Rubbish and tat in the sales

[Le Chat]

I work in the town centre and often pop into River Island, M&S, Next etc. I never look forward to their sales though as they are not really sales. A sale to me is the normal stock that you see in the shop reduced by a certain percentage. However, these shops just seem to import a load of old tat that has never been sold in that shop on any other occasion, as line it all up on steel racks in rows to sell.
Where does this rubbish come from and why do they do it?

[boxtops]

Specially bought in for the sales? although if it's got their own labels in, possibly lines they bought but which never took off in other parts of the country? Our M&S outlet store often sells stuff I've never seen in the local shop.

[johnny37]

Im not a retail expert but I believe the rule is that an item described as 'sale' must have been at the old price for 28 consecutive days in the last six months. I dont think the law specifies 'where'. If one of the shops in the chain has displayed at the old price they are covered. Of course items described as speciasl buys can be sold at any price they like. As you say, a law which is supposed to protect the consumer has become totally discredited. The only recourse is to write to your MP/The PM/trading standards or whoever and get the law brought up to date. I think I might do that.