and once in July. I didn’t feel like shopping much in January when I had the worst flu of my life, so I decided to take advantage of the second round of soldes. The problem is… I absolutely hate shopping. I hate trying on clothes. I hate deciding what I might need. I hate spending money. And I really don’t have much money to spend anyway since my bills are more than my measly income right now.

Truth be told, the sales are actually a little disappointing. After being bombarded with bright yellow signs indicating SOLDES in nearly every store, I found that a lot of the merchandise wasn’t actually on sale. The things that I really wanted were still too expensive for me. Though it is nice that most of the stuff on sale was 50-70 % off.

Nevertheless, I managed to buy five shirts and a hat for 60 €. And five new cahiers d’exercices for 20 €. I’ve become obsessed with buying these educational workbooks for foreign languages because they’re 4 € each, and they teach just as much useful grammar and vocabulary as books designed for adults, but which cost 3 or 4 times as much.

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ManicBlu

The sales and my budget never seem to coincide. I do try to buy Christmas gifts for my family back in the states at this time, but as you say, many times what you want is not what’s on sale.You do know it’s intimidating writing on a language majors blog?
ManicBlu

The sales and my budget never seem to coincide. I do try to buy Christmas gifts for my family back in the states at this time, but as you say, many times what you want is not what’s on sale.

You do know it’s intimidating writing on a language majors blog?
ColourMeCrazy

The problem with the soldes is that I can never muster up the energy to go on the first day – too many people. So by the second day, all that’s left are the rejects – eg. sizes 32 (way too small) or 44+ (too big!)!
ColourMeCrazy

The problem with the soldes is that I can never muster up the energy to go on the first day – too many people. So by the second day, all that’s left are the rejects – eg. sizes 32 (way too small) or 44+ (too big!)!
Mlle Smith

Maybe I can find some cute shoes at the soldes today?…I only have enough cash for one pair though…depending on the price. I think soldes should extend to foie gras, non? :0)
Mlle Smith

Maybe I can find some cute shoes at the soldes today?…I only have enough cash for one pair though…depending on the price.

I think soldes should extend to foie gras, non? :0)
DestinationMetz

I don’t understand the idea behind sales twice a year. In Melbourne there’s a sale on every day somewhere! Seems like it would only lead to crazy shopping behaviour, like people punching each other in queues or something or for that last pair of socks.
DestinationMetz

I don’t understand the idea behind sales twice a year. In Melbourne there’s a sale on every day somewhere! Seems like it would only lead to crazy shopping behaviour, like people punching each other in queues or something or for that last pair of socks.
Jennie

There’s a sale everyday in the US too. I think it’s ridiculous to limit them like in France, but they claim it’s to prevent larger stores from driving smaller stores out of business or something like that…The soldes here weren’t as crazy as I thought they would be. I had visions of people trampling each other and fighting over things like in the US on the day after Thanksgiving. Now that’s chaos.
Jennie

There’s a sale everyday in the US too. I think it’s ridiculous to limit them like in France, but they claim it’s to prevent larger stores from driving smaller stores out of business or something like that…

The soldes here weren’t as crazy as I thought they would be. I had visions of people trampling each other and fighting over things like in the US on the day after Thanksgiving. Now that’s chaos.