Chaos fails to quash sales spirit
MAJOR roads were in gridlock yesterday as the lure of Boxing Day sales had bargain hunters stuck in traffic jams as they headed for the Gold Coast’s biggest shopping centres.
Traffic banked up more than 7km along Hooker Boulevard from the Carrara Markets to Broadbeach as shoppers tried to reach Pacific Fair and find a car park.
Carpark attendants were employed from midmorning onwards to redirect motorists trying to use the main carparks to other, lesser known bays within the centre.
Roads leading to Harbourtown at Biggera Waters were also in gridlock, with motorists forced to wait out the 1km line.
Inside the shopping centres, thousands of people queued up, sometimes for more than two hours, to grab bargains offered by major retailers.
Lush fanatic Megan Short said she went to the Boxing Day sales every year to buy enough cosmetic supplies to last her the next 12 months.
“I hate shopping,” said Ms Short, adding she managed to get everything she needed at the Pacific Fair store within 20 minutes. “Every Boxing Day I come in at 7.30am (and buy) bath bombs, shower gels, perfume and soap. I can’t afford to pay full price.”
This year she spent $1300 on cosmetics, while her friend Karen Preston spent $600.
At clothing store Culture Kings, mates Lachlan Miles, 17, Lukas Conroy, 16, and Lleyton Morgan, 16, said they had awoken at 5.30am so they could be at the store in time for the shop’s early 7am opening.
Lachlan said they had spent more than $500 because it was their favourite store. Not only that, they could receive a Boxing Day limited edition duffel bag filled with extras including caps, shirts and a Culture Kings magic 8 ball.
“This is our first Christmas sale,” he said. “But we go to every sale we can get.”
A Culture Kings staff member said they had many duffel bags ready to go for shoppers spending anything from $50 to $1000.
“Last year we didn’t have much left by 2.30pm,” he said. “Hundred per cent, we will sell out of this stuff.”
Outside of Myer at Pacific Fair, diehard shoppers Judith McKeown and Joyce Baker of Nerang waited hours for the retail giant to open its doors.
“Last year we came down at 9am and it took us three hours to get down,” Ms Baker said.
“As soon as they open we’ll rush right in.”
Ms McKeown said they were shopping for clothes, specifically for her son, Ian McKeown, who arrived a few days ago to celebrate Christmas with family and go to the Boxing Day sales, even if he was a little less enthusiastic.
“(I’m looking for) business shirts I guess,” he said.
And shoppers determined to get their hands on Kookai clothing weren’t even sure what time the store opened, but were happy to wait.
“We’ve been here since 7am,” Angela Rehbein of Brisbane said. “We’re looking for Eliza (my daughter), to get some clothes. We’ll be gone by ten ... in and out.”