The word les soldes warms the soul not only of the French, but also of the representatives of other countries, who do not even know French. It is pleasant to all those who know what French shopping is. The term les soldes refers to the traditional discount seasons in this country.
The main difference between the French discount season and the Russian one is that les soldes is controlled at the state level. This means that buyers always know in advance about the time of sales, and the process itself is more organized.
To determine the amount of discounts, store owners are prohibited from changing the prices of goods one month before the start of sales. Based on these indicators, the amount of the discount is calculated, which can vary from 30 to 90 percent.
Representatives of the prefecture announce the date of the next sale a month before its start, and it is they who set these dates. The winter sale takes place immediately after the Christmas break in January, and the summer sale takes place in July. These dates may change from year to year. But in any case, the season can last no longer than five weeks. To "extend" the sales season for themselves, seasoned shoppers move around the country from north to south - sometimes sales start in the southern regions, and therefore end a couple of weeks later.
Usually shops in France are open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 7 pm. On the first day of the sale, a government official appears at the store opening and delivers a speech.
Some of the shops have a lunch break and Monday is also considered a day off. However, for the time of les soldes, some establishments make exceptions. In 2009, it was legally allowed to work daily. In addition, some shopping malls and small boutiques host an open-door night.
As the flow of shoppers increases dramatically, store owners are hiring temporary workers so that there are enough consultants for all visitors.
Discounts vary depending on the time of the sale. Usually they start from 20-30 percent, by the end of the fifth week, the benefit can already be up to 90 percent. Moreover, not only clothes, appliances, jewelry in ordinary stores are getting cheaper. Discounts appear in online stores as well.
To take advantage of the French sales season, you can use the tax free service. To do this, you need to find the corresponding inscription at the entrance to the store. When buying, you will need to present your passport and fill out a form indicating the goods. If you buy goods worth more than 175 euros in one such store in one day, you will be refunded the amount of VAT - it can be up to 19 percent. To do this, you must present the goods and questionnaires at the airport or train station at the box office with the appropriate inscriptions. True, this does not apply to food, drinks, tobacco and alcohol, medicines, weapons, precious stones, vehicles.
