Today was the first day of the SOLDES in France. 
Stores are allowed to have sales only twice a year, in January and in July, so it is a big deal. There are actually inspectors whose job is to go around and make sure no one puts anything on sale early. Which would be concurrence déloyale [unfair competition]! I read an interview yesterday with a government minister who said she was in favor of having sales as many as three times a year: but only if strictly regulated.
I don't understand why stores can't put on sales when they want. As it is, everyone in France goes to the stores the first day, with predictable scenes of chaos. But then, there are many things I don't understand about France. It may be related to the French predilection for doing things all at the same time, like going on holiday in a massive traffic jam on August 1st, or having lunch at exactly 13h (one o'clock to you). They will often remark, though, that you Americans are conformists, while we, the French , are individualistic!
Individuals in a large crowd a fair amount of the time.
I went to the SOLDES today with one of the more demanding members of my family, so I am too exhausted to write any further.
just recently started reading your blog and thought i should say hello. so hello! as a newcomer to france i have been gleaning much helpful information from you. i knew the soldes were bi-annual, but i had no idea they weren't allowed to have them any other times than that. although here in corsica, the end of the summer sales are a bit later than july. and they have lunch from 12-14h, but certainly all conforming nonetheless.
Posted by: cara | 11 January 2006 at 23:28
My husband says the sales are all at the same time so that it's fair for the small merchants. He hasn't been able to further elaborate, though. :-)
Posted by: Jessica | 12 January 2006 at 04:30
Hello,
I really enjoy your blog! :)
Just one thing about lunch time.
Personally, as a frenchman, i think it is not a question than everybody have lunch at the same time. I think it is a question of balance (in health meaning).
It's a tradition and it preserve you to eat all the time, at 13h, 15h, 16h, 18h and have a real lunch, three times per day. It is more like sleeping. I mean that it is not very good to break your biological clock.
sorry i'm not very sure about my english skill... :)
From Sedulia:
I'm sure you are right about eating regular meals. I just think it's funny that it is always 13h! All the same, I hope the French keep their wonderful traditions about food and que tout se passe autour de la table pour toujours.
Posted by: ernestranglin | 12 January 2006 at 15:53
While growing up, lunch time in our family was always noon.
In school (I always had lunch à la cantine), lunch was served between 11h30 and 13h30... Then we had until 14h to digest. Classes started back only then! (only in France do you get 2 hours of break to eat lunch!)
Posted by: Noelia | 14 January 2006 at 16:48
I always thought they only had 'les soldes' at certain times to protect small businesses. In the US, big stores can afford to lose some money in the short-term by offering lots of sales, then small stores go under (aka: the Wal-Mart effect). So regulating when they happen is sort of 'leveling the playing field'.
But then I read an article in the IHT recently that said that they had sales only at certain times of the year to create a frenzy of shopping, so that stores could clear out merchandise quickly (they also explained the difference between 'solde' and 'promotion', which I never understood.)
Posted by: David | 17 January 2006 at 15:32