Boxing Day sale to KO bargain hunters

Retailers are hoping the late shopping splurge leading up to Christmas will spill over into today's Boxing Day sales.

Those willing to drag themselves to the shops will find outlets trying to clear stock left over from the Christmas consumer binge.

Plasma TVs, cellphones, shoes, furniture of all shapes and designs, bathroom accessories - the Boxing Day sales net is cast wide and rewards those who held off shopping until now.

Paymark Eftpos, which accounts for about 80 per cent of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, said outlets last week were progressively busier as the week went along.

Paymark spokesman Daryl Roots said Friday had been busier than Thursday, when there were 2.86 million eftpos transactions.

"And Saturday was about the same as Friday. There were about 258,000 transactions an hour for those days, and the biggest was nearly 300,000 an hour last year. So the peak was not as big but it was spread a bit more."

Mr Roots said final figures should be available today.

Boxing Day sales always attract crowds and retailers will be rubbing their hands in anticipation.

They will be hoping there is no repeat of Friday when the Eftpos system crashed for two hours, blocking half a million transactions.

Last year, $3.2 billion was spent in December. Of this, $170 million was spent on Christmas Eve and $190 million in Boxing Day sales.

Gadget lovers will have a range of heavily discounted TV, hi-fis, cameras and iPods to choose from at stores ranging from major retailers to specialist stores.

Among the outlets slashing prices on furniture and beds - some by more than 50 per cent - are Back to Bed, Early Settler, Indoorz and Target Furniture Hypermarket.

Vodafone is offering two 3G mobile phones for the price of one on certain models, and the Number One Shoe Warehouse is offering three pairs of shoes for the price of two.

A one-day sale at the BBQ Factory today has up to 30 per cent on that most essential of outdoor cooking equipment.

Camerahouse is offering 5 to 50 per cent discounts on selected items.