Next sale 2020: What time did the 50% clearance event start and how can I get a priority slot?
THE NEXT 50 per cent sale launched in the UK today as the retailer attempts to sell off leftover stock.
Shoppers have been offered the chance to book VIP priority slots for early access but were left furious when the website crashed yesterday.
There should be great bargains on offer, with discounts apparently starting at 50 per cent off.
It is not yet clear how high the discounts will go, but the retailer has previously slashed prices by up to 70 per cent.
Next revealed the launch date to The Sun after Facebook pages Money Saver Online and Bag a Weekly Bargain both said the sale will start from July 2.
The sale started at 5am in-store and via the clearance tab online.
Bag a Weekly Bargain added that today’s event is a smaller clearance sale with the big one set to start on Saturday, July 4, although Next hasn’t yet confirmed this.
It comes after we checked opening times at the Oxford Street Next, the Bullring in Birmingham, Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds and the Trafford Shopping Centre in Manchester.
They haven’t yet changed their opening times, but it doesn’t mean the sale won’t be happening.
Opening hours can vary from store to store so you should check your local’s times on its website before you head to the shops.
A hint on Next’s website also suggested the sale could be happening on July 2, or a few days later.
Earlier this week, The Sun spotted a job ad on the Next website which is for store staff to temporarily join the team.
It says roles range from two weeks up to eight weeks’ work, “most likely to include working on Thursday 2nd July 2020”.
Next customers have also received emails offering them VIP sale slots, giving them access to the sale earlier than other shoppers.
One shopper commented on the Money Saver Online’s post about the sale and VIP slots, saying “Got mine… 4.30 Tuesday.”
While another simply added: “Got mine too. Love a Next sale.”
Next also replied to a customer on Twitter who is still waiting for their slot this morning, saying: “The invites are still going out today too.”
How to make the most of the Next sale
THESE tips from a Next employee can help you make sure you bag the best bargains when the sale launches.
- Familiarise yourself with the stock – check in store and online to see what items you might fancy, that means you’ll be able to act fast once prices start dropping. Online you can even bookmark your favourites.
- Check online – often the sale launches online before stores open so go digital to get the best bargains.
- Consider the VIP scheme – If you have a credit account you can get access to the sale 24 hours before the rgeneral public.
- Choose the right store – smaller outlets are likely to be less rammed, so you may have less competition for great deals
- Shop late in the day – around two hours before closing, staff start replenishing stock for the next day, this is a great time to hit the stores.
- Look at ticket codes – if you’re in a next keep an eye out for black dots on tickets, chances are that means an item is going to be discounted, so you’re better off waiting till the price drops.
- Homeware and women’s clothing sells fastest – so you might want to get to stores first thing for these items
What is likely to be included in the sale?
We don’t know for sure what exactly will be included in the sale, but we can guess based on previous ones.
The departments that usually feature are womenswear, menswear, children and baby fashion, home and furniture and branded fashion.
Items ranged from dress, shoes, suits and shirts to large furnishings and home accessories.
According to an email sent to a customer, the sale is set to feature 50 per cent off most Next sale items and on thousands of branded lines.
How can I get a Next VIP sales slot?
VIP slots are offered to customers who have a Nextpay credit card and account.
Slots are still being allocated today, so even if you haven’t heard from Next yet there’s every possibility you could soon.
There’s a list of stringent criteria to get a slot.
To be selected, customers must:
- Have a Next flexible credit account with at least £250 credit available
- Have placed and kept an order from the Next Directory within the last year
- Have an up to date email address registered with Next, and be registered to receive sale and promotional emails
- Have received a copy of the Next Directory
- Have returned less than two thirds of the items they’ve ordered
Time slots are restricted to one slot per customer but you can update your slot at any time.
All slots are allocated on a first come, first served basis and the number of slots are limited.
Users advise getting the first slot you’re offered as you’re likely to get better deals.
Even if you haven’t had an email yet telling you to book your slot, it’s worth logging into your account on a computer as some customers are saying you can get access to slot booking anyway.
Think carefully before taking out any store card though.
The interest rate is typically 23.9 per cent, so you want to make sure you can pay off the items in full each month.
Otherwise the amount you pay in interest will wipe out the savings you make in the sale.
Next says on its website that customers need to have opened a Nextpay credit account ahead of any promoted deadline before a sale to get early access to it.
The Sun has asked the retailer about the deadline for this week’s sale, and we’ll update this article once we hear back.
Most read in Money
Next has reopened a majority of its stores following coronavirus lockdown.
If you haven’t already popped by your nearest Next store, we explain its social distancing measures and what shops look like.
The retailer closed all 700 stores across the UK in March.