PRI-CE WARS

Shops start early... but could run out of toys

By Sophy Ridge, 08/11/2009

GOOD toy story: Shops have started to SLASH the price of festive gifts. Bad toy story: Experts fear they'll RUN OUT of stock before Christmas.

A massive price war has kicked off on the High Street as stores desperately try to get families to start their Xmas shopping early.

But it was warned last night that the most popular prezzies will be SOLD OUT as cash-strapped families race to scoop up bargains and spread their Christmas costs over the coming weeks.

This week supermarket giant ASDA was discounting hundreds of TVs, cameras and DVDs while Sainsbury's knocked 50 PER CENT off its toys and 25 per cent off its TU clothing range.

And D.I.Y store B&Q has hammered a whopping £30 MILLION off its collection of tools in its biggest ever sale.

BARGAINS: Get up to 50% off toys at Tesco Direct with Captain Cash

It means credit crunch-hit families can pick up some fantastic deals in the run-up to Christmas. Asda will sell a Sanyo 32-inch LCD TV for just £285, while drivers can pick up a Tom Tom Start sat-nav for just £82. Tesco are peddling a Terrain Anaconda BMX for half price at just £60, while other kids' favourites, Go Go Pets Hamsters (£9.99) and Monopoly City (£24.99), are going cheap too.

It also means that Brits stocking up on big items like TVs and fridges can save a few quid before VAT increases to 17.5 per cent next year.

Scramble

However, as shoppers scramble to grab the best bargains off the shelves, experts worry about depleted stocks.

Jeremy Healy, marketing director at toy company Character Options, said: "Retailers are nervous and unsure about how much stock they should commit to. They're likely to have less stock in store than last year, which could lead to shortages of toys in the run up to Christmas."

World exports of toys are down 22 per cent year on year - the worst level for over a decade - according to financial consultancy Absolute Strategy.

sophy.ridge@notw.co.uk

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