KEY POINTS:
Malls were busy yesterday as shoppers took advantage of big discounts to fill a few last-minute holes in their Christmas stockings.
But Santa did not bring retailers the hordes of shoppers they wanted, despite the lure of the kind of bargains not usually seen until Boxing Day.
Mother-and-daughter shopping teams, strolling couples and families lugging the loot on children's strollers were among those browsing cut-price goods at St Lukes shopping mall in Mt Albert yesterday.
But although there was plenty of bustle, retailers who spoke to the Herald said the mall was not busy for the time of year.
Shoppers hoping for last-minute bargains will find out today if a disappointing weekend will bring even bigger discounts.
Retail analysts said last week that if takings were not up at the end of yesterday, shops might drop prices drastically three days before Christmas.
And in today's Herald, a group of bicycle shops appears to be fulfilling the prediction with a large advertisement proclaiming "Boxing Day sale now on".
Paymark figures for Saturday also suggest it could happen. Shoppers spent $20 million less on their Eftpos cards than on the same date last year - $162.4 million against $182.9 million last year.
Spending was also down against the last Saturday before Christmas a year ago, when shoppers spent $176.7 million on their Eftpos cards.
Those out shopping yesterday were happy with the savings available. Many shops were already having sales, slashing some racks of items by up to 70 per cent.
Kirsten Grove, 25, and her mum Jan Grove took advantage of the big cuts to buy "one or two" things for themselves, as well as gifts for family and friends.
"There are a lot of specials and half price deals on now, instead of after Christmas," said Jan Grove. "You spend a bit but it saves you money in the long run."
Mum and daughter were at the end of four months of serious shopping, and said the mall felt busier yesterday after a quiet week.
"We're blown away by how busy it's been," said Jan. "We started [Christmas shopping] in September and now it's just last minute bits and pieces."
Some retailers were explaining the quieter-than-expected day by suggesting shoppers could be saving themselves for a last-minute splurge - or even waiting until Boxing Day to buy cut-price gifts.
One mall regular with no shortage of customers was Santa Claus. Parents lined up with their children for photographs, and some very big kids also queued up for a turn. Husband and wife Mike and Mary Ansari stopped to pose and buy a smiling photo with Santa.
The couple were at St Lukes for the third time in a week and said the discounts were "like Boxing Day".
