After two years of pandemic, Quebecers rushed to the doors of businesses as soon as Boxing Day opened. Inflation, strong as it is, has not dampened their enthusiasm.
• Read also: Boxing Day: The best discounts
Photo Martin Alarie
Consumers showed up early Monday morning in front of this Best Buy store in Center Laval.
“When I arrived at noon, there were queues at both doors, inside and outside. When we opened them at 1 p.m., it was “get the hell out of here!” It must have been a good three years since we last saw that,” exclaimed Benoît Trépanier, director of Sports Experts at the Galeries Rive-Nord in Repentigny.
With the economic situation, people were waiting for discounts, he believes.
“Many of the items we offer are essential. Winter boots, if you need them, you need them. A coat is the same thing. Inflation or not, there will be a winter,” notes Mr. Trépanier.
Photo David Descoteaux
Benoit Trépanier, Sports Experts director.
At the Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec City, consumers had to be patient to take advantage of the long-awaited discounts. The newspaper took a total of 45 minutes to get out of the crowded parking lot in the afternoon.
Photo QMI Agency, Marcel Tremblay
Michel Cloutier was one of the first customers at the Galeries de la Capitale Best Buy. He finally left with a TV.
“We came to use the gift cards my children received at Christmas and buy them winter clothes at a discount. But I restrict myself. Inflation is hurting this year,” explains Julie Dubé, who left the shopping center with her arms full of bags.
The “Legault check” spent
Given the traffic, many have decided to turn back before even having crossed the doors of certain businesses. Others, like Frédéric Dignard, found themselves stuck in queues despite themselves.
Photo QMI Agency, Marcel Tremblay
“We have no choice, we must exchange [une paire de souliers]. We didn’t expect there to be such a long line! he rants, crane-footing about twenty meters outside the Nike in the Galeries de la Capitale.
At Best Buy in Mascouche, Marc Latendresse sees things differently: “I come to enjoy the atmosphere, not necessarily to buy. I find that we are in a consumer society, we create needs, ”he believes.
“There is a feverishness, a lot of people, and there are good deals, it’s true,” he adds.
Photo David Descoteaux
Marc Latendresse came for the atmosphere above all.
The atmosphere reminds him of memories when, when he was younger, he came with his children.
“At Christmas, we gave them money and on Boxing Day, we came to spend it, we didn’t wait,” recalls Mr. Latendresse.
Is he here to spend his famous “Legault check” that every Quebecer has received recently?
“It’s already been spent a long time!” Easy come, easy (Le)go he says jokingly.
At the Best Buy in Mascouche, despite the crowd inside, it didn’t take more than two minutes before we were accosted by a salesperson who offered to help us.
In the aisles of giant televisions, telephone accessories or in front of an electric scooter, you didn’t have to look for employees in blue t-shirts.
“Here in Mascouche, there must be 70 employees on the floor right now. Usually on a normal Saturday it’s less than half. In our store on Sainte-Catherine Street, there were 100 employees this morning! says Thierry Lopez, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director in Quebec for Best Buy.
Informed consumers
People are becoming more knowledgeable, he says.
“With us, 93% of people who came today visited our website before. People shop online before and know the prices. They know when it’s a good deal or not. So they come, ”says Mr. Lopez.
And why not just order online, from the comfort of your own home?
“Some do, but it’s a social activity, Boxing Day. People like to shop. In addition, we are coming out of two years of pandemic. People like to touch the products, walk the aisles, meet other people. We see lots of families today, even if it’s -7 degrees and it’s snowing, ”describes Thierry Lopez.
Back in force to reality
Despite inflation and over-indebtedness, the post-Christmas craze will continue, says an expert.
“Boxing Day is in the tradition. It’s folklore. People are going to go to Montreal, if only to have the atmosphere. It’s a bit like the continuation of the party of [la veille]. It’s not the same as it used to be, but there are people who go to Sainte-Catherine Street for the holiday spirit,” said Benoit Duguay, full professor at the École des sciences. of the management of UQAM, on the airwaves of LCN.
Some Quebecers even seem to abandon their computer to buy directly in stores.
“For several months, there has been a drop in online sales”, underlines the expert.